The provincial capital of the Maremma, Grosseto's major drawcard is its proximity to the wonderful nature reserves that line the nearby coast. One of the last Sienese-dominated towns to fall into Medici hands (in 1559), its bastions, fortress and hexagonal-shaped, 2.5km-long walls were raised by the Florentines in order to protect what was then an important grain and salt depot for the grand duchy.
Drawcards at this tranquil hill town in Tuscany's Colline Metallifere (metal-producing hills) include an eccentric yet endearing jumble of museums, an extremely handsome central piazza and largely intact medieval streets that are blessedly bereft of tour groups.
These are the top experiences and sights in Grosseto and Massa Marittima, according to Lonely Planet.
