Maremma Tuscany
Located in the southern part of Tuscany, in the wonderful territory of Alta Tuscia Latium, the Maremma is seen as an absolutely splendid and magical land, incredibly rich in a history marked by the ancient presence of the Etruscans and Romans who built their cities here and left incredible testimonies of their lifestyle through numerous necropolises, tombs, funeral urns, ruins and the remains of various constructions and fortifications. For the Maremma this history is a great honour and its citizens take much pride in maintaining what can only be called a truly splendid open air archaeological museum.
The Maremma is considered as one of the most beautiful and charming lands in Tuscany and indeed, the entire Italian territory, recognized as a wonderful treasure chest of nature and environment. In fact, its landscapes are uniquely composed of the sea, with its fascinating Tyrrhenian coast; the mountains, with its impressive Monte Amiata; the central hills, home to numerous splendid and fascinating villages; and the plains, with its rivers and fields that turn a striking golden yellow during the summer.
Visiting the Maremma is definitely a pleasant and unique experience, deserving to be seen in every light and appreciated in all its beauty and particularity. It is an opportunity to experience the charm and magic of its cities and to admire its historical buildings and churches, extraordinarily rich in works of art and valuable paintings.
Amongst the Maremman towns and cities that must be visited are Saturnia, an ancient Roman city that today is extremely beautiful and famous for its celebrated hot springs; Pitigliano, situated on a tufaceus cliff and famous for the incredible particularity of its buildings, including a historic Synagogue; Sovana, in the heart of the Area del Tufo (Tuff Area), an important Roman city and birth place of Pontiff Gregory VII; Capalbio, on the banks of the Tyrrhenian coast and seen as summer tourist’s paradise; and Argentario, an enchanting promontory on the waters of the Mediterranean sea.
Whilst all of the cities of Alta Maremma deserve to be visited, some of the most beautiful include Massa Marritima, incredibly rich in monuments and museum that retell its unique mining history; and Castiglione della Pescaia, another town renowned for the beauty of its historic centre and its famous beaches, who have, over the years, earned great notoriety and fame as summer tourist destinations.
To the south of the Maremma lies the incredible territory of Alta Tuscia Latium, internationally famous for the beauty of its countrysides and towns, securely tied to ancient religious traditions and rich in churches and sacred building that deserve to be appreciated in all their beauty.
Some of the loveliest towns in this southern section of Lazio include, Bolsena, famous for the cloister of Santa Cristina and the charm of its historical buildings; Castiglione in Teverina, which is seen as real gem of art and culture; Civita di Bagnoregio, a uniquely beautiful town, also known as “Città che Muore” (The City that Dies) thanks to its position on a progressively crumbling tufaceus cliff; Tarquinia, an ancient city built by the Roman Empire and home to the dynasty of the Tarquini Emperors; and finally Montefiascone, absolutely famous for its wine l’Est!Est!!Est!!!.
The Maremman land is also highly regarded for the extraordinary quality of its wines, who find fame and celebrity at both a national and international level. Some of the more famous wines include the Morellino di Scansano DOCG, produced with Sangiovese grapes; the Capalbio DOC, produced in the southern territory of the province of Grosseto; and the Sovana DOC, also produced with Sangiovese grapes and cultivated in the Area del Tufo (Tuff Area).
Other high quality wines are the Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario DOC, cultivated in the coastal territory of the Argentario; the White of Pitigliano DOC, obtained with Trebbiano Toscano grapes; and finally the Monteregio of Massa Marittima DOC, produced in the Metalliferous Hills.
However amongst all that the Maremma has to offer, it is the cuisine that shines the brightest. The gastronomy here is always simple and genuine using products that are locally cultivated and seasonal. The recipes find their roots in the ancient past, in the traditions of the peasants, who, out of necessity, used “poor”, cheap ingredients to create their meals. The gastronomy of Maremma is, despite this, healthy and genuine and in many typical recipes, the main ingredient is often game; a practice which underlines the great attachment the local population had and still have to the act of hunting.
Perhaps one of the most symbolic dishes of the Maremma is the famous “Battute al Cinghiale” which uses wild boar and serves as a truly an iconic image of this amazing territory.