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 VILLAS: YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Tuscany is justly famous for its wine, food, warm and hospitable people, and dazzling natural beauty. However, in our opinion, Tuscany should also be celebrated for its beautiful villas, because the Tuscan countryside is dotted with some of the most superb villas dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, and almost all of them are perfectly preserved, so that they can still be inhabited with ease. And guess what? We would like to invite you to stay in one of Tuscany's independent villas, which we have carefully selected for the discerning tourist. We can guarantee you every home comfort that you can ask for, in the luxurious and elegant atmosphere of these beautiful villas.
Without exception, the independent villas of Tuscany that we have chosen for you are located amidst some wonderful natural scenery. Take the Villa Ginestra, situated near the top of a hill in the Tuscan countryside, delighting guests with a magnificent view of the city of Florence. Also within view is the tiny village of Cercina. On a nearby hilltop, you can see the ruins of a great house that once belonged to a medieval bishop. The scenery is, in a word, magnificent. At Villa Ginestra, you will enjoy the best Italy has to offer – the timeless beauty of Tuscany’s rural countryside, and quick and easy access to Florence.
An orchard of half-century-old olive trees surrounds Villa Ginestra, providing visitors with a crown of green and silver. To the west is the still deeper green of a forested mountain, webbed with well-marked trails for the adventurous hiker. To the east is a superb view of the medieval town of Fiesole.
And that is just one example of what we can offer you. There are numerous independent villas in Tuscany that find place on our list, spread all across this beautiful region of Italy. Can you actually imagine staying in a place called the Villa Buonaparte? Well, we have it on our list too, and it is situated on San Miniato’s hills, about five km from San Miniato. It is a 16th-century building, carefully renovated and maintained to remind you of the charms of medieval Italy.
As we keep saying, these are mere samples. For a detailed list of independent villas in Tuscany, come to us and we’ll take you on a free and infinitely rewarding tour!
