|  The
southwestern part of Tuscany is known as the Maremma. The
region rolls from the steep slopes of Monte Amiata, an extinct
volcano reaching the wooded heights of 1738 m., down to the
Tyrrhenian Sea.
Maremma marvellous sandy beaches, historic
towns and mediaeval villages, all of which are worth a stop
The term Maremma is
used to define a wide geographical area placed close to the
mid-Tyrrhenian coast of Italy. The lack of a precise topographical
delimitation partially explains the widespread habit (used
also for this brief description) of identifying the Maremma
country with the territory placed within the administrative
boundaries of the Province of Grosseto.
The climate here is very mild; almond
trees start blooming in February. Ancient Etruscan settlements
and tombs dot the landscape and some of Tuscany’s most
intriguing towns adorn the hilltops.
The coast itself offers gentle beaches, natural areas, hills
for hiking, fishing villages, resort towns.
The legend say that an angry Saturn hurled a lightning bolt
into the ground here, causing warm, sulphurous waters to gush
forth from the crater of a volcano.
Terme
di Saturnia
Better documented are Etruscan tales of the spring, thus dating
Saturnia's origins as far back as at least 2800 years ago.
In modern times, a thermal spa harnesses the “miraculous
properties” of the 98.6° F degree (37° C) water
before it all flows nearly a mile away into a waterfall in
the open countryside. ...more
The area known as the Maremma
begins south of Livorno and form a coastal plain running to
the very southern end of Tuscany. Famous for cowboys (the
butteri), Etruscans, naturally heated springs, and the odd
mosquito, this is a different and relatively undiscovered
Tuscany, with several large nature reserves, well-kept hill
towns and countless Roman and Etruscan ruins.
The Maremma covers 130 km
of coast in the north (Alta Maremma) also the hills of the
Colline Metallifere, with the former center of a mining industry,
Massa Marittima. In the south it reaches to the famous peninsula
Monte Argentario and in the west to the Mount Amiata, the
highest mountain of Tuscany.
SOUTH COASTAL REGION
The towns of the area, with Grosseto as its commune hub, provide
a mixture of antiquity and beach resort. There are many Europeans
(and a handful of savvy Americans) that stay exclusively on
the coast when visiting Tuscany. A word of warning for those
considering their first trip to Tuscany and making the coastal
region their base: it is a full 1 - 2 hours from many popular
sites (Siena, hill towns, Montalcino etc) of Tuscany making
day trips rather lengthy.
 Natural
park of the Maremma (Parco Naturale della Maremma)
The area of "Parco Naturale della Maremma" stretches
along the Tyrrhenian coast from Principina a Mare to Alberese,
and up to Talamone. The Park is characterized by important
geographical elements such as the last stretch of the
river Ombrone, the orographic system of the mountains
of the Uccellina which reaches 417 meters of height in
Poggio Lecci, the marsh area of the Trappola, and the
coast which is both sandy and characterized by steep cliffs.
The fauna of the park It is very rich and is made up of
several mammals such as wild boars, fallow deers, roe
deers, porcupines, jews, foxes, wild cats, weasels, martins.
Manager Ente Parco Regionale della Maremma
Address: Aurelia Antica localitr Pianacce - 58010 Alberese
(GR)
Phone: 0564/407111
Fax: 0564/407292
E-mail: parcomar@gol.grosseto.it
Surface: 10.000 ha
Province: Grosseto
Established in : 1975
Maremma Tour tips
Drive through these
waves of grain and you'll see cowboys in fedoras riding big
sturdy maremmano horses herding long-horned maremmano bulls.
Drive east and you'll reach Castel del Piano, center of a dozen
well-preserved medieval towns where the Epiphany, a costumed
outdoor pageant heralding the arrival of the Three Kings, is
still performed by townspeople on the evening of January 5th.
Drive west and you'll reach the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea,
where a causeway leads you to the promontory called Argentario,
site of l' Oasi della laguna , one of the few bird
refuges in this avid bird-hunting country. Elegant water fowl
come here from all over Europe and so can you, from September
1 to April 30.
A few miles away in the town of Ansedonia,
a procession of gaily lit boats celebrates the miraculous finding
of a religious relic every May 11th. North of here is the
capital city, Grosseto, a beautifully restored 16th-century
walled town that was greatly enhanced by Medici family patronage.
Farther inland are the warm sulphurous waters
of Saturnia, which legend claims as the first town ever built
in Italy (by no less illustrious a founder than the mother
of Saturn). Etruscan tombs abound in this area, centered in
the woods around the semi-derelict town of Sovana.
Also well
worth visiting are Massa Marittima, Follonica, Magliano (and
the nearby ruins of the romanesque monastery of San Bruzio),
the seaside village of Capalbio and the Etruscan ruins of Vetulonia. |
Segnalaci
siti notizie per turisti o eventi
