The river is mentioned by Dante in his Divine Comedy, its waters becoming "stained red" (Inferno, Canto X, verse 86) in the wake of the Battle of Montaperti between Florence and Siena. Localities taking their names from Arbia include the comune of Monteroni d'Arbia and the frazioni of Isola d'Arbia, Taverne d'Arbia (both in the comune of Siena) and Arbia (Asciano) (comune of Asciano).