Tuscany Travel Guide, Photo Gallery of Tuscany



Albarese | Parco Naturale delle Maremma

Capalbio


Colline Metallifere


la costa Toscana

Walking along the Tuscan coast

Crete Senesi

         
Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore

Grosseto


Manciano


Montagnola Senese

         Walking in the Montagnola senese


Montalcino

Monte Amiata

         Walking on Monte Amiata


Montepulciano

Prato

Scansano

Siena

          Fonti di Siena

Sorano

Sovana

Val d'Elsa

Val d'orcia

          Montalcino

          Pienza

          Sant'Antimo

          San Quirico d'Orcia

          Radicofani

          Walking in the Val d'Orcia


Val di Chiana

         Montepulciano

         Montefollonico


Valle d'Ombrone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

 

 





 

Podere Santa Pia | View on the terrace

 

Toacana ] Galleria di immagini  
     
   

Podere Santa Pia | View on the terrace

 

   
   
The Maremma, Tuscany's green heart, is a marvellous combination of green parks and azure sea. Scansano is a picturesque medieval village, set on a hill between the valleys of the Ombrone and Albegna rivers. It is located in an area inhabited since the Etruscan period, as the remains of “Ghiaccio Forte” testify.
It is mentioned for the first time in a papal bull by Clement III dated back to 1188; subsequently it was conquered by the Aldobrandeschi family, the Sienese Republic and Florence.
Among the archaeological sites, we mention the roman villa founded in 1986, in addition to the Etruscan site of “Ghiaccio Forte”.
The Church of San Giovanni Battista, of medieval origin and totally renovated during the XVIII century, hosts important works of art, such as the “Martirio di San Sebastiano” by Stefano Volpi, the “Madonna del Soccorso”, the XVII century “Madonna che porge il Bambino a Sant’Anna” and a XV century Our Lady’s wooden statue.
The neoclassical church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the medieval Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo Pretorio, the Villa Sforzesca, the Montorgiali castle (XII century), the Montepò castle (XI century) and the Cotone castle worth a visit too.

   
   
Podere Santa Pia, situated in a particularly scenic valley,
which overlooks on the hills around Scansano, up to Isola Giglio and the Maremma seashore

The Maremma | Beaches, marinas and reserves

Visiting the Maremma always means visiting nature. The Maremma is bathed by a clear sea that, for 160 km, laps its varied coast of sandy beaches protected by thick pine forests, steep cliffs overlooking the Tyrrhenian and islands of rare beauty. The waters of the Maremma seashore are among the cleanest in Italy and its beaches have been winning the recognition of the Blue Flag for years. The seaside resorts of the Maremma are equipped for sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and canoeing and divers will find diving centers in the Argentario and the Isola del Giglio.

The Maremma also has many protected areas that allow you to experience the subtleties of the Mediterranean thatch and its wildlife in total freedom. Travelplan recommends the most important stops when following the coast from north to south.

Punta Ala is on of the most exclusive seaside resorts on the Tyrrhenian, whose success is built around its famous marina and yacht club. This elegant resort is located in a large pine forest with well cared for gardens and clean streets. The sandy coast is served by a series of well-equipped beaches and, if you push a little further on, you will find unforgettable bays surrounded by nature: Cala Martina and Cala Violina.
Dedicated golfers will find a satisfying challenge at the famous Punta Ala Golf Club, 18 holes with a view of the sea, which hosts important international competitions, and the new Toscana Golf Club, in Gavorrano. They are many lodging choices with a series of excellent hotels and residences as well as friendly holiday farms.

Castiglione della Pescaia a famous, well-equipped resort and the most popular of the Maremma, is known for its long beaches and magnificent Tombolo pine forest. The town is an ancient fishing village, with a center climbing the hill and enclosed by mighty walls with towers, gates and a 15th-century castle. Every evening the fishing boats tie-up with their loads of fresh fish along the picturesque port-canal.
Castiglione della Pescaia has many bathing beaches equipped for water sports, but its also possible to take walks, ride bicycles or go horseback riding on the dunes or in the huge pine forest. Tourists will find a broad choice of lodgings: hotels, residences, apartments, houses and campsites to meet every need.

Parco Naturale della Maremma. Also called the Parco dell’Uccellina, it extends along the Maremma coast for the entire length of the mountains of the same name. The park's appeal lies precisely in the diversity of its environments: the swamp area to the north that preserves the typical appearance of the Grosseto plain before its reclamation radically changed the landscape; further south, there is the Alberese pine forest and the Monti dell’Uccellina covered with a luxuriant Mediterranean thatch and the wild sand dunes of the coast. It is easy to find herds of Maremma horses and cattle grazing in the park or to see wild board, deer and roebucks. The Trappola swamp is populated by scores of migratory species and are famous for the opportunities it provides for bird watching. The area also contains evidence of a human presence, such as the fascinating ruins of the 11th-century Abbey of San Rabano, in a splendid panoramic position dominating the coast.

Monte Argentario is one of the most famous spots in the Maremma and Tuscany. The promontory, which was originally an island, is characterized by a high, rocky coastline covered by a thick Mediterranean thatch, interrupted by olive groves and vineyards. It is now connected to the land by the Feniglia and Giannella sand bars, two strips of uninterrupted sandy beach and thick maritime pine. The sandy isthmuses are separated by the Laguna di Orbetello, an area protected by the WWF because it sits on one of the most important migratory routes and is one of the principal wintering sites for birds that nest in Europe. The serene tranquility of this lagoon contrasts with the high jagged Monte Argentario coast that hides small inlets in rocks that are inaccessible from the land.
Porto Santo Stefano is the largest town on Mount Argentario, and connections leave from here for the islands of Giglio and Giannutri. The town descends on large steps along the slopes of the promontory to a picturesque bay. Today, thanks to its splendid sea and beautiful landscapes, is it a famous resort with two ports, Porto Nuovo and Porto Vecchio. Every 15 August, they play the Palio Marinaro, preceded by a historical procession in Spanish costumes. In Porto Santo Stefano, you will also find the Acquario Mediterraneo dell’Argentario, with panoramic tanks that reproduce the typical ecosystems of the Costa d'Argento.A scenic road connects Porto Santo Stefano to Porto Ercole with breath-taking views. Porto Ercole is located on the eastern coast of the Argentario; it is a charming seaside village that overlooks a bay protected by a small promontory. It is a maze of lanes and staircases that descend tortuously from the fortress to the port. The principal works to visit in Porto Ercole are its fortifications that date from the period of Spanish domination in the 16th century: Forte San Filippo, Forte Santa Caterina, Forte Stella and the Rocca. But, most of all, Porto Ercole is a center of cosmopolitan life frequented by many tourists, with a wealth of stores and fashionable, always lively nightspots.

The most beautiful beaches in Tuscany | [1] From Principina a Mare to Piombino

The most beautiful beaches in Tuscany | [2] From Principina a Mare to Ansedonia

 

 
   
#poderesantapia Amazing landscape between Podere Santa Pia and Montalcino. Heat wave. The Ombrone River Delta located along the coast of Maremma Grossetana, where it flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea.