Villages in the hinterland of the Etruscan Coast

Strolling through the hinterland Maritime villages around San Vincenzo 

Overcast skies? Looking for a great hiking adventure? At ‘hand’ you have only to choose.

The proposed itinerary includes numerous villages, some in the province of Livorno, others in the province of Pisa, and still others in the province of Grosseto, but they are always well connected. Of course, the tour can be modified and divided into several parts according to your needs and can be done clockwise or anticlockwise.

A bit of history and some curiosities;

As we have seen above and contrary to what an unsuspecting tourist might think, Marittimo/a does not mean a town near the sea but: From the Latin Maritima, ‘maritime’ actually means ‘of the Maremma’ and was added, after the Unification of Italy, not only to locate the town, but also to distinguish it from other places of the same name. So we have for example Casale Marittimo which means Casale della Maremma.

The Maremma is a region in southern Tuscany, the central part corresponding to the province of Grosseto up to the slopes of Monte Amiata and the Colline Metallifere, in the inland part the Maremma Senese and in the coastal strip between Piombino and the river Cecina to the provinces of Livorno and Pisa.

 Bolgheri - Casale Marittimo 12 km, 18 minutes.

Casale Marittimo is characterised by an evocative panorama of the coast. This ancient hamlet stretches south of the Cecina river on an inland hill called Poggio al Pruno, overlooking a vast panorama of the Tyrrhenian coast and the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba, Capraia and Gorgona, are clearly visible.
What to see in Casale Marittimo
The historic centre of Casale Marittimo is a labyrinth of stone-paved streets that follow in rings the development of two medieval walls. A ramp provides access to the ‘Castle’ marked by the Clock Tower, erected in 1854.
Next to the Clock Tower is the Casa del Camarlingo, one of the oldest buildings in the village. Next to the Town Hall is the Palazzo della Canonica, which houses the evocative ‘Roman Hall’ with artefacts from the Roman villa and the Etruscan Necropolis of Casale Marittimo.

 Casale Marittimo - Querceto 13 km, 18 minutes

Situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 260 m above sea level, this is a small village surrounded by greenery. Taking the splendid ascent to Querceto immediately gives us strong emotions with a panorama that outlines its outline on a splendid blue.
What to see in Querceto
The castle, the parish church of San Giovanni Battista and a visit to the wine cellar in the village's old mill with its stone grindstone, with tastings and direct sales of Marchesi Ginori Lisci organic wines, Montescudaio DOC and extra virgin olive oil.

Querceto - Monteverdi Marittimo 21 km, 26 minutes.

• Gourmets will not fail to visit the historic Mucci e Staccioli shop, and those who wish can buy products for a packed or vacuum-packed lunch to be consumed at a time;  

• Gastronomic Specialities
  

Monteverdi Marittimo - Castagneto Carducci - San Vincenzo 28 km, 38 minutes.

Return leg with the possibility of a stop in the famous village of Castagneto Carducci already mentioned on the page 

• Discover The Cornia Valley Etruscan Coast

• Red Icon Route
  
  We departed from San Vincenzo heading towards the charming village of Campiglia Marittima, just 9 km away (approximately 10 minutes), as mentioned on other page.

Campiglia Marittima – Suvereto 10 km, 13 minuti 

Suvereto is one of the fifty most beautiful villages in Italy.

Curiosity: The name of the medieval village of Suvereto comes from cork, that is, Sughereto.

Included in the list of the fifty most beautiful villages in Italy, its pentagonal walls are crowned by eight towers that enclose the historical centre.

It offers numerous events and festivities throughout the summer period.  

Suvereto – Massa Marittima 31 km, 30 minutes.

The itinerary continues from Suvereto to the well-known Massa Marittima along a beautiful road through the woods to the north and on the edge of the Montioni Park.
There is much to visit and little more to add about this beautiful village.
It is worth seeing, starting from Piazza Garibaldi, the beating heart of the town, and then following the side streets.  The Cathedral of Massa Marittima, or the Cathedral of San Cerbone, has been awarded the title of national monument by the Italian State. It is a Romanesque church built between the 11th and 14th centuries.
IIt spans an impressive 60 metres in length and features a striking bell tower that soars 40 metres high. The influence of the Pisan Romanesque style is clearly reflected in the ornate façade. The panels adorning the main portal showcase exquisite bas-reliefs illustrating the Stories of San Cerbone, which date back to the early 13th century. Inside, visitors will find three naves separated by grand columns, allowing for the display of remarkable works of art including the intricately crafted baptismal font from the 13th century, the stunning 14th-century stained-glass of the central rose window, and the masterful Maestà by Duccio di Buoninsegna, which dates to 1316.

Massa Marittima – Monterotondo Marittimo 20 km, 23 minuti.

Cutting the route as indicated with a blue icon on the map, we reach the pretty village of Monterotondo Marittimo, also known for the Biancane Unesco Geopark, which alone would be worth a trip. Here we leave you to the tourist site of the municipality, which is well done and amply describes the places and related activities.

• Tourism Monterotondo Maritime

The return back to San Vincenzo is via Suvereto - Campiglia following the cut-off at the junction represented with the blue icon and/or depending on the personal setting of the itinerary also via Monteverdi - Castagneto Carducci.

Side notes.

Massa Marittima - San Galgano 32 km, 38 minutes.

• A trip from San Vincenzo to Chiusdino - San Galgano is 71 km, 1 hour, 28 minutes and vice versa.
  
  Abbazia di San Galgano - Spada nella Roccia, here the municipal info with visiting hours and costs   

• San Galgano Abbey

• Curiosities;
  A short distance away in the village of Chiusdino we find the Mulino Bianco that reminds us of the famous advertisement

•   Mulino Bianco White Mill

What does Maremma mean and why do Tuscans curse it?

Everyone in Tuscany is constantly referring to the Maremma using various kinds of expressions, from the simple and harmless exclamation ‘Maremma!’ to signify surprise or to reinforce a concept, to the more colourful ‘Maremma bona’, ‘Maremma troia’, ‘Maremma maiala’, ‘Maremma impestata’ or ‘Maremma bucaiola’.

Today, the Maremma stands out as one of the premier destinations across the globe, attracting tourists from every corner of the world, celebrated for its rich tapestry of history, vibrant culture, and, most importantly, breathtaking landscapes and natural beauty. However, this was not always the case. The unfortunate loss of independence and the resultant exploitation by the Sienese severely crippled the local economy and resulted in vast tracts of farmland being abandoned, leading to an inevitable expansion of marshy lands. From the 14th century onward, human presence in this region grew increasingly unstable, as it also had to face the dire challenges posed by the devastating impacts of malaria and widespread poverty, which remained defining characteristics of the Maremma for numerous centuries.

The eighteenth century saw the beginning of the human struggle against the vast coastal marshes and swamps, rivers without banks that flooded the land thickly covered with thickets and Mediterranean scrub. Meanwhile, malaria continued to claim victims at a rapid pace, including Grand Duke Ferdinand III of Lorraine himself, who contracted the disease while visiting the Maremma and died in 1824.

Adding to its depopulation was the poor fertility of the land, which allowed only a very small production of grain, and, as if that were not enough, another biblical scourge occurred in the first decades of the 18th century, as the region was periodically invaded by locusts.

Chroniclers of the time note that in June 1711 an immense cloud of locusts appeared from the sea, obscuring the sun and rapidly covering the entire countryside around Piombino. In the following years the locust invasions continued (until 1786) extending to new countryside and destroying over 70 miles of cultivated land.

The Tuscan imprecations thus refer to the Maremma of long ago, yet today this beautiful land still remains fiercely wild, and for this reason even more fascinating. 

Conclusion: A relaxing strolling through the seaside maritime villages delightful around San Vincenzo is a day well spent.

Return to what to do and see in the surrounding area Discover the beauties of the Etruscan Coast and the Tuscan Maremma

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