The Maremma area of Tuscany is a beautiful, wide-open zone with plenty of activities for visitors to engage in outdoors. While in the past it was known for being a swampland caught in the throes of political strife and foreign oppression, these days it is a travel destination thanks to its ancient Etruscan ruins, its prime beaches, and its delightful hot springs. For visitors looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the usual tourist circuits in Rome and Florence, Maremma is a great place to go to simply settle down and relax for a while.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

There are many towns and villages that dot the countryside of Maremma, and each of them has their own festivals and town traditions. However, should one visit the region in the month of February, one may find themselves stumbling upon a local carnival. Like in the rest of the country, February is carnival month for the Maremmani, and the townsfolk tend to build large floats, dress up in colorful outfits, play music and dance in the streets. Some coastal villages even build floats that drift along the surface of the water.

One of the more interesting events in Maremma takes place in the village of Pitigliano. Every March, the people of Pitigliano hold the Torciata di San Giuseppe, which is a traditional event with pagan folklore origins. On this day, children engage in fun activities like sack races and tug of war and other outdoor events, while the adults hold events like archery contests. Then at night the townsfolk light a massive bonfire in the main square and hold a feast to Saint Giuseppe by cooking traditional medieval meals.

In May, the town of Massa Marittima holds the Balestro del Girifalco. This yearly event is an archery contest with a particular focus upon crossbow shooting. The event is preceded by a parade of flag waving and colorful dancers before competitors get to show off their shooting abilities. For a truly unique experience, consider coming to Maremma around this time.

In June, Maremma hosts the Amiata Piano Festival, which lasts until the end of August. This festival takes place in the Monte Amiata area in a sumptuous concert hall, where world class classical musicians come to take the stage. Between performances, delicious foods and wines are served and the event is open to people of all ages. No dress codes!

In September, the town of Manciano hosts the Festa della Cantine. This winemaking celebration is held every year, and all the regional winemakers bring out bottles of their very best wines for people to sample. Townsfolk dressed in colorful outfits parade and dance through the streets, and locals play authentic, regional music.

Of course, this is all just the tip of the iceberg. Most towns and villages in Maremma will have their own events scattered over the course of the year. There are many livestock festivals, holiday festivals, and food festivals found across the areas. Visitors should make an effort to check out their itineraries to see if anything interesting is happening nearby before they set off on their trips!

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

The rustic, country nature of Maremma makes it a prime destination for fun outdoor activities. Visitors can spend hours simply hiking the gorgeous country trails and taking in the natural scenery. Of course, one does not simply have to walk the trails. If visitors prefer, there are plenty of opportunities to also rent bikes or even ride horses through the countryside. In addition, those interested in aquatic sports will also find a great many things to do in Maremma. Waterskiing, kite surfing, wind surfing, and fishing are all popular pastimes along the coast.

One particularly unique activity found in Maremma is riding with the butteri. The butteri, who may be referred to as Italian Cowboys, are a group of cattle herders who live traditional lives the way their ancestors did so long ago. Though it is a very exclusive opportunity, and difficult to schedule due to there being less than 100 butteri left in the world, some members of the butteri will allow visitors to ride with them as they do their work. It is a long and very difficult ride, so this is not an activity for the faint of heart, but for those up to the challenge and lucky enough to schedule such a ride, it is an exclusive opportunity that should not be missed.

Visitors will also find that the countryside is not only beautiful on its own, but it is dotted with dozens upon dozens of ancient ruins open for people to see. The ruins of the Etruscan civilization dot the region, with one of the more famous examples being the ruins at the ancient city of Roselle outside of Grosseto.

But perhaps the thing that attracts people to Maremma the most are the incredible beaches. There are well over 100 beaches in Maremma, both private and public, and they are considered among the most beautiful beaches in Tuscany. Some beaches even allow visitors to camp out overnight on the sands, and many beachfront hotels and restaurants will also allow access to their beaches.

Maremma is dotted with beautiful villages that take visitors back to ancient times. Among the most notable is Pitigliano, which is nicknamed “The Little Jerusalem”, thanks to the historic Jewish community that resides in town. Dating back to the Etruscan period, the town features channels carved into the local rock by the Etruscans as well as testimonies of the medieval and Renaissance periods, such as the Cathedral of Santi Pietro e Paolo, the Church of Santa Maria, the Orsini Fortress, the ruins of an aqueduct, and the sections of the town’s historic walls and gates.

Sorano, a town carved into the local rock, is referred to as the “Matera of Tuscany.” The area of Sorano was most likely inhabited by the Villanovans first and then by the Etruscans. During the Middle Ages, the town served as a defensive village for the Aldobrandeschi family. The town’s Orsini Fortress was built by the Aldobrandeschi family and today it hosts the Museum of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Adventurous travelers should explore the Vie Cave, a system of paths carved into the local rock, some of which extend underground.

The small village of Sovana was initially inhabited by farmers and shepherds, though it mainly developed during the Middle Ages under the Aldobrandeschi family. For much of its history, Sovana was abandoned due to a plague, though today interest in the town has increased as a result of its archeological sites, such as the Necropolis of Sovana that features the third or second century BC Tomba Ildebranda, which is among the most important surviving Etruscan monuments.

Located between the hills of Maremma and the coast, the town of Scansano is perhaps best known for the production of Morellino di Scansano, a revered DOCG red wine. Once under the control of the Aldobrandeschi family, Scansano is worth a visit thanks to its medieval buildings, such as the Church of San Giovanni Battista, in addition to other sites, such as the Archeological Wine Museum.

Other charming towns include Capalbio, which is known for its medieval walls, Civitella Paganico, which is renowned for its Romanesque architecture and the nearby Petriolo Hot Springs, Magliano, whose major attractions include archeological sites and Renaissance frescoes, and Rocchette di Fazio, which offers stunning views of the surrounding natural beauty.

INDOOR ACTIVITIES

Visitors who prefer the great outdoors might find a wider array of things to do in Maremma, but that is not to say that there is nothing to do when one wishes to get out of the sun. Visitors to Grosseto might take a visit to the Museo di Storia Naturale della Maremma, or the Natural History Museum of Maremma, and learn more about the geography, flora, and fauna of the region. Or for those more interested in the ancient civilizations that used to inhabit Maremma, one can make a visit to the Museo Archeologico e d’Arte della Maremma to learn about the region’s ancient Etruscan past. Also of interest in Grosseto is the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, which is a fascinating example of a blend between late medieval, Baroque, and Renaissance architectural styles.

And of course, that is only Grosseto. Most of the larger towns in the Maremma area tend to have their own cathedrals, museums, and other historical sites to visit. The town of Sovana, for instance, holds the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which is thought to be the oldest church in Tuscany. And the town of Sorano holds the Orsini Fortress, which is not only an excellent example of medieval architecture, but also holds its own Museum of Medieval Culture.

SHOPPING

Maremma is not the sort of place to go for those looking to make big designer purchases like Gucci or Prada. These sorts of brands are almost nowhere to be found in the rustic area. What Maremma is really good at, though, is offering a plethora of well made, unique items by local artisans running their own tiny businesses in the corners of the villages and hamlets scattered throughout the area. In Maremma, visitors would be wise to keep an eye out for artisan craft stores selling handmade ceramics, jewelry, paintings, sculptures, and even shoes.

FAMILIES & KIDS

The town of Capalbio hosts a unique destination for families with kids. Known as the Tarot Garden, this green space features numerous sculptures by French artist Niki Saint Phalle and her husband Jean Tinguly. The sculptures are covered with colorful tiles and glass. One of Tuscany’s most unique sites, the Tarot Garden is an excellent place to spend an afternoon together as a family.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

Of course, no trip to Maremma would be complete without a visit to the area’s famous hot springs: the Thermal Baths at Saturnia. One of the most unique experiences to be found in such a rustic part of the country, locals and out-of-towners alike flock to Saturnia to see the historical baths, once enjoyed by high-class Roman citizens and emperors.

The entrance to the town of Saturnia is surrounded by historical ruins, with both the remains of an Etruscan necropolis and an ancient Roman road, and visitors can still spy carvings and architecture from those eras in places around the town. The mineral-infused springs themselves bubble up from the earth’s crust in a wide area that stretches from the mountainside all the way down to the hills and nearby villages below. The thermal waters tend to hover around a temperature a little over 98 degrees Fahrenheit and are said to contain therapeutic properties.

Several spas and hotels have cropped up around the springs. Some allow access directly to the natural springs, where visitors go on a short hike climbing over natural gravel and rock to find a spot directly in the flow of the water. Other hotels and spas channel the water into their own private baths and pools. If there is any attraction in Maremma that visitors should make sure they do not miss, it is the thermal baths.