Grosseto
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 14 March 2022
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The city of Grosseto is the capital city of the Province of Grosseto with a population of 82,353 inhabitants.
Standing at an elevation of 10 metres above sea level, it covers a total area of 474 km² and lies 140 kilometres south west of Florence, the regional capital of Tuscany. The southernmost of Tuscany's 10 provincial capitals, Grosseto is situated around 10 kilometres inland of the Tyrrhenian Coast, and is one of the principal towns of the Maremma. |
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The first thing you notice when you enter Grosseto is the towering complex of defensive walls that surrounds the city. Construction of the walls started in the latter part of the 16th century; commissioned by the Medici family, they are now known as the Medicean Walls. The walls remain an integral part of life in modern Grosseto; you can enjoy a pleasant stroll around them, which also helps to gain an understanding of the city's layout.
Inside the city walls the centre is neat and compact. The main square is Piazza Dante and this is where you'll find the main religious building in the city: Grosseto Cathedral. The Cathedral was started in the 13th century but has undergone extensive renovation, modification and refurbishment in the intervening years.
Once a week, on Thursdays, Grosseto comes to life with market day. The market takes place both inside and outside the city walls and is one of the most important in the local area. For the rest of the week it's business as usual; there are plenty of shops and places to eat and drink around but this is certainly one of the quietest of the major cities in Tuscany.
Grossseto's train station is situated north west of the city centre, a 15 minute walk from Piazza Dante (1.2 km). You can take a train from Grosseto to Florence (2 hours 49 minutes) without having to change but there are more frequent services to Livorno (1 hour 29 minutes) and Pisa (1 hour 49 minutes) from where you can find further connections available. Trains also run north east from Grosseto to Siena (1 hour 45 minutes), stopping along the way at minor countryside towns including Buonconvento (1 hour 7 minutes). Heading south there's a train to Rome (1 hour 58 minutes); its only stops being at the port town of Civitavecchia (51 minutes) and the outskirts of Rome.
The most convenient airport for Grosseto is Pisa Airport which is an hour and 32 minute drive away (155 km), while Tuscany's other major airport, Florence Airport, is the next best option at an hour and 49 minutes away (156 km).
Places to visit close to Grosseto include the seaside town of Castiglione della Pescaia while just a little further in the same direction will take you to the port of Piombino from where you can take a ferry to the island of Elba. It's also only a short distance south to another port, Porto Santo Stefano from where you can sail to two other islands in the Tuscan Archipelago: Giglio and Giannutri. Also to the south but inland, lies a quartet of interesting places all clustered together: the hill towns of Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana as well as the famous outdoor spa of Saturnia. A short distance north of Grosseto lies an important hill town: Massa Marittima.
Inside the city walls the centre is neat and compact. The main square is Piazza Dante and this is where you'll find the main religious building in the city: Grosseto Cathedral. The Cathedral was started in the 13th century but has undergone extensive renovation, modification and refurbishment in the intervening years.
Once a week, on Thursdays, Grosseto comes to life with market day. The market takes place both inside and outside the city walls and is one of the most important in the local area. For the rest of the week it's business as usual; there are plenty of shops and places to eat and drink around but this is certainly one of the quietest of the major cities in Tuscany.
Grossseto's train station is situated north west of the city centre, a 15 minute walk from Piazza Dante (1.2 km). You can take a train from Grosseto to Florence (2 hours 49 minutes) without having to change but there are more frequent services to Livorno (1 hour 29 minutes) and Pisa (1 hour 49 minutes) from where you can find further connections available. Trains also run north east from Grosseto to Siena (1 hour 45 minutes), stopping along the way at minor countryside towns including Buonconvento (1 hour 7 minutes). Heading south there's a train to Rome (1 hour 58 minutes); its only stops being at the port town of Civitavecchia (51 minutes) and the outskirts of Rome.
The most convenient airport for Grosseto is Pisa Airport which is an hour and 32 minute drive away (155 km), while Tuscany's other major airport, Florence Airport, is the next best option at an hour and 49 minutes away (156 km).
Places to visit close to Grosseto include the seaside town of Castiglione della Pescaia while just a little further in the same direction will take you to the port of Piombino from where you can take a ferry to the island of Elba. It's also only a short distance south to another port, Porto Santo Stefano from where you can sail to two other islands in the Tuscan Archipelago: Giglio and Giannutri. Also to the south but inland, lies a quartet of interesting places all clustered together: the hill towns of Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana as well as the famous outdoor spa of Saturnia. A short distance north of Grosseto lies an important hill town: Massa Marittima.
Comune di Grosseto
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Close by: Castiglione della Pescaia, Piombino, Porto Santo Stefano
Recommended accommodation: Fattoria San Lorenzo (5 km) Public transport: Train station 1.2 km from centre, local buses |
By train: Livorno -1 hour 29 minutes, Pisa - 1 hour 49 minutes
By car: Siena - 1 hour (75 km), Livorno - 1 hour 39 mins (135 km) By air: Pisa Airport - 1 hour 32 minutes by car (155 km) |
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