Sassoforte Castle is located on the massif with the same name and it dominates the village of Sassofortino from above to the North-West.
Above the high altar you can find a copy from the the XX century of the altar-piece of Matteo di Giovanni portraying “Madonna con bambino in trono ed angeli”.
The castle dates back to the Middle-Age when it belonged to the Aldobrandeschi family who kept it until the first decade of IV century. Hence the building was ruled by the city of Siena, which eventually turned it into a village.
In the V Century the castle collapsed, and many ruins are still currently visible to remind us of the importance of the site during ancient times.

Montemassi castle is located in the village of Montemassi, near the city of Grosseto, on the top of a hill which overlooks the entire valley. The castle was built near the year 1000 as a belonging of the Aldobrandeschis. The family lost control of the fortification in the XIII century, owing to a violent siege from the city of Siena.
However, some decades later, the castle was subdued to the Pannocchieschis and the Cappuccianis from Sticciano in the XIV century.
Then in 1328 the sienese army managed to reconquer the fortress, thanks to a long siege carried out by Guidoriccio Da Fogliano. The event was represented in a fresco by Simone Martini, which can be found in the Public Palace of Siena.
In the following decades the castle was the main target of several struggles that led to many internal riots. In 1374 it was ruled by the Salimbeni family, but they lost its control some years later in favour of the Verdellis from Montalcino.
At the beginning of the XV century Siena succeeded in regaining control over the area, the fortress was then included in the Republic of Siena. However, Siena had to face the local resistance to authority as the local people claimed more autonomy and the legitimacy of Montemassi, which never happened.
After the fall of the Republic of Siena in the XVI century, Montemassi was subdued to the Granducato of Toscany. The Medici family gave the castle in fief to the marquisate of the Masalpina in the XVII century. Finally around the year 1840 the castle was abandoned and left to ruin.
Since then, the complex was left in a state of heavily degrade. Restoration work was started at the end of the last century until the first years of the new Millenium.

The Maremma is synonymous with an unpolluted coastline of spectacularly beautiful inlets that can only be reached on foot, by bicycle or on horseback, such as Cala Violina and the nearby Cala Martina.
The hamlets of Punta Ala and Castiglione della Pescaia feature hills that plunge down towards the sea, covered in shrubs of Mediterranean broom alternating with dense pine groves. To the south lie Porto S. Stefano (situated in a picturesque inlet that stretches out almost as far as the Isola del Giglio), Talamone and the elegant seaside resort of Ansedonia.

The most beautiful beaches of Tuscany | [1] From Principina a Mare and Castiglione della Pescaia to Cala Violina and Piombino
Tuscany Beaches in Maremma | [2] From Principina a Mare to Ansedonia


The Maremma is outstanding for its many protected natural areas that offer the chance to appreciate its wide variety of animals, insects and birds, trees, shrubs and flowers and to enjoy its special light and scenic beauty.The Nature Reserves aren't separate from the rest of the territory, but are symbolic of an integral whole. The Maremma affirms a way of life in harmony with nature and the rhythm of the seasons.

Vetulonia was Etruscan city, inhabited even in Roman times and location of a medieval castle, is located within the municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia. At the center of an important mineral area, Vetulonia was once a rich and powerfull etruscan city as one can guess from the imposing tombs of its necropolises and from it's rediscovered precious goldsmith. The visit of it's urban excavations, of the archeological museum and the necropolis will give us a better understanding of the the art, the craftmanship and funeral practices of the etruscans.
The excavations of the city and the necropolis of Vetulonia are accessible throughout the days. The Museum, recently restored, is within the country in Piazza Vetluna.

Diaccia Botrona Marshland is the last relic of a once large Etruscan and Roman lake - lago Prile - that lay between Grosseto and Castiglione della Pescaia. Long coastal dunes, the tombolo separate the marshland from the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The Parco Naturale della Sterpaia stretches along the Livornese Tyrrhenian coast, in the wide gulf between Piombino and Follonica, and occupies an area of about 296 hectares Here we have a rare and highly-prized humid forest, which was typical of the landscape of the ancient coast of the Maremma. Miraculously surviving deforestation, it was reclaimed by the municipal authority after the unauthorised lotting of the 1970s. Magical scenery through which to wander among ancient oak trees and woodland fauna, over the sandy dunes and down to the sea.

Walking in Tuscany | Itinerary in the Coastal Park of Sterpaia
Walking in Tuscany | From Torre Mozza to the Coastal Park of Sterpaia

How to get to the Park: along the Variante Aurelia (SS1) exit at Vignale-Riotorto. Go along the "geodetic" (the shortest route) road in the Piombino direction, then turn left (on the seaward side) into one of the sea access roads signed Parco Costiero della Sterpaia.

The Abbey of San Galgano is a Circestian building and it rises approximately 30 km to the West of Siena, in the village of Chiusdino.The complex is composed of the hermitage (also called “Montesiepi's Round”) and by the monumental Abbey. At present the big Abbey is deconsecrated and and left for good to lie in ruin as you can only find the walls. However it represents a very popular touristic destination.
Due to the lack of the roof, which highlights the architectural structure of the Abbey, we can associate San Galgano with the Abbey of Melrose in Scotland, the Abbey of Kelso in Ireland and that of Eldena in Germany.
According to the legend, during Galgano Guidotti's conversion in the Abbey in 1180, he deeply stuck his sword in a stone at top of Montesiepi hermitage, in an attempt to make the hilt form a cross. You can indeed find a rusty sword with its hilt plunged in a stone in the Montesiepi Round, now covered and protected by a shrine in plexiglass.
Thanks to many points in common with the myth of King Arthur, several historians now argue that the Round Table legend and the heritage of San Chiusdino may share a common ground.

Petriolo is located in the valley of Ombrone, along the river Farma, between the villages of Monticiano and Civitella Paganico, the first is in the province of Siena while the latter is in the province of Grosseto.
Petriolo hot springs were already known by the ancient Romans, to the point that even Cicero and Marziale quoted them in some of their masterpieces. In addition, many Etruscan and Roman ruins were found both in the area of Siena and in that of Grosseto.
Petriolo thermal baths represent a well known spa in Tuscany.
However, the current toponym dates back to the XIII century.
During the Renaissance, at the beginning of the XV century, the mineral spring water was channeled in the first masonry thermal bath of the area, just in front of the river Farma, near Monticiano. The thermal complex is surrounded by walls and arcades, which were built using stones.
Petriolo thermal baths became prestigious during that historical time. As a matter of fact several representatives of the noble families of Gonzaga and Medici and the Pope Pio II himself, used to greatly appreciate the benefits of these thermal springs. In 1907 Petriolo was even mentioned by the Italian Minister of the Interior as one of the official national mineral water.

The Farma Natural Reserve is located among the villages of Monticiano and Roccastrada. The park stretches along the wild and luxuriant valley of the river Farma, which is the most important affluent of the wider river Merse, and the upper course of the river Lanzo, a very long stream flowing into the river Ombrone in Paganico.The portion of the park under competence of Siena is bounded by the left bank of the river Farma, whose course divides the two provinces of Siena and Grosseto.
In the protected area of Grosseto you can find the National Natural Reserve of Belagaio. The Belagaio is located between the river Farma and the river Lenzo. it used to be an ancient feudal castle, but it currently serves as a farm for the Italian State Forestry Department.
If you are coming from the route which links up Grosseto and Siena, nearby Petriolo thermal bath, you will be able to gaze at the wildness and harshness of the valley. Val di
Farma is characterised by steep hillsides which are entirely covered with a luxuriant vegetation. The sides create a narrow valley floor with a “V” form, in which you can catch a glimpse of the river flow.
The whole Val di Farma, with a particular focus on the Natural Reserve, presents unequalled naturalistic features for the province of Siena and some of the most relevant characteristics of the entire nation. In fact the park presents a peculiar vegetation and some rare and endemic species that can find a proper wild and uncontaminated shelter.

Roccatederighi is one of the most remarkable medieval villages in Maremma. It lies at an altitude of 538 meters and is hidden by gigantic rocks in rhyolite, also called “massi”. Its various towers and roofs and the surrounding nature complement each others perfectly.
You will access the ancient village by a portal topped with a curved arch, opening between rocks and walls, which brings you to a maze of narrow streets, steps and arcades. You will be amazed at how rocks in trachyte were used as foundations for buildings as well as defensive bastions. In “Piazzetta Senesi” you will find the clocktower and the quarterdeck's ruins. Going towards the opposite direction you will reach San Martino Church. The building is placed in a rocky spur, where you could originally find the ancient castle.
At the top of the rocks you will enjoy the amazing view that sweeps over the valley, the shores and the islands of Maremma. Take a look at the “Tufolino”, its steps and the different houses carved in the rocks.

With its 54,391 inhabitants, Siena is located in the center of Tuscany and is the capital of the province of Siena.
The city is universally renowned for its artistic heritage, for its uniform medieval cityscape and of course for its historical palio. Its center was indeed declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995.
Siena is set on three hills and is surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. It is located between the valley of the rivers Arbia to the South, Merse to the South-West and Elsa to the North, the hills of Chianti to the North and the Crete Senesi to the South-East.
From 1150 to 1269, a harsh internal conflict between the Ghibellinis and the Guelphs families took place. The battle of Monteaperti was fought in 1260 when the Ghibellinis from Siena (supported by the forces of King Manfred of Sicily) crushly defeated the Florentine Guelphs. The latter escaped in Colle Val d'Elsa.
Nine years later, in 1269, in Colle Val d'Elsa (stronghold of the Guelphs), the Ghibellinis were defeated and the city of Siena fell inevitably under control of the Florentine Guelphs, who allied with the city of Florence.