PROVINCIA DI GROSSETO DELLA TOSCANA
Alberese has the Monastery of San Rabano that dates from the 12th century. Thare are only parts of the abbaye remaining, in various states of repair. The cloisters are in ruin.
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Arcidosso is located about 56 km fro Grossetto. Sights that are noted include the Aldobrandesca Fortress which is an imposing Medieval complex completed with a crenellated tower.
Also the S. Leonardo church dates from the XII century and transformed in the XVI century. The church has an interesting late renaissance altar in the interior.
Madonna Incoronata is a church built after the plague of 1300 and it has a noted renaissance interior.
Campagnatico has of note the S. Antonio, a church from the 1200's church, when the town held significance. The interior of the church is noted as it is finely decorated with 1300-1400 murals.
Capalbio dates back to 1161 with references to being a privilege by Pope Alessandro III in favour of the Roman Abbey of Sant’Anastasio. References note the walled village from the Medieval era still intact. The Palazzo Collacchioni dates from the early 1900s was built on the ruins of the Aldobrandesca Fortress.
Oratorio della Provvidenza is a renaissance church with a small portico, has an interesting chapel with murals in the interior. The S. Nicola, dates from the XII-XIII century and has murals in the interior.
Civitella Paganico history dates back to the 1100's. In 1292 the served the Siena republic as a base for their military attacks in the area. After the 1300's the town suffered continual attacks and invasions. In 1494 it was sacked by Carlo VIII. After the fall of Siena, the town was given to the Mediceo Grand Duchy. In 1602 it was elevated to the rank of Marquisate and passed to Antonio dei Medici. In 1630 it was p[assed to the Patrizi family who kept it until 1747.
Two sights are noted. The Corso Fagarè, which is the main street of Paganico, runs between a series of 1300/1400 buildings. Also the Abbey of S. Lorenzo al Lanzo, dates from the XI century, at Civitella Marittima.
Grosseto places of note include: The Medicee Walls from1564, were transformed by Leopoldo II in 1835 into public avenues and gardens. Medecea Fortress was built in the second half of the 1500s. The Piazza Dante, built in 1400 is surrounded with porticos has at its centre a cistern from the Lorenese era and a monument to Leopoldo II. The Museum of Archaeology and Maremma Art has an archaeological collection from both the Prehistoric to the Medieval times.
The Cathedral, dedicated to S. Lorenzo, was built in 1294-1400 -- there's a big time span. It has been restored several times. In 1840 the façade and the stripes of red and white marble were redone. The Latin cross interior holds precious works of art and a large baptismal font by Antonio Ghini of the XIV century. The S. Francesco, is a church from the 1200's. A Gothic style this church has a finely frescoed nave.
Isola del Giglio is one of the small islands along the coast. Accessible by ferry from Porto S.Stefano.
Magliano in Toscana with places noted that include: The walls which date from 1300 are still well conserved on three sides and they have a number of round towers.
The Palazzo del Priori dates to 1425. It is built in the Gothic style. On the outter wall is the Podesta coats of arms.
The S. Martino is a church built before the year 1000, in the subsequent centuries it has been enlarged and remade several times. The interior with murals is formed by two diverse areas, the first of Roman foundation, the second in Gothic form.
The S. Giovanni Battista dates from Romanic origin. The interior has a nave with three arches supporting the ceiling and long with some impressive murals.
Massa Marittima - oh to return to this interesting hill-top town. Here many years ago we found this to be an interesting town.
Places of note include: The Palazzo Comunale is an impressive RomanicThere are tower houses from the XIII and XIV centuries.
The Palazzo Pretorio is built of travertine stone from around 1230 and the walls are covered in numerous Podesta coats of arms and by a basso-relievo representing the “Siena Wolf” . Inside is the Seat of the Civic Archaeological Museum.
The Palazzo delle Armi, built in 1443 as an arms deposit.
The Cathedral di S. Cerbone is a grand Romanic-Gothic building with construction starting around the middle of the XII century. The two colour façade was skilfully built to augment the prospective effect of the Cathedral in respect to the irregular Medieval square on which in faces. The three nave interior is supported by travertine stone columns with finely decorated Corinthian capitals The Baptistery, is being excavated. IT is a single enormous mass of travertine stone and sculptured in beautiful relief. It houses numerous works of art.
Orbetello drive the causway to this island just off the coast. The Palazzo di Spagna was the residence of the Spanish Viceroy. A clock from the VI century stands. Il Mulino (The Mill), is the the last remaining mill of the nine that were built by Siena in XVI century in the lagoon. The Cathedral is named for S. Maria Assunta. It was rebuilt in 1376 by the Orsini and subsequently enlarged and restored. The three nave interior hosts various works of art.
Pitigliano — is located 217 km from Florence and is noted in the various tour books as one of the Top 10 Hill Top Towns.
The piazza della Repubblica is the division between the medieval town and the area occupied by the Orsini Counts - they were the dominateforce in the 14th to 16th Centuries. AT the Plazzo Orsini, there is an elegant courtyard.
On the via Cavour is a series of arches that formed part of the 16th Century aquduct.
Lots of small alley ways to explore in this town.
Underneath the cathedral, in the former Ghetto (entrance just past the tunnel on Via Zuccarelli) you can visit the remains of the synagogue built by the Jewish community which settled in Pitigliano in the 15th Century. It was destroyed in the second world war.
Sorano — picturesque town with old houses that seem to spring from the rock cliffs. The 16th Century castle belonged to the Orsini.