History

The ancient Roman road known as the Via Aurelia stretches along the eastern border of the Maremma and hints at the region’s illustrious past. Saturnia, a village south of Grosseto near Tuscany’s border with Lazio, is home to a collection of sulfurous thermal springs that the Romans and, later, the Medici revered for their curative properties. A luxurious spa complex has been built around these healing waters, but those who enjoy the great outdoors can take advantage of the natural pools along the side of the road free of charge.
Earlier than even the Romans were the Etruscans, who first settled the fertile soils of the Maremma region. The ancient citadel of Tarquinia is just south of the Lazio confines, the settlement of Volterra is to the north; the captivating archaeological excavations of both villages can easily be visited as a daytrip from any holiday rental in the Maremma.
The Strada della Regina was once the road that connected the seacoast to the Via Aurelia. Along this road is the Abbey of San Rabano, dating back to the 12th century. Torre del Castelmarino and Collelungo, the famous medieval towers that surround Benedictine settlement, were originally constructed to observe the seacoast and spot the arrival of rival Saracen ships and alert the townspeople to impending danger. The warring cities of Pisa and Siena fought over San Rabano during the 14th century, and it was completely refurbished by the powerful Medici family in the 16th century in an effort to restore the ancient Tuscan coastal ports. These towers are just a few of the landmarks found in the epic Maremma nature preserve.