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Massa Marittima ❤️ Wonderful Medieval Village in Tuscany
- Category What to visit in Maremma
The charm that pervades Massa Marittima is truly unique and it materializes in the splendid Piazza Garibaldi.
Number of views: 34456Agriturismo - Where to stay overnight
Massa Marittima, with a population of 8,483, is the natural capital of the Grosseto Metal‑bearing Hills and proudly flies the Italian Touring Club’s prestigious Orange Flag for excellence in hospitality. Its irresistible charm culminates in Piazza Garibaldi, one of Tuscany’s most harmonious medieval squares: the Palazzo del Podestà (13th c.), the Palazzo dei Priori and the imposing Romanesque‑Gothic cathedral of Saint Cerbonius frame the stone pavement like a theatrical backdrop. The duomo, begun in Pisan style around 1220, is famous for its sculpted façade and the marble portal adorned with biblical reliefs.
Today Massa Marittima is an essential stop on any Maremma itinerary. Winding alleyways, loggias and hidden courtyards open onto breathtaking vistas that stretch across rolling countryside all the way to the Tyrrhenian Sea and the profile of Elba. Beyond Piazza Garibaldi you can visit the San Pietro all’Orto Museum Complex, home to Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s celebrated Maestà, and the unique Mining Museum, laid out in 19th‑century tunnels that recreate the hard life of miners on Monte Regio. The town itself was founded in the early Middle Ages on that very hill—namesake of the local DOC wine Monteregio di Massa Marittima, which is well worth tasting.
Around the year 1000 the ancient bishopric of Populonia was transferred here. After a period under Pisan control, Massa gradually won its independence, becoming a free commune in the 13th century and issuing one of Europe’s oldest municipal statutes. Conquered by Siena in 1335, the city remained under Sienese rule until 1555, when it entered the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. More recent history includes darker pages such as the Niccioleta massacre of June 1944, when 83 miners were executed by Nazi‑Fascist forces—today commemorated by a memorial route.
Among the town’s major events is the Balestro del Girifalco, a twice‑yearly crossbow tournament in full medieval costume that fills Piazza Garibaldi with drummers, flag‑throwers and colourful pageantry. Nature lovers can reach the turquoise Lake Accesa and its Etruscan archaeological park just a few kilometres away, while hikers and mountain‑bikers will find dozens of well‑signed trails along former mining tracks.
INFO: www.tuscany‑charming.it
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