Maremma Tuscany

Last year we decided to organise a trip in Italy, and we chose as destination, Maremma, a territory that stands in the southern part of the region.

The main place that we visited was Pitigliano, a beautiful ancient village, I want to tell my experience and my knowledge on this village:

The village of Pitigliano is one of the most important and fascinating of southern Tuscany, a typical ancient village situated on a spur of rock tufaceous certainly attractive, which gives the whole town looks absolutely magical and charming, as if in a sense here the time had stopped at one ancient and the country was a sort of enchanted kingdom, which stands high and imposing on the underlying valleys and countryside.

Pitigliano is located in the heart of that territory which is known as Area del Tufo, an ancient place that was originally colonized and inhabited by the Etruscans and Romans, two brilliant and fascinating people that here in Maremma, have left testimonies real and tangible for their passage: Vie Cave, Necropolis, Tombs, Aqueducts, Roads and Bridges, now a unique attraction for tourists and history lovers.

As far as the monuments of Pitigliano, one of the most important we have no doubt remember the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, a building that dates back to the early Middle Ages, was almost completely restored by the will of Orsini family, the Church of Santa Maria, better known as Chiesa di San Rocco, who is one of the oldest buildings in Pitigliano, the Church of San Francesco, who was standing outside the town, and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace, then remember the Monument to offspring Ursinea, the Palace and Gardens Orsini.

Pitigliano is a fantastic village, and I recomend to all tourists, to visit the centre and discover its beauty.

Patricia from Monaco

Two years ago we organised a voyage in Tuscany, we were a group of fifteen people and we decided to do a trip by the most important places of the region.

We discovered the village of Orbetello and we were fascinated by its beauty, but also by its ancient history  and its culture, here I want to describe the village:

Orbetello is a charming town of southern Tuscany, a beautiful village that sits on a lagoon, making sure very famous for this peculiarity,Orbetello is in the territories of the Maremma, a few minutes from the promontory of Monte Argentario, presenting, without any doubt, as one of the most interesting sights in the area which rises.

There are many reasons for interest in the town of Orbetello, from its lagoon, this is indeed an extraordinary natural ecosystem, become over the years protected the WWF oasis, a place of life of many species of fish and birds .

Very beautiful are also monuments which have Orbetello and give importance to the country and beauty, talking about the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Porta Coeli Medina, the Palace of Government, the Polveriera Guzman and the Church of San Francesco.

It has been a wonderful experience, and surely we will come back in Maremma!

Sandra from Swiss

Last year parties for a trip to Italy, between the various stages that we decided on our itinerary, one led us into the territory of Tuscia, specifically a few miles from Lake Bolsena, and decided to stay at the Castello di Santa Cristina ” .

Here describe the structure:The decision to organize an horseback holiday is certainly the ideal solution for people who love and appreciate the wildlife, animals and tranquility of hiking and walking in the green countryside, woodlands, hills and rivers, in a impressive and unique environment, deserves to be admired not only for its beauty, but also for the feelings and emotions that stir in the human will.

Dedicate a trip to the riding experience will therefore do very special and unique in its kind, during which we can leave behind the problems and daily concerns and devote themselves only to themselves, to relax and just looking for a balance with the natural world, offering every day its beautiful landscapes, its views and absolutely charming atmosphere, able to engage the mind and animation of its visitors.

Very interesting and beautiful will be spending the horse riding holiday choosing destination as the Maremma Tuscany and Lazio, beautiful corner of paradise in the heart of Italy’s center, where you can reach the sea with the Costa d’Argento, the mountain , with the Mount Amiata and Lake, with the enchanting scenery of Bolsena Lake.

In this sense Santa Cristina Castle looks like the perfect place in which to decide to hold a holiday on horseback, but also to spend a relaxing, comfortable and absolutely unforgettable journey, immersed in nature, and surrounded by the beauty of the environment.

Horse Riding in Italy at Santa Cristina Castle

A truly unique and pleasant to be repeated.

Vivienne, France

The Argentario  is a characteristic promontory that lies on the banks of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The Argentario promontory si famous for the Costa d’Argento, one of the most beautiful tourist destinations of Maremma Tuscany and Italy and one of the most important place for summer tourism, which each year is able to receive and to affect an increasing number of tourists, the sick from its beauty and numerous activities proposed.

On Monte Argentario will have the opportunity to visit two enchanting medieval villages that rising on the east and west sides of the promontory, overlooking the waters of the Tyrrhenian Coast, offering views of landscapes absolutely magical, even reaching the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, including Giglio and Giannutri, the two towns are Porto Ercole, where there is Sant’Ermete Church and the Clock Tower, and Porto Santo Stefano, guardian of Aquarius Mediterranean.

The structure of Terme di Saturnia is known nationally and internationally as well as for its beauty spa, the Hotel and Restaurant, but also for the quality of its sulphurous water that emerges from the ground at a temperature of 37.5 ° C.

The main features that makes the Baths so famous is the waters, which have important curative effects, acting on pathological affecting the respiratory , circulatory and cardiac apparatus and for such dermatological diseases.

The curative properties of water are determinated by the presence of Thermal Plankton.

The waters of Terme were already known and appreciated in ancient times, especially by the people Etruscan and Roman, the Romans created the first pools of thermal waters open to the public at Saturnia, thanks to the vicinity of the Via Clodia, in ancient times traffic from pilgrims and travelers who went to Rome.

The origins of these special and unique properties curative waters have been over the centuries objects legends, the most widespread is that the Saturn God as creator of these waters, it is said that Saturn, weary of the continuing disputes between the men decided to throw a lightning burning on the ground, this lightning, falling, generated a rift in the soil from which water began leaking hot water and steam, which could riappacificare the inhabitants of the earth.

The construction of modern spa began at the end of 1700, the baths are now very efficient and offer their guests the many treatments and massages based on water and mud for body care and relaxation, autogenic training classes and the opportunity to practice golf, bowls and use the sauna and Turkish bath.

The Maremma is a beautiful area that arises in southern Tuscany, in a fascinating territory, it is much appreciated for its nature and its landscapes, but also for the beauty of its villages and ancient towns.

In Maremma, visitors will have the opportunity to visit places absolutely charming, rising from the sea, with the splendid coast of Monte Argentario, more internal to the hills with the valleys crossed bysmall rivers, the mountains, with Mount Amiata , to the lake, with the presence of Lake Bolsena, in nearby Tuscia.

One of the most beautiful and interesting attractions of Maremma Toscana, however, is surely represented by its villages, real jewels of art, history and culture, certainly capable of providing moments of great beauty and charm, the Maremma offers little villages with monuments, churches and palaces, pieces of history that tell an ancient past.

In an imaginary journey through the landscapes of this wonderful land, visitors can discover Pitigliano, a splendid center born during the Roman period, and famous for its rock of tufa, visiting its ways, rich of medieval monuments, you will have the opportunity to admire a synagogue, a symbol of the real presence of the Jewish population in the territory.

Sovana, another village of “Area del Tufo”, famous for being built in Etruscan-Roman period and for giving birth to the famous figure of Pope Gregory VII, known as Ildebrando of Suan, some of its most beautiful buildings are the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul,  the Archivio Palace and the magnificent necropolis, with Etruscan tombs full of frescoes.

Manciano, charming village which stands on a hill, is also popular with the nickname of “Spy Maremma” so from his village, and especially from Torre della Rocca, you can enjoy a panorama absolutely fascinating, that ranging from sea to the mountains.

Saturnia, famous Roman village born with the name of Ahr, “City of Gold”, here are the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Archaeological Museum, just outside the country, we find the beautiful necropolises of Puntone and the settlement of Bagno Santo, the area is particularly famous for Terme di Saturnia, with the spa and wellness center, and the two locations of Gorello and Waterfalls of the Mill.

We finish our journey in the country of Capalbio, charming medieval town, here you can admire its walls, the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, the Tarot Garden, which is in nearby hamlet of Garavicchio and is a magnificent work of art, statues decorated mosaic representing the 22 tarot cards and created by the artist Niki de Saint-Phalle, finally mention its beaches that have made the country to earn 5 Sails of Legambiente.