Clustered around a beautifully preserved medieval centre, Grosseto is the political and cultural hub of Tuscany’s Maremma region. It’s home to a striking Romanesque cathedral, fascinating museums and spectacular coastal landscapes.
Things to do in Grosseto
Admire the layers of white and black marble on the Romanesque facade of the Grosseto Cathedral, which stands atop the earlier Santa Maria Assunta Church. It’s designed on a Latin cross and houses a beautifully carved 15th-century baptismal font and a prized painting of the “Madonna delle Grazie" by Matteo di Giovanni.
Get up close to Tuscan plants and fossils at the Museum of Natural History of the Maremma, which boasts minerals from Monte Amiata and the Metalliferous Hills. Step into the palaeontology room to learn how fossils have revealed the region’s natural history and browse the 3D displays detailing the ecology of Maremma’s coastal landscapes.
Escape to the natural surrounds of the Maremma Regional Park, which hugs the Mediterranean coastline to the west of Grosseto. Follow one of the hiking trails through its dense myrtle forests and bird-filled swamps, then visit the well-preserved San Rabano Abbey and the ancient towers perched above the steep granite cliffs.
Browse the Etruscan artefacts and medieval artworks at the Maremma Archaeology and Art Museum, which span prehistoric times up until the modern age. See Classical Age archaeological finds from Grosseto and admire the sacred artworks, including Guido da Siena’s “The Last Judgment” and Sassetta’s “Madonna delle Ciliege”.
Getting around Grosseto
Grosseto is just over two hours’ drive from Rome Fiumicino Airport and around 2.5 hours from Florence. Trains connect to cities across Italy, while the centre of Grosseto can easily be explored on foot.