Grosseto: Maremma between culture, coast and nature

Grosseto lies on a plain crossed by the Ombrone River, a few kilometres from the Tyrrhenian coast. The combination of historic centre, cultural heritage, riverside landscape and the paths of the Maremma opens up different ways to experience the surrounding area and choose your accommodation according to your own travel interests.

Historic Centre and Art

The historic centre of Grosseto is surrounded by a completely intact and well-preserved medieval wall circuit. This urban area is home to the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, whose construction began in 1294 under the Sienese architect Sozzo Rustichini, on the ruins of an earlier church dedicated to the Assumption.

The Cattedrale di San Lorenzo has a baptismal font, stained-glass windows, the Cappella del Crocifisso and a painting by Matteo di Giovanni. Five audio guides in Italian and English are available for visitors.

The Polo culturale Le Clarisse is located in the historic centre of Grosseto in a former 17th-century convent and comprises four cultural institutions. The cultural offering also includes the Museo Collezione Gianfranco Luzzetti, with 64 works donated to the city of Grosseto, as well as an exhibition route through the former convent of Santa Chiara and the Chiesa dei Bigi. Clarisse Arte offers an exhibition space for temporary exhibitions, a documentation centre and a storage facility for selected works from public art collections.

The Giardino Archaeologico in the historic centre is an open-air museum and archaeological garden. The Sienese Keep is considered Grosseto’s most important fortress and was built during the Republic of Siena. At the MuseoLab, you will find original finds and large-scale graphic reconstructions relating to the history of Grosseto.

Roselle and the History of the Maremma

The Area Archeologica di Roselle is located 8 kilometres north of Grosseto. It preserves sections of Etruscan walls as well as Roman urban remains, including the forum, Cardo maximus, basilica and thermal complexes.

A dedicated section of the Museo Archeologico e d’Arte della Maremma documents Roselle as an Etruscan city. It was founded at the end of the Iron Age and conquered by Rome in 294 BC. In addition, the Museo di Storia Naturale della Maremma offers guided tours, exhibitions, conferences, workshops and educational programmes.

Hiking, Cycling and Coastal Landscapes

The Parco Regionale della Maremma can be explored on foot via a network of hiking and Nordic walking trails. Route A9 – I valloni is a short, level walking trail through the Grand Dukes’ pine forest and the landscape of the Parco della Maremma known as “little Africa”. It also offers a variant to the Torre di Collelungo, as well as connections to the beach and towards Marina di Alberese.

The visitor centre of the Parco della Maremma in Alberese is located 4 kilometres from the SS Aurelia and is signposted from the exits. The Grosseto–Alberese cycle path connects Grosseto with Alberese, begins at Grosseto railway station and ends at the visitor centre of the Parco Regionale della Maremma in Alberese. It follows the embankment along the Ombrone and enters the park at Pian di Barca.

The cycle route to Spiaggia di Collelungo passes through the Grand Dukes’ pine forest to Marina di Alberese and then returns to Alberese along the coastal cycle path. Another cycle route follows the Strada del Mare, crossing pine forests, wetlands and meadows before reaching Marina di Alberese and the mouth of the Ombrone. The Alberese–San Rabano cycle route leads to the ruins of the monastery, its church and the Uccellina Tower, which are surrounded by large holm oaks.

The coastal landscape around Grosseto includes the beaches of Spiaggia di Marina di Grosseto, Medusa, Kite Beach Fiumara and Oasi. These different landscape settings – from the historic centre across the Ombrone plain to pine forests, wetlands and the coast – help you define the focus of your trip and determine the most suitable location for accommodation more clearly.

Events and Practical Information

Grosseto hosts the Game Fair every year, a three-day outdoor festival featuring hunting traditions, sport shooting, equestrian sports and activities with dogs. During the traditional procession on the night of San Lorenzo, a cart pulled by Maremma cattle from Alberese leads the way through Grosseto’s historic centre, followed by mounted Butteri.

Grosseto Airport is open to authorised civil air traffic, provided that the relevant PPR clearance has been granted in advance. The palaces Palazzo INAIL, Villino Scannerini, Palazzina Tempesti and Palazzo La Valle are also located in the immediate vicinity of Grosseto.

Other places in the region: Castiglione Della Pescaia, Magliano In Toscana, Santa Fiora, Orbetello, Monterotondo Marittimo, Civitella-Paganico, Semproniano, Castel Del Piano, Roccalbegna, Arcidosso, Campagnatico, Scansano, Cinigiano, Follonica, Gavorrano, Manciano, Massa Marittima, Montieri, Pitigliano, Roccastrada, Scarlino, Seggiano, Sorano, Grosseto, Capalbio, Rocchette, Montorgiali, Pancole, Valpiana, Civitella Marittima, Isola Del Giglio, Monte Argentario, Castell'azzara, La Dispensa, Borgo Santa Rita, La Torba, Diaccialone, Suvereto, Sabatina, Grotte Cavalieri, Montevitozzo, Carige Alta, Potassa, Frassine, Salaiola, Borgo Carige, Casone, Le Rocchette.

For the broader travel overview: Tuscany.