Maremma

Surroundings

Maremma Toscana

Massa Marittima is set in a landscape where some rather special natural features still remain unspoilt: the “Colline Metallifere”, or metal-bearing hills. Pastureland, broom-bushes, fields of sunflowers, vineyards and olive-groves typify this pristine natural environment. There are a number of beautiful nature reserves and parks in the area, such as the Cornate and Fosini Nature Reserve, the Torrente Farma Nature Reserve and the Belagaio Natural Reserve: all less well known perhaps than the Maremma Natural Park (the “Uccellina”), which can, however, be easily reached in an hour.

As an alternative to the sea, you can visit the delightful Lake Accesa, which is of karst origin. Located in a beautifully quiet natural setting, the lake has been given the prestigious 5 Blue Sails award by the environmental group “Legambiente”. It is situated in an archaeological park, which covers a huge area with thick woods of holm-oaks, manna-ash and oak trees.

The visitor can follow a network of paths, indicated by signposts and information boards, which lead to the remains of a 6th century Etruscan settlement. It was associated with the mining of nearby mineral deposits and organized into different sections with relative necropolis.