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The
Maremma
is a geographical area covering part of western
Tuscany, notably the Province of Grosseto, and a small part of
northern Latium (Lazio). It can be divided into the Alta Maremma (upper
or northern Maremma) which borders on the
Provinces of Sienna and Pisa, and Bassa Maremma (lower or
southern Maremma) south of Grosseto and around the Costa d'Argento.
Click
the small map above to view
the five main geomorphological areas of the Maremma.
The
coastal Maremma once contained vast and malarial
expanses of marsh and salt flat that were drained during
Mussolini's time and repopulated from other parts of Italy,
notably the Veneto.
The
marshes of the Maremma (click to enlarge)
Although
the Maremma has gained in popularity with visitors over the
past 15 years, aside from a few small beach resorts, it is still
remarkably off the beaten track for both Italian and non-Italian
tourists, despite its many attractions. In the Maremma ancient
traditions flourish and authentic Tuscan culture lives on.
Herding
the long-horned cattle of the Maremma
The
Maremma is famous for its butteri, cowboys who until recently rode horses to manage the distinctive Maremma cattle. Butteri
still saddle up for festivals and other special occasions, and
horseback trekking is readily available for visitors.
Butteri
(click to enlarge)
The Maremma also has a rocky part to its
coastline, composed of peninsulas where the hills extend to
the sea, interspersed with beautiful bays, many of them ideal for
swimming. Castiglione della Pescaia
is probably the best known of the fishing village beach resorts. Vast pine forests border many of these beaches and there are
still a few undrained marshes now protected as wildlife parks, the
most famous of which is the Parco dell'Uccellina.
These areas teem with wildlife, most notably a wide range of
spectacular bird species.
The
Maremma coast
Other parts of the Maremma and especially the Alta
Maremma are high up in the hills and thickly forested. Some of the
hill towns are well known, for example Massa
Marittima,
while others are rarely visited by outsiders even though they are
full of charm. Among them are Civitella Marittima, Roccastrada, Roccatederighi, Sassofortino, Monte Massi, Cinigiano, Campagnatico,
Pari and
Torniella.
The
village of Pari (click to enlarge)
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A
place to stay to visit both the coast and inland Maremma?
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We
recommend Casa
Reasco in the village of Torniella,
not far from Roccastrada and Pari in the
"Inland Hill" area of the Maremma, as an ideal place to stay to explore the Maremma and to enjoy
authentic Tuscan life. Visitors are fewer and so accommodation
prices are lower here than elsewhere in Tuscany and these vacation
apartments are a real bargain. They are spacious, well-equipped
and cool.
View
of Torniella from Casa Reasco (click to enlarge)
Casa
Reasco has two apartments (4 and 2(+2) persons) plus individual
rooms. The apartments may be rented individually or together.
Torniella has a good pizzeria and shops for supplies. The people
are extremely friendly and prefer to sit outside and talk in the
evening rather that watch television. This is a great place!
Click
here
for more about Casa Reasco.
Click
here
for more about what to see in and near the Maremma.
Bee
eater in the Maremma (click to enlarge)
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