- farmhouses in Grosseto Maremma, Italy

GROSSETO MAREMMA: WHERE TRADITION MEETS MODERNITY
Historians have variously described Grosseto as Grossetum, Crassetum, or Rosetum. What they agree upon, however, is that this marvellous Italian county town is of Etruscan origin, and to it was to highlight these origins that the ancient inhabitants of Grosseto chose the griffin, the mythical winged animal revered by the Etruscans, as their emblem. For a long time, though, Maremma was one of Italy’s poorest regions, notorious for its swamps, which bred diseases like malaria and cholera.

A dominion of Siena from the 11th-15th centuries, Grosseto was a feudal holding of the Aldobrandeschi, until they fell to Florence and Cosimo de Medici in 1559. It was the Medici who began the process of Grosseto’s economic recovery, digging canals and constructing the city’s present walls and public buildings. However, it was as late as 1765, with the arrival of the Grand Dukes of Lorraine that the swamps began to be drained. Particular mention in this regard must be made of Grand Duke Leopold II, who set up hydraulic engineering works that made the Maremma region fertile and luxuriant.

And even more recently, the Agency for the Maremma came into being in 1951, which had a huge impact on the area, with houses and roads being built and the land being subdivided and reclaimed to be distributed among a modern farming class that replaced the earlier dispossessed peasants. Today, therefore, the Maremma and its capital Grosseto are tourist attractions that draw large crowds to its historical palaces and churches, with top class modern accommodation, and beautiful natural scenery.

Grosseto has a lovely town centre enclosed by the famous Hexagonal Walls that the Medici built at the end of the 16th century. Then there is the Duomo, the Museo Archeologico e d’Arte della Maremma, which has a collection of 5,000 prehistoric, Etruscan and Roman relics. The Roselle archaeological area houses ruins of Etruscan, Roman and medieval cities.

In the Maremma, the Massa Marittima is called the “Jewel of the Middle Ages” owing to the beauty of its Romanesque and Gothic buildings. The Piazza del Duomo’s famed cathedral, located at the top of a flight of stairs, is imposing in its stark simplicity and magnificence. The piazza also contains several medieval palazzi, including the Palazzo del Podestà and the Palazzo Comunale. On the Via Mancini is the Fortezza dei Senesi, a brilliant example of medieval architecture built by the Sienese. Yet another fascinating attraction is the subterranean Museo della Miniera or Mining Museum, which highlights the former importance of the mining sector to the local economy.

The recent development of tourism in Grosseto Maremma has created a range of quality accommodations. Depending on your needs and budget, you can stay at one of the many hotels in Grosseto, or take a trip to the coast and stay at the hotels and other lodgings on the Maremma coast. Then there are the numerous Maremma holiday farms and historic Maremma residences and hotels, all of which are listed here (www.yourwaytotuscany.com/Grosseto-Maremma.htm).

TUSCANY FARMHOUSE: STAY IN A RURAL IDYLL

How would you like to spend your holidays in a recently restored traditional farmhouse in Tuscany, with comfortable, fully furnished rooms, modern bathrooms and kitchen? Wouldn’t you like it even better if the farmhouse were to be situated in a panoramic position surrounded by the dazzling Tuscan countryside? Even better, imagine the farmhouse to be situated in a little medieval town in the Tuscan province of Arezzo. In front of the house there is a garden where you can eat and relax in the open air, and actually organise a barbeque!

Imagination? Not really, because we have carefully selected a large number of farmhouses in Tuscany where you can stay during your vacation. The farmhouses of our choice offer you every modern amenity while giving you a taste of rural Tuscan life, and most of them are impeccably restored old buildings that take you back in time to medieval Italy.

Our Tuscany holiday farmhouses are mostly located in charming and historic villages. We offer you the best of agritourism in Tuscany, as well as opportunities to go mountain biking, jogging, and trekking through some truly spectacular landscapes. Besides, you have a wide range of true blue Tuscan delicacies to choose from, and your pick of the best wines that this celebrated wine-producing region can offer.

And for those with a historical bent of mind, we offer Tuscan farmhouse holidays in Il Piastrino, which is situated in Vinci, birthplace of the celebrated Leonardo da Vinci, on one of the hills of the Chianti region in the heart of Tuscany amidst cypresses and olives groves. The old farmhouse, which has been transformed into holiday accommodations, is beautifully furnished and offers all the comforts you could ask for.

These are mere samplers. We have a truly wide rang of farmhouse accommodations waiting for you, and would love you to look over our selection before choosing the one you want to stay in. we provide direct access to the Tuscany holiday farmhouse of your choice, and invite you to visit us without delay. Our farmhouses are located in every region of Tuscany, and wherever you go, you will find farmhouse accommodation near one of Tuscany’s famous cities. So what are you waiting for? Book your Tuscany farmhouse holidays today!

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