Art and archeology
Maremma has an extraordinary abundance of places of archaeological, monumental and artistic interest. Populated from the time of prehistory, since VIII century B.C. the land was under the influence of the Etruscan civilization, whose traces here are remarkable. On the coast, between the Uccellina Mountains and the Lake of Burano, evidence of the overlapping of the Etruscan and the Roman civilizations can be found in Orbetello and Talamone, whereas a villa on the Isle of Giannutri and the ruins of the big city of Cosa (Ansedonia) have a Roman origin.
Capalbio
In the hinterland one of the most charming tourist attractions is the town of Capalbio, where nature, history and art meet in perfect combination. The village has maintained its characteristic medieval structure, and is surrounded by two concentric city walls. It is fascinating to walk through its steep and precipitous alleys, and to admire the buildings, whose fronts often reveal unmistakable Middle Age architectural tracts. To remark Pieve S. Nicola, a XII century church located in the main square, and a powerful building called La Rocca. In the surroundings there are important archaeological ruins, such as prehistoric and Etruscan tombs and Roman villas (the most important is Villa di Sughereto di Ballantino, still preserving part of its boundary walls and some of its defensive turrets). The ruins lie along the ancient road that once connected the Roman city of Cosa to Caletra, parallel to the ancient Roman road Via Aurelia.
Vulci
In the province of Viterbo, not far from Capalbio, there is Vulci, one of the biggest Etruscan city-state. Around the city, in a continuous circumference, wide necropoli extend (Cavalupo, Ponte Rotto, Polledrara, Osteria, Campo di Maggio, Camposcala), with thousands of tombs (1000 A.C.) in different styles and shapes: with chambers, passages, boxes, pits and tumuli.
Saturnia
Back in the province of Grosseto in the town of Manciano we find Saturnia, famous for over a century for its thermal waters. The archaeological importance of Saturnia is quite remarkable, since its foundation is even older than the Etruscan civilization.
Pitigliano
East of Saturnia there is the village of Pitigliano, known for its typical buildings carved out of tuff and for its still untouched medieval historical centre, built on a rock overhanging on three ends the precipice.
Sovana
Proceeding North towards Mt. Amiata we find Sovana, rich in magnificent memories: the Rock, Palazzo Del Monte and the Tomb of Hildebranda, all embossed in tuff.
Nearby Sovana is the town of Sorano, also built, dug or anyhow derived from tuff, and dominated by a XV century fortress.
