Visit Maremma Senese
The southern part of Tuscany is called Maremma Senese. In this area you can find many interesting places to visit during your trip. Beautiful sea, beautiful islands and tasty food will let you enjoy your staying in this part of Tuscany.
If you are planning a trip to this area, probably the easiest place to reach is Grosseto. Being there, you are in the middle of the Maremma area.
Your first destination could be Orbetello. From this city you’ll be able to reach Monte Argentario, a beautiful promontory with two small and famous towns : Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano.
To be sincere, this island does not really transmit the typical atmosphere of Maremma. But the location is so beautiful that you should really consider the opportunity of a visit.
After that, you may want to go deep into Maremma, exiting from the main freeway, losing yourself into the countryside. Near the Ombrone river you’ll find many small and beautiful towns like Paganico or Monte Antico.
A wounderful trip consist of following the Ombrone river from the lower part of Maremma to the mountains near Castellina in Chianti.
If you like wine and good food, you probably will remember this trip forever ; this area is well known for many traditional dishes like Pappardelle al sugo di lepre (italian pasta made with hare), or fettuccine alla crema di tartufi bianchi (another kind of italian pasta made with white truffles). Truffles are really popular in Tuscany. The Amiata mount has lots of black and white truffles. And what about wine ?
If you like the taste of good wine, you should definely go to Pitigliano. This small town into the heart of Maremma is famous for its Bianco di Pitigliano, a DOC white wine, definely tasty, expecially if you drink it really cold. If you prefer red wine, just head to Scansano. His Morellino di Scansano is a red wine famous all over the world, from United States to Japan.
Finally, head north to Abbazia di San Galgano, an old abbey. In this place is kept the sword of the famous San Galgano, one of the most important catholic figures of Tuscany. The story of this sword is really interesting : the Saint, in order to quit violence, decided to thrust it into a stone.
The sword is still there ; science can’t explain how it was possible. The story is really similar to King Arthur’s one. And, most curious thing, the age period when these things happened is exactly the same of the Camelot saga.
Image Flickr Creative Commons license, courtesy by: Greenery