The region has been inhabitated since prehistory, but the main archaeological sites in the area date from the Etruscan and Roman period. Three Etruscan cities were located in the Maremma: Populonia, Roselle and Vetulonia.
In the Early Medieval period, most of the area was controlled by the Aldobrandeschi family, but in the 13th century the city state of Siena conquered Grosseto and transformed the landscape into a large pasture zone. The coastal zone from that period onwards was depopulated, and became an increasingly unhealthy place: wetlands extended all along the coast and were the source of endemic malaria. It was only during the fascist regime of Mussolini that most of the wetlands were drained and transformed into agricultural land.
The coastal zone for a long time also was home to numerous pirates and bandits, whose hideouts (as well as the towers built to curb their activities) can still be seen in some places.
Geographically, the Maremma can be subdivided into three regions, the Maremma Pisana or Livornese; the Maremma Grossetana or Senese; and the Maremma Laziale.
The Maremma is a relatively untouched and sparsely populated area (it has one of the lowest population densities in Italy), with very little industrialization. It offers a varied landscape of plains and hills, and has a fabulous and mostly unspoilt coastline. Mediterranean macchia (maquis) vegetation alternates with olive groves and vineyards, and sandy beaches with a rocky coastline. The inland hills are rich in natural hot springs.
The Maremma has a typical Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and humid, mild winters. Rain is most frequent in October and November. Further inland and uphill, winter temperatures are lower.
The nearest airports are in [wiki=1f49f770adc6c84629f50ce3ca2a2109]Rome[/wiki] (about 70 km from Tarquinia ), [wiki=322db3095458956cc0d273d05531d993]Pisa[/wiki] (about 60 km from Cecina) and [wiki=bbf5e1be3178100ef6a81c2e4ba0304e]Florence[/wiki] (about 80 km from Grosseto).
The major towns on the coast ([wiki=06ec4c4c8203f559d564555d7818a033]Tarquinia[/wiki], Capalbio, [wiki=8fdb728a7a9050679f22b28358a85675]Orbetello[/wiki], [wiki=7a98c75d88b8f7486c288e24511c2688]Grosseto[/wiki] and Cecina) are on the main railway line from Rome to Pisa. Trains stop less frequently in smaller towns and villages. For information on train schedules and tickets, see the [url=http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=4ddd1a035296f310VgnVCM1000005817f90aRCRD]website of Trenitalia[/url].
The Via Aurelia motorway (E80/SS1) connects all major towns between Rome and Pisa. The E78 connects Grosseto to Siena.
The railway lines only connect a limited number of towns and villages, and in most cases you will need additional transport by bus to get to your destination. Bus lines in the province of Grosseto and Livorno are operated by Tiemme SpA, see their [url=http://www.tiemmespa.it/]website[/url] for more information on schedules and tickets (in Italian only!).
The islands of [wiki=25a4699a553c3c738bddac3e559bd945]Giglio[/wiki] and Giannutri can be reached by ferry from [wiki=ab08b8e63aa9823e646728a687b6e8b0]Porto Santo Stefano[/wiki] and Castiglione della Pescaia.
To reach smaller towns and villages, especially those in the interior part of the Maremma, a car is needed. Tortuous roads, climbing up and down from the hills, connect all minor centres.
For those who enjoy the sun and the sea, the Maremma is a perfect destination. Each year, the Maremma beaches and marinas are awarded the Blue Flag [url=http://www.blueflag.org/]]recognizing the quality and purity of the waters along its 160 km of shoreline, where sandy and rocky coastlines alternate. Vast pine tree forests border many of the beaches of the Maremma, and in a few areas coastal wetlands have escaped urbanization, reclamation or draining, like the nature reserve of Diaccia Botrona near Castiglione della Pescaia.
The most important coastal resorts of the Maremma Grossetana are from north to south:
* Follonica
* Punta Ala
* Castiglione della Pescaia
* Marina di Alberese in the [[Parco Regionale della Maremma[/url]] [http://www.parco-maremma.it/]
* [wiki=9c1db0ab85ec21943dfc50bbf504b869]Talamone[/wiki]
* [wiki=8fdb728a7a9050679f22b28358a85675]Orbetello[/wiki]
* the Argentario promontory with the harbour towns of [wiki=1c4abc7390d405b94f3f6d5c641e8225]Porto Ercole[/wiki] and [wiki=ab08b8e63aa9823e646728a687b6e8b0]Porto Santo Stefano[/wiki]
* Ansedonia
* Capalbio
The Tuscan Archipelago, with the island of [wiki=25a4699a553c3c738bddac3e559bd945]Giglio[/wiki] and the small island of Giannutri, is very impressive, and can be visited on a minicruise leaving from one of the many harbours of the coast of the Maremma.
[wiki=7a98c75d88b8f7486c288e24511c2688]Grosseto[/wiki] can be considered the capital of the Maremma. It has a beautiful cathedral and almost completely intact city walls.
The Tufo area is one of the most beautiful areas in Tuscany - and still undiscovered by mass tourism. Tufo (tuff or tufa) is a volcanic, porous rock commonly used as a building material. The tuff has been quarried over the centuries to build houses, cellars and tombs or to make tufi, big square bricks which are typical of the villages and towns of this area of the Maremma.
The Tufo area has a unique mixture of archaeological, architectural and natural sites. Here you can find Etruscan tombs, Roman roads carved in tuff, small medieval towns like [wiki=1b0ea5de11f777c6f06ba7ac10ef818f]Pitigliano[/wiki] or Magliano in Toscana, together with natural hot springs and pleasant wooded hills.
The 'Metal Bearing Hills' have always been the industrial heart of the Maremma, and spread from the border with the [wiki=f2dac7e9b83517ea802cca56df8cfb34]province of Siena[/wiki] to the Gulf of Follonica. As their name implies they have been mined for iron, copper, lead, zinc, pyrite and silver for centuries.
A very impressive natural phenomenon in this area are the soffioni (borax fumaroles) near Monterotondo Marittimo and Travale, where you can see the vapour rise high through the tree-branches of the maquis.
The heart and capital of the Colline Metallifere is Massa Marittima, a real architectonic jewel of the Middle Ages. However, many villages and castles in the area are of great historical and artistic interest as well. Roccastrada, Sassofortino, Roccatederighi, Montemassi, Monterotondo Marittimo and many other villages in this area should not be missed.
This area is located on the route between Siena and the sea, and generally ignored by guidebooks and portals. The isolated position of these hills have protected and preserved its original rural character that has developed since the Middle Ages. It is the ideal base to explore Southern Tuscany without having to choose between the Siena area and the Maremma.
[wiki=8140c8fcc75968356589e8c9599387c3]Parco Regionale della Maremma[/wiki]. This nature reserve offers a number of splendid walking trails, unspoilt beaches, as well as the possibility of excursions by bike, horse or canoe.
* [url=http://www.comune.roccastrada.gr.it/il-territorio/trekking-e-itinerari-tematici/trekking-roccastrada-1]Trekking Roccastrada[/url] is a hiking route of 146 km through the hills on the border of the provinces of Grosseto and Siena, that can be walked in 8 stages. The route is described in English in [url=http://www.poderesantapia.com/walk/pdf/trekkingroccastrada.pdf]this pdf-document[/url].
Touristic biking routes are detailed on the website of [url=http://www.piste-ciclabili.com/provincia-grosseto]PisteCiclabili.com[/url] (in Italian only!).
Tuscany is well known for its thermal baths. The volcanic activity in the area gives rise to many sulphur-rich hot springs. The Maremma also features a number of them. Please note that in Italy thermal baths have a long medical tradition, so don't be surprised to find a wide range of wellness treatments on offer.
*
* Not a thermal bath in the true sense, but a wellness centre on the coast.
Self-catering apartments with 6 romantic suites for 2 or 4 people with fireplace and antique furniture in a 19th century former monastery. Panoramic pool, organic farm and art gallery. No TV in the rooms.
* Four farmhouses with self-catering apartments for 2 to 4 people on a 1,000 acre estate. Close to the coast and the Parco Regionale della Maremma. Home-cooked meals available on request.
* Family-run agriturismo near Petriolo, with 3 self-catering holiday homes for 2 to 4 people with shared swimming pool.
* Self-catering holiday homes for 2 to 4 people. Home-cooked meals available on request.
Self-catering holiday home for 3 people with fireplace.
* Self-catering holiday home in the Colline Metallifere for 4 people with access to the owners' swimming pool.
4-star hotel and apartments close to the Gorello falls and thermal baths.
* Small 3-star hotel with 8 differently styled rooms.
Most camp sites in the area are located on the coast. See the website of [url=http://en.camping.info]camping.info[/url] for locations and prices. Camping outside designated camp sites is not allowed in Italy!