Grosseto: Culture, Maremma and Coast

Grosseto lies on a plain crossed by the Ombrone River, a few kilometres from the Tyrrhenian coast. The historic centre is surrounded by a completely intact and well-preserved medieval ring of walls.

Culture

A central landmark is the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo. Its construction began in 1294 under the Sienese architect Sozzo Rustichini, on the ruins of an earlier church dedicated to the Assumption. Its features include a baptismal font, stained-glass windows, the Cappella del Crocifisso and a painting by Matteo di Giovanni. Five audio guides in Italian and English are available for visitors.

The Polo culturale Le Clarisse is located in the historic centre in a former 17th-century monastery and comprises four cultural institutions. The Museo Collezione Gianfranco Luzzetti displays 64 works donated to the city of Grosseto. The exhibition route leads through the former Santa Chiara monastery, known as a former Poor Clare convent, as well as the Chiesa dei Bigi. Clarisse Arte offers an exhibition space for temporary exhibitions, a documentation centre and a storage facility for selected works from public art collections.

The Giardino Archaeologico in Grosseto’s historic centre is an open-air museum and archaeological garden. The Sienese Fortress is Grosseto’s most important fortress and was built during the Republic of Siena. The MuseoLab contains original finds and large-format graphic reconstructions relating to the history of Grosseto. The Museo di Storia Naturale della Maremma offers guided tours, exhibitions, conferences, workshops and educational programmes. The Area Archeologica di Roselle preserves sections of Etruscan walls and remains of the Roman city, including the forum, Cardo maximus, basilica and thermal baths.

The procession on the night of San Lorenzo is part of the city’s historical tradition. In Grosseto’s historic centre, a cart drawn by Maremma cattle from Alberese leads the procession, followed by mounted Butteri. The architectural surroundings also include Palazzo INAIL, Villino Scannerini, Palazzina Tempesti and Palazzo La Valle. Each of these four sites is a palace in the immediate vicinity of Grosseto.

Nature and trails

The Parco Regionale della Maremma can be explored on foot via a network of hiking and Nordic walking trails. The visitor centre of the Parco della Maremma in Alberese is 4 kilometres from the SS Aurelia and is signposted from the exits.

Route A9 – I valloni offers a variant to Torre di Collelungo, as well as connections to the beach and towards Marina di Alberese. Another connection is the cycle route to Spiaggia di Collelungo: it passes through the Grand Dukes’ pine forest to Marina di Alberese and then returns to Alberese along the coastal cycle path.

The Grosseto–Alberese cycle path connects Grosseto with Alberese. It begins at Grosseto railway station and ends at the visitor centre of the Parco Regionale della Maremma in Alberese.

Coast

Several beaches are located around Grosseto: Spiaggia di Marina di Grosseto, Medusa, Kite Beach Fiumara and Oasi. Each of these places is classified as a beach in the vicinity of Grosseto.

Geographical setting

Grosseto Airport is open to authorised civil air traffic, provided that the appropriate PPR clearance has been granted in advance.

Further destinations: Arcidosso, Seggiano, Santa Fiora, Castel Del Piano, Siena, Pistoia, Massa-Carrara, Lucca

For the higher-level travel overview: Tuscany.