Why should you visit Grosseto?
The city of Grosseto, set in the wide plains of the Maremma, is the definition of a hidden treasure. While the landscape around the city is beautiful, the historical centre been gradually surrounded by modern developments. Unlike Tuscany's hill-towns who sit naturally above any later accretions, Grosseto's beautiful historical centre is hidden by the city's contemporary expansion. But visiting the centre is worth the trip: Grosseto has a complete ring of fortifications, built by the Medici's in the sixteenth-century. The walls enclose a petite vibrant city with churches, markets and excellent restaurants.
How to reach Grosseto
Grosseto is in Southern Tuscany, about an hour's drive south from Siena, and just over two hours north of Rome. It is best reached by car, mainly because of the attraction of exploring the surrounding landscape, rich with beaches, parks, castles, and ruins of ancient cities. The city centre is largely pedestrianised so it's best to park just outside the city walls. The city centre is no more than 500 metres across, so it's an easy city to explore on foot.
Main Grosseto Car Parks
| Car Park | Address | Google Maps Pin |
|---|---|---|
| Parcheggio Busatti | Largo Aldo Busatti | Busatti Car Park Location |
| Parcheggio Amiata | Piazza Caduti di Nassiriya | Amiata Car Park Location |
| Parcheggio Nannini | Piazza Amos Nannini | Nannini Car Park Location |
| Parcheggio Mascagni (Free) | Via Pietro Mascagni 22 | Mascagni Car Park Location |
Getting to Grosseto by Train
If you were to visit from Rome or from Pisa, taking the train can make sense. The Train Station is here:
Grosseto Rail Station Location
The walk into town from here is around 1km (from the station to the Cathedral) but there are plenty of buses connecting the station with central Grosseto too.
What to see in Grosseto
Piazza Dante
This picturesque square is the heart of Grosseto, and a good place to start your visit of the city. You'll immediately notice the impressive pink and white striped Cathedral of San Lorenzo. While the church has fourteenth-century origins, the current facade was remodelled in the 19th century, but preserved many of the original elements, like the sculptures in the rose window, and the statues of the Evangelists.
Archeological and Sacred Art Museum
The "Museo Archeologico e d'Arte della Maremma" is in the old tribunal building, Palazzo del Vecchio Tribunale, in Piazza Baccarini 3. This museum houses several collections, of which the largest and arguably most interesting, is that of artefacts from Roselle, the nearby ruins of an Etrusco-Roman city. There are also plenty of artworks of sacred art, with notable pieces by Guido da Siena, and il Sassetta.
Link to Museo Archologico e d'Arte della Maremma
Natural History Museum
The 'Museo di Storia Naturale della Maremma' is a great place to visit, based in Strada Corsini at Nº5. It tells the story of the ecology and geology of the Maremma region. The museum is closed on Mondays, open from 11:00 to 15:00 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, with shorter opening times on Thursday and Sunday, as well as over winter months.
Link to Museo di Storia Naturale della Maremma
Cassero Senese and city walls
Grosseto's defensive walls date back to the thirteenth century. The current walls were built by the Medici family in the sixteenth century, but there are traces of the original walls, including the "Cassero Senese", the keep of the Sienese fortifications built around 1344 that was later absorbed by the Medici extension.
The city walls are a wonderful way to see the city, you can walk around the whole perimeter which is just shy of 3km long. The Medici walls are designed to an archetypical 16th century plan, with the star shaped modified buttresses necessary to deal with the development of cannon warfare.
If you enter the city at Porta Vecchia the old Sienese Keep with be on your left, the only section of the original fortress that was left standing during the Medici developments. The gate below is Porta Corsica.
Polo Culturale Le Clarisse
This cultural centre is home to four art institutions, all housed in the ex-convent of Santa Chiara, a beautiful sixteenth-century building in Via Vinzaglio 27.
On a visit here you can see:
Luzzetti Collection
European paintings from 16th to the 19th centuries.
Clarisse Arte
A centre for contemporary art exhibitions and events.
Archivio Pascucci
A collection of early 20th century italian paintings with some beautiful scenes of local Maremman agricultural life.
LAB-Museo Laboratory of the City of Grosseto
This is a Museum about recent arceological digs in the city
Website for Le Clarisse in Grosseto
Where to eat in Grosseto
Osteria Canapino
A good typical Tuscan restaurant on the main square.
Address: P.za Dante Alighieri, 6, Grosseto
Locanda de' Medici Grosseto
A good restaurant in a striking setting, with impressive stone vaults.
Address: Piazza del Popolo, 5, Grosseto
Website: Locandademidici.it
Buca di San Lorenzo
Upmarket, in the historic centre, and with excellent food.
Address: Via Garibaldi, 52, Grosseto
Where to stay around Grosseto
The historic apartments at Pieve di Caminino are a great base for visiting Grosseto and the Maremma. Try Bifora, an apartment for two in an eleven-century church:
Or have a look through all our Villas near Grosseto
Author: Dan Wrightson
Dan Wrightson grew up in Tuscany, Italy and has been writing about, sketching and exploring Tuscany and Italy since 1983.
14th Jul 2025 14th Jul 2025