Roselle, the ancient Etruscan city which was inhabited by Romans and during Middle Ages, as well, has always had a special charm. As for each Etruscan “lucumonìa” (high priest chieftain) Roselle was founded on a hill, during the late Iron Age, in order to keep it safe from the coast and on a dominating location at the same time. Lack of data enable us to determine how big its dominion was, but, as a matter of fact, very soon Roselle expanded into Vetulonia territories. During the late Etruscan age, Roselle trade and politics flowered , due to the huge growth of its inhabitants. But in 294 b.C. the city was conquered by the Romans . As Livius wrote , “two thousand were the victims among the Etruscan and their bodies were scattered all around the city walls; and so many prisoners were taken , and the surrending conditions were very severe ”. Roman “She-Wolf” and “Eagle” were the new Roselle vessels. While etruscan people were step by step assimilated in the large Roman empire, life went expanding towards the plain in the vicinity of the main roads. At the end of Roman Empire, during the V c. , Roselle, which was already a diocese, became the most important medieval borough of the whole area. But after the foundation of Grosseto, which in 1138 inherited the Bishop’s Palace, Roselle was slowly abandoned.
Loc. il terzo - Strada del Bottegone
58100 - Roselle Terme (Grosseto)
ROSELLE TERME (Grosseto)
