Wild Tuscany – Best Places & Hotels in the Tuscan Seaside
The maremma region is located 2 hours drive from Rome and less than 1.5 hours from Florence. Yet while many know the Toscana Region, maremma is still an intimate and authentic place far from mass tourism. The best way to get there from far away is by landing in Rome Fiumicino airport and by taking a car rental. By driving north the panoramic highway (with exceptional views over the sea) you will notice that the landscape changes as you near tuscany. Olive, pine and Cyprus trees and soft green hills with wineyards become visible at the horizon.
Where to go
The best place in the region to set a base is a small fishing village called Castiglione della Pescaia. This small gem is completely out of from any mass tourism route and it offers everything you had ever dreamed off: long sandy beaches, a crystal clear water and a green vegetation made of Pine trees and small bushes that are typical of the area. This area was first found out by a small Swedish community in the 60´s and since than has been sheltered away from mass tourism completely. The city center is more than 1000 years old and is located over a cliff with amazing views over the islands of Montecristo, Elba and Corsica.
What to do
This region has the cleanest sea of all Italy and has been rewarded every year as one of the top 3 beach spots in Italy. The best beaches to stay during the day are north of Castiglione but there is a very long beaches located between Marina di Grosseto and Castiglione della Pescaia that is the perfect spot for Kite and Windsurfing or for romantic walks during sunsets. Drop your car at Hotel Riva del Sole and get inside the Hotel area and head towards the beach (you can enter, no worries, outsiders are welcome here). Stop at the fancy Beach Bar called Bar Riva and take an espresso coffee or a delicious cappuccino before heading to the beach. As you walk north you will see that the beach gets less crowded larger, this is the place to stop.
Other nice beaches are in Roccamare and Rochette.
The suggested beach by Masserias is a hidden beach that can be accessed only by walking through the forest. The beach was a hidden secret for many years and it has one particular thing that makes it unique: when you walk over the sand you will notice a particular sound that reminds you of a violin, that is why this place is called Cala Violina.
If you come during spring and autumn and the weather is not ideal for the beach there are plenty of tings to do in the surroundings. Head towards Grosseto and take the exit towards a place called Vetulonia. After a few hundred meters on the right side stop at Le Mortelle, one of the biggest wineyards of the Antinori family. They have a fancy wine bar with a crazy view over the wineyards and the sea. Choose the wine Botrosecco and enjoy the Tuscan breeze. If you like wine stop at Scansano, a small village in the middle of nowhere where the famous Morellino di Scansano is produced and sold directly from the wineyards.
Spend at least a couple of days in the inner side of Tuscany by stopping in Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra and Colle Val d´Elsa. In this towns you can eat and drink like a local at decent prices and with flair. If you like history and archeology head towards Golfo di Baratti where ruins of the Etruschi (a tribe that was living before the romans) are still visible.
Where to sleep
Discover the best places and Hotels in the tuscan seaside on Masserias. For the Spa and Golf lovers: stop at Saturnia and ask for the Saturnia Hotel which probably has the worlds best open air Spa. More than 1000 liters of crystal clear water come out constantly at 40 degrees Celsius from the gorund into a 5 star luxury Hotel pool.
This superb Villa is located on the top of a hill overlooking the islands of Montecristo, Elba and Corsica. It hosts up to 11 people in over 300 square meters and a 2.000 square meters panoramic garden. The garden has an astonishing 180 degrees view over a nature protected area made of hills and sea. It comes with a fully equipped kitchen, 4 sleeping rooms, 3 bathrooms and a huge living room. The distance to the sea is just 2km.
Villa Baronici is a true oasis of peace and is the perfect place to enjoy Tuscan recipes and smooth Chianti wines, but surprisingly its history is also tied to formula 1 cars. In the past famous racers and car engineers such as Carlo Chiti, Giancarlo Minardi and Alessandro Nannini loved to stop here to visit the owner, Piero Mancini, who still lives here, to share their passion for “Formula 1” car racing. Nowadays, it’s Piero Mancini’s son, Andrea, a famous car engineer, who welcomes today’s world renowned racers like Felipe Massa.
Podere Palazzo is located on top of a hill with expansive views and is surrounded by the unspoiled beauty of the rural Tuscan landscape with its magnificent oak woods, peaceful pastures, classic olive orchards and vineyards, and delightful medieval towns. The spacious and airy villa can host a family or a group of friends who want to explore the beauty and history of central Italy or enjoy outdoor activities.
When to go
The best period is June and September as both months are hot with plenty of sun. October tends to be mild and is great for wine tasters. Winters are still a good time to visit the thermal baths and the many restaurants that serve excellent food.