On the southern borders of the municipal territory of Arezzo, in a splendid panoramic position on a spur overlooking the Val di Chiana, the Vitiano Castle, better known as La Torre, still exudes great charm.
Built between the end of the 10th century and the 11th century and mentioned for the first time in 1098 as part of a will, the castle was part of the vast possessions of the Marchiones held through their vassals, who here took the name Da Vitiano and they subsequently became the actual owners. In June 1153 the Arezzo militias besieged the manor, forcing the owners to sign the transfer of ownership to the Municipality and the Parish Church of Arezzo. The deed was signed on June 28 of that year. In exchange for the transfer, the ancient owners regained the fortress and its court as a fief, but they had to respect the pacts of submission and loyalty. Subsequently, the Da Vitianos moved or were forced to move to the city, to the Porta Sant'Andrea neighborhood. From some branches of the family the Perini, the Marcelli and the Dragomanni were born. The Perini also gave their name to one of the most characteristic "canti" of Arezzo, the one near Giorgio Vasari's birthplace in today's via Mazzini. According to Ubaldo Pasqui the "Annales Arretinorum Maiores" - fundamental sources for reconstructing the history of Arezzo – were written by Ser Francesco, son of Ser Astoldo di Baldinuccio Da Vitiano, one of the most famous Arezzo notaries of the early fourteenth century.