THE TERRITORY.
Where Nature, Tradition and Wellness Meet
The Maremma, the southernmost area of Tuscany, aligns with the Province of Grosseto, but more importantly, it represents a way of life rooted in respect for the environment, culture, and preservation of traditions.
The Maremma is synonymous with active experiences—a magnificent journey through colors, scents, history, sea, and mountains. Above all, the Maremma embodies the art of good living!
It is a vast outdoor playground of experiences for the discerning traveler seeking the emotional essence of a unique territory.
The Maremma is the wild heart of a Tuscany of land and sky, where vast spaces and unhurried time create the perfect setting for outdoor travel. It is a place where the journey aligns harmoniously with the rhythms of humanity.
Currently, the Maremma is the most sustainability-focused area in Tuscany, prioritizing the environment and nature.
Beaches and Islands
Il Boschetto
Il Boschetto, located about 3 km north of the center of Follonica, is an easily accessible beach with both free and equipped areas. It offers clear waters, a wide sandy shore, and a cool pine forest with bars and restaurants, making it the perfect spot for a day of relaxation and refreshment in nature.
Torre mozza
The beach of Torre Mozza is located about 6 km from the center of Follonica. Here, you'll find an old tower (from which the location gets its name): a masonry structure of Saracen origin that stretches into the sea, guarding a landscape of sandy dunes and reed beds. On both the right and left, there are parking areas for cars.
LA POLVERIERA
La Polveriera, located 3 km south of Follonica and north of Puntone di Scarlino, is known as the "sea for children" due to its shallow waters, warm temperatures, and sandy dunes that emerge at low tide. A well-equipped pine forest provides shade during the hottest hours. Nearby, there are beach establishments and refreshment points, making the beach ideal for families.
CALA VIOLINA
It is a charming cove located within the Bandite di Scarlino Nature Reserve. The cove is not very large, but what makes it so famous and unique is the sound the sand makes when it is walked on, in the absence of other strong sound sources, which resembles the sound of a violin.
LE ROCCHETTE
The Rocchette Beach, located 8.5 km north of Castiglione della Pescaia, is characterized by white sand, smooth cliffs, and the remains of the Rocchette Fort, built in the 12th century at the behest of Cosimo I de' Medici. Fortified in the 16th century, the fort is now visible only from the outside. Nearby, there are parking areas, beach establishments, and restaurants.
LE ISOLE
The Tuscan Archipelago National Park, the largest marine park in Europe, includes the main islands of the Archipelago: Elba, Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa, Giannutri, and Gorgona, along with small islands and rocks such as Palmaiola, Cerboli, and the Formiche di Grosseto. Located between the provinces of Livorno and Grosseto, it covers eleven municipalities.
Historic Villages
Scarlino
Scarlino, located on the northern ridge of Monte d'Alma, overlooks the Gulf of Follonica. The area includes the Bandite di Scarlino, 8,700 hectares of Mediterranean scrub. Inhabited since prehistoric times, as evidenced by finds at the Rocca Pisana dating back to the Bronze Age and Hellenistic period, it offers well-marked hiking and cycling trails to explore nature.
Massa Marittima
Massa Marittima, perched on a panoramic hill with a view of the Gulf of Follonica, is one of the most characteristic towns in Tuscany. The area includes Lake Accesa and the Cathedral of San Cerbone (11th century), with works by Giroldo da Como and Duccio di Buoninsegna. Notable landmarks include the Convent of San Pietro all'Orto (1197) and the Cassero Senese Fortress, with the Torre del Candeliere.
Gavorrano
The town is located in an area rich in mineral resources, primarily characterized by large pyrite deposits that were intensively mined until the early 1980s, with numerous mines. It is also known for being the place where Pia dei Tolomei met her death ("Siena made me, Maremma undid me") and for being the birthplace of writer and Garibaldian Giuseppe Bandi.
Archaeological Areas
LAGO DELL’ACCESA
The archaeological area of Lake Accesa, located 7 km from Massa Marittima, covers dozens of hectares and includes five residential districts dating back to the 7th-6th centuries BC, with partially identified necropolises. Possibly linked to Vetulonia, it controlled the local mining deposits. Marked trails guide visitors through the districts. The artifacts are preserved at the Archaeological Museum of Massa Marittima.
BARATTI AND POPULONIA
The Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia extends between the Piombino promontory and the Gulf of Baratti, home to the Etruscan and Roman city of Populonia, known for its ironworking.
It includes necropolises, quarries, industrial districts, and the acropolis with Etruscan and Roman remains, including temples and baths.
Trails connect the sites, crossing woods and Mediterranean scrub, offering glimpses of the sea and the island of Elba.
VETULONIA
The archaeological area of Vetulonia, in the municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia, was discovered by Isidoro Falchi, to whom the local museum is dedicated. Along a trail, you can find tombs such as the Pietrera tumulus (7th century BC), the Diavolino tumulus, and the Tomb of the Golden Fibula. Other sites include Poggio alla Guardia and Costa Murata. The city excavation at Poggiarello Renzetti is also worth a visit.
