Tuscany · Grosseto
Grosseto
The Maremma capital on the Ombrone river, ringed by hexagonal Medici walls of 1564 that now serve as the city's public park.
Known for
MEDICI WALLS
Hexagonal bastioned circuit of 1564 commissioned by Cosimo I, four kilometers around, intact, now used as the city's public park.
MAREMMA
Capital of the historical region between Toscana and Lazio, anchor of the Parco Regionale della Maremma and the inland Uccellina hills.
BUTTERI
Maremma cowboys still herd longhorn cattle and wild horses in the park south of the city, descendants of a working tradition older than the American West.
MORELLINO DI SCANSANO
The commune lies inside the Morellino di Scansano DOCG production zone.
When to visit
Best · May–Sep
- J12°
- F15°
- M16°
- A18°
- M23°
- J28°
- J32°
- A32°
- S27°
- O22°
- N17°
- D13°
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
Daytime averages, 2020–2024. The sea is warmest in August at 28° and coldest in February at 14°. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
The festa: San Lorenzo, 10 August
Why come
Grosseto sits on the right bank of the Ombrone, ten meters above sea level and twelve kilometers inland from the Tyrrhenian. The Roman city of Roselle was destroyed in 935 by Saracen pirates; refugees regrouped on the plain below and Grosseto inherited the bishopric. From 1336 it was Sienese; in 1559 it passed to the Medici after the battle of Montalcino.
Cosimo I commissioned Baldassarre Lanci to replace the medieval walls with a hexagonal bastioned circuit, begun in 1565 and finished a decade later. The walls are intact. Six bastions, two main gates, a continuous earthwork four kilometers around, now planted and used as the city's promenade.
Inside, the Duomo di San Lorenzo holds a Romanesque-Gothic façade in alternating white and pink marble. The Cassero Senese, the Sienese fortress of 1345 swallowed into the later Medici walls, anchors the southeast corner. Grosseto is the largest city of southern Toscana and the working capital of the Maremma.
What to see
Mura Medicee
Hexagonal bastioned circuit commissioned by Cosimo I in 1564, designed by Baldassarre Lanci, intact and walkable for the full four kilometers.
Duomo di San Lorenzo
Thirteenth-century cathedral with a façade in alternating white and pink marble, Latin-cross plan, semicircular apse over the nave.
Cassero Senese
Travertine-clad Sienese fortress completed in 1345, incorporated into the southeast corner of the Medici walls, now used for exhibitions.
Museo Archeologico e d'Arte della Maremma
Provincial museum on Piazza Baccarini collecting Etruscan and Roman finds from Roselle, Vetulonia and the Maremma.
Chiesa di San Francesco
Thirteenth-century Franciscan church near the northwest bastion, with a crucifix attributed to Duccio di Buoninsegna above the high altar.
Parco Regionale della Maremma
Coastal park south of the city covering the Ombrone mouth and the Uccellina hills, with wild horses, longhorn cattle and umbrella pines.
The slow-trip planner
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We recommend
Where to eat
Not our picks, but places the guides put their name to: a Michelin star, a Gambero Rosso fork, a Slow Food snail, a Michelin Key for the hotels. Worth a table, a counter, or a night when you pass through.
CanaponeRistorante
Canapone has two Gambero Rosso forks (81/100) and a spot in the Michelin Guide.
L'Uva e il MaltoTrattoria
L'Uva e il Malto holds two Gambero Rosso prawns and a spot in the Michelin Guide.
Gabbiano 3.0Ristorante
Gabbiano 3.0 holds two Gambero Rosso forks (83/100).
Oste ScuroRistorante
A Slow Food snail, at Oste Scuro.
The Sunday letter
Grosseto got its letter. One town every Sunday, free. The photo, the food, the festa.
Living here
- Population 81,321
- A local hubi
- Pharmacy in town
- High school within a 30-minute drive
- Train station in the comune
- Nearest airport Florence / Pisa, 2 h 3 min drive
- Regional capital Firenze, 2 h 15 min drive
Thermal baths in town: Terme di Roselle.
Common questions
- What is Grosseto known for?
- Grosseto is the Maremma capital on the Ombrone river, ringed by hexagonal Medici walls of 1564 that now serve as the city's public park.
- Where is Grosseto?
- Grosseto is a comune in the province of Grosseto, in Tuscany, at 10 meters above sea level.
- What is the nearest airport to Grosseto?
- Florence / Pisa (PSA), about 2 hours by car.
- Can you get to Grosseto without a car?
- Yes. There is a railway station in the comune, so you can arrive by train.
- How long is the drive from Siena to Grosseto?
- About 1h 14m by car.
- When is the best time to visit Grosseto?
- Best in May–Sep. July is the warmest month, averaging 32 degrees, and December the wettest, with about 12 rain days.
- Is there a sagra or a festival in Grosseto?
- The town keeps its patron saint's day: San Lorenzo, 10 August.
- Which other towns are like Grosseto?
- Pisa, Livorno and Pozzuoli.
- How many people live in Grosseto?
- 81,321 at the 2023 count.
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
The numbers
- Elevation: 10 m
- Population: 81,321
- Surface area: 473.55 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories: ISTAT, OpenStreetMap and Wikidata, and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
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