Maremma Toscana

Located in the south of Tuscany, near the border with Lazio, the Maremma is a still wild and unexplored territory, guardian of ancient charm villages, unspoiled nature and crystal clear sea.

The Maremma area extends from the border with Lazio to the area of ​​the Metalliferous Hills, divided into five macro areas:

METALLIFERE HILLS: with the towns of Campagnatico, Gavorrano, Massa Marittima, Monterotondo, Montieri, Roccastrada and Scarlino

GROSSETO AREA: where Castiglione, Follonica, Grosseto, Punta Ala and the Maremma Park are located

MONTE AMIATA: where Arcidosso, Castell’Azzara, Castel del Piano, Cinigiano, Monte Amiata, Roccalbegna, Santa Fiora and Seggiano are located

MONTE ARGENTARIO: where to visit Capalbio, Cosa, Giannutri Island, Giglio Island, Magliano, Orbetello, Porto Ercole, Porto Santo Stefano and Talamone

VALLE DEL FIORA: with the villages of Manciano, Montemerano, Pitigliano, Scansano, Saturnia, Sorano and Sovana

Colline metallifere

The Metalliferous Hills are the largest hilly and mountainous complex in the whole of the Tuscan Apennines, they are included between the provinces of Livorno, Pisa, Siena and, mainly, Grosseto.

It includes the Grosseto municipalities of Campagnatico, Gavorrano, Massa Marittima, Monterotondo, Montieri, Roccastrada and Scarlino.

Already frequented in Etruscan times, the Grosseto metalliferous hills were exploited for the extraction of ferrous minerals, such as alum, pyrite, antimony, calamine, galena and blende, over the centuries mining has represented the main economic activity for this area of Maremma, with a great development in the second half of the 1800s and after the Second World War.

The area is characterized by the presence of numerous boraciferous blowholes, especially in the Monterotondo Marittimo area, mainly exploited in the production of geothermal energy, of particular interest, the Biancane Natural Park, a geothermal naturalistic area that owes its name to the white color of the rocks, due to the emissions of hydrogen sulphide which, in contact with limestone, form gypsum. The steam that escapes from the rocks and from the ground has a temperature of about 100 ° C. This area is part of the Archaeological Technological Park of the Grossetan Metalliferous Hills.

Grosseto Area

Grosseto is the southernmost provincial capital of Tuscany and the main city of the Tuscan Maremma. It rises in the coastal area of ​​the Maremma, just 12km from the sea, in the Ombrone valley.

The territory of the municipality of Grosseto was inhabited, as for the whole area of ​​the Tuscan Maremma, since the most ancient times, in fact Roselle, an ancient Etruscan-Roman city, is located north-east of Grosseto.

The Grosseto area is also home to the Maremma Natural Park, it was the first natural park created in Tuscany in 1975. The park covers an area of ​​9800 hectares from the coast of Principina a Mare to Talamone, in the municipality of Orbetello . Within the protected area, various ecosystems alternate, from the marshy area to the Mediterranean scrub, including a stretch of the Tyrrhenian coast, most likely one of the most beautiful in all of Tuscany.

Just 23km from Grosseto, there is one of the most famous places in the Maremma, Castiglione della Pescaia, an unmissable destination for lovers of the sea, awarded numerous times with the 5 sails of Legambiente. In addition to its wonderful beaches and crystal clear waters, Castiglione della Pescaia is also an unmissable stop to visit the Diaccia Botrona, a protected nature reserve.

Follonica is about 40 minutes from Grosseto, and is one of the most famous maritime destinations in the Tuscan Maremma. The origins of the town are not particularly ancient, the birth of the town in fact coincides with the construction of the Royal and Imperial Foundries in 1834, built at the behest of Leopoldo II of Lorraine, but the territory was inhabited since the Etruscan period.

Finally Punta Ala, together with Castiglione della Pescaia two of the most exclusive seaside resorts in the province of Grosseto and the Tuscan Maremma.

Monte Amiata

Monte Amiata is, with its 1738 mt. the main mountainous relief of the Tuscan Maremma. Divided between the provinces of Grosseto and Siena, Monte Amiata is home to the largest beech forest in Europe, and is an ancient volcano that has been extinct for millennia. Furthermore, on Monte Amiata, there is a natural reserve, the Monte Amiata Faunistic Park, for the preservation of the native animal and plant species of the territory, the wolf, the horse, the Amiata donkey.

On Monte Amiata there are also some beautiful villages:

Arcidosso, on the western side of Monte Amiata, is one of the main municipalities in the area. Of particular interest are the Church of San Niccolò, dating back to 1144, the Church of Sant’Andrea and the Church of San Clemente, the Cinta Muraria and the Rocca Aldobrandesca. Arcidosso is also famous for one of its historical figures, David Lazzaretti, founder of the religious movement of Giurisdavidismo.

Castel del Piano rises on the western slope of the Amiata and houses the Church of San Leonardo, the Church of Santi Niccolò and Lucia, the Pieve di Santa Lucia, the Amiatino Theater and the surrounding walls. Every year, on the 8th of September, the Palio di Castel del Piano takes place, a historic city palio which, according to legend, was born in 1431, even if there is certain information about the existence of this tradition only since 1771. The palio sees face the four city districts, Borgo, Monumento, Poggio and Storte.

Cinigiano, built around the 12th century, is one of the most characteristic villages of Monte Amiata. Among the streets of the village admire the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, the Clock Tower, of medieval origin, the House Museum, in the hamlet of Monticello Amiata, the reconstruction of a peasant house.

Roccalbegna, of medieval origin, the village rises in the upper valley of the Albegna river and is characterized by the presence, in the town, of two imposing rocky cliffs, on which the Rocca Aldobrandesca was built, in medieval times and the Cassero Senese, during the Renaissance.

Santa Fiora, famous for its fish pond, built by the Sforza in the sixteenth century, hosts the source of the Fiora river and is one of the most beautiful villages in the Tuscan Maremma. Its churches, the Pieve delle Sante Flora and Lucilla, the Church of Suffragio, the Church of the Madonna delle Nevi, the Palazzo Sforza Cesarini, the Cinta Muraria and the Mercury Mines Museum of Monte Amiata are beautiful.

Seggiano, famous above all for its DOP extra virgin olive oil, this village is located in the north-western territories of Monte Amiata and is one of its most beautiful settlements. Immersed in the countryside of Seggiano is one of the most beautiful artistic gardens in the Tuscan Maremma, the Garden of Daniel Spoerri.

Argentario

The Argentario coast is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Italy, crystal clear waters bathe imposing rocks covered with Mediterranean scrub and in the background the sea, the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, Giglio, Giannutri and Monte Cristo … a real magic for the eyes.

The Silver Coast is home to wonderful ancient villages:

Porto Santo Stefano famous for its small shops and typical restaurants, a walk along the seafront is a must, between a fish restaurant, a souvenir shop and the simple beauty of the sea.

Porto Ercole, loved for its nightlife, is one of the most exclusive villages of Monte Argentario, every year it hosts the Night of the Pirates, one of the most popular summer events on the Silver coast, reconstruction of a historical event, on 12 In fact, June 1544, the pirate Barbarossa attacked the town. Porto Ercole hosts splendid historic buildings, the Church of Sant’Erasmo, the imposing Forte Stella and the Palazzo dei Governanti.

Orbetello, in the center of the lagoon to which it gives its name and connected to the mainland by the two tomboli of Feniglia and Giannella. Surrounded by its walls, of Etruscan origin, Orbetello is today one of the most loved and exclusive destinations in the Argentario.

Talamone, with its characteristic marina, is a delightful maritime village … a walk to the port is a must, admiring the sea and the moored boats.

Ansedonia and the city of Cosa, an ancient archaeological site of Roman origin. The City of Cosa was founded in 273 BC, and today it is possible to visit the remains of some of the most important Roman buildings, the Temple of Jupiter, the Forum and the Walls.

Capalbio famous place particularly loved by VIPs and personalities of culture and politics for its splendid beaches. Outside the town, there is the Tarot Garden, a splendid work of artist Nikki de Saint-Phalle, a garden animated by statues depicting the tarot cards, imposing and evocative, decorated with stone mosaics, mirrors and colored glass.

Magliano, in the innermost territories, with its wonderful walls that still surround the entire town today.

Valle del Fiora

The Argentario coast is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Italy, crystal clear waters bathe imposing rocks covered with Mediterranean scrub and in the background the sea, the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, Giglio, Giannutri and Monte Cristo … a real magic for the eyes.

The Silver Coast is home to wonderful ancient villages:

Porto Santo Stefano famous for its small shops and typical restaurants, a walk along the seafront is a must, between a fish restaurant, a souvenir shop and the simple beauty of the sea.

Porto Ercole, loved for its nightlife, is one of the most exclusive villages of Monte Argentario, every year it hosts the Night of the Pirates, one of the most popular summer events on the Silver coast, reconstruction of a historical event, on 12 In fact, June 1544, the pirate Barbarossa attacked the town. Porto Ercole hosts splendid historic buildings, the Church of Sant’Erasmo, the imposing Forte Stella and the Palazzo dei Governanti.

Orbetello, in the center of the lagoon to which it gives its name and connected to the mainland by the two tomboli of Feniglia and Giannella. Surrounded by its walls, of Etruscan origin, Orbetello is today one of the most loved and exclusive destinations in the Argentario.

Talamone, with its characteristic marina, is a delightful maritime village … a walk to the port is a must, admiring the sea and the moored boats.

Ansedonia and the city of Cosa, an ancient archaeological site of Roman origin. The City of Cosa was founded in 273 BC, and today it is possible to visit the remains of some of the most important Roman buildings, the Temple of Jupiter, the Forum and the Walls.

Capalbio famous place particularly loved by VIPs and personalities of culture and politics for its splendid beaches. Outside the town, there is the Tarot Garden, a splendid work of artist Nikki de Saint-Phalle, a garden animated by statues depicting the tarot cards, imposing and evocative, decorated with stone mosaics, mirrors and colored glass.

Magliano, in the innermost territories, with its wonderful walls that still surround the entire town today.