Grosseto is a city and province in Southern Tuscany. Covering a total area of 474 km², Grosseto has a population of only 79,590 inhabitants, making it the largest but least populated region in Tuscany. In all of Italy, Grosseto actually ranks ninth in terms of size.

The city of Grosseto is only 12km from the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and includes the Natural Park of Maremma. A protected reserve for flora and fauna, the park is a symbol of the incredible natural beauty possessed not only by Grosseto but all of the Maremman province which surrounds. The city itself is also crossed by the Ombrone River and located in a province, which is renowned not only for its natural splendour, but also for its rich history.

The origins of the city of Grosseto, unlike other municipalities in the province, are not Etruscan or Roman, but, medieval. While there is some evidence of a prehistoric population in the area, the most reliable facts recall the beginning of the city in the High Middle Ages. Shortly after its founding, Grosseto fell to the Aldobrandeschi family, before being controlled by the Orsini family, the Republic of Siena, the Medici of Florence, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and finally the Kingdom of Italy.

Grosseto is one of the few Italian cities that can still boast a city wall which is entirely intact and in good condition. Built in an hexagonal shape, the walls were originally constructed when the city was founded but today’s are the result of restoration which occurred in the sixteenth century. Within the walls of this incredible city are some splendid historical treasures including the Church of San Francesco, built during the Middle Ages; the Church of San Giovanni, which dates back to 1100; the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, which was dedicated to the patron saint of the city; the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a large 9th century building; the Convent of Poor Clare, a Baroque building which has now been excommunicated and transformed into the seat of the city’s Museolab; and finally the Church of San Pietro, the oldest in Grosseto.

Like any Tuscan city, Grosseto also has its share of magnificent non-religious buildings that would excite an art or history lover. Among those is the Cassero of Sale, which provides a fascinating look into how salt was produced, distributed and exported in the 1300s; the Aldobrandeschi Palace, seat of the province and built in Neogothic style; the Theatre of the Industry, founded in the nineteenth century; the Palazzo Comunale, built in Renaissance style and also dating back to the nineteenth century; and finally the Palace of the Old Court, now the Museum of Archeology and Art in the Maremma.