Grosseto is the capital of Tuscany's Maremma province, and it's a town that most British visitors drive straight through on the way to somewhere more photogenic. That's a mistake, in our view. The old centre inside its hexagonal Medici walls is compact, walkable, and full of good restaurants. The beach at Marina di Grosseto is 12 km away, the Maremma Natural Park starts on its doorstep, and prices for everything from coffee to villa rentals are lower than the coast. It's a practical, likeable town that rewards visitors who give it a chance.
Why Stay in Grosseto
- Real Italian city life — Grosseto has a population of around 80,000. It's a proper working city with shops, theatres, markets, and an evening passeggiata that feels entirely unperformed.
- Affordable — restaurant meals and accommodation are notably cheaper than the coastal resorts or the Chianti hilltowns.
- Good location, beaches, the Maremma park, hill towns like Pitigliano and Saturnia's hot springs are all within 30-60 minutes.
- Honest caveat. Grosseto's outskirts are unlovely (commercial zones, traffic). The centre is pleasant but it won't make your Instagram followers jealous. Summer heat in the lowland plain can be fierce.
Things to Do in Grosseto
Walk the Medici walls. The hexagonal circuit takes about 30 minutes and passes through tree-shaded ramparts that locals use as a park. Inside, the Duomo and Piazza Dante are the focal points, with cafés spilling onto the pavement in the evenings.
The Museo Archeologico e d'Arte della Maremma has a solid collection of Etruscan artefacts from the surrounding area. It's compact and well laid out, worth an hour or so.
Marina di Grosseto (12 km, 15 minutes) has a wide sandy beach with pine-wood backing. It's less crowded than the beaches further north and has a relaxed, local feel. For wilder coastline, head to the Parco della Maremma (20 minutes south), where guided trails lead through dunes and coastal scrub to near-empty beaches.
Day trips to Saturnia's free hot springs (50 minutes), the tuff towns of Pitigliano and Sorano (60 minutes), or Monte Argentario's rocky headland (40 minutes) round out a varied itinerary.