The city is a fortified “star”: 2900 meters of massive walls, hexagonal shaped, 4m wide cemented brick bastions at each corner, mazes of tunnels and trenches. Furthermore, it is in the midst of several major national parks unique in Europe and therefore protected as reserves. We are talking about the Tuscan Archipelago National Park and the Natural Park of Maremma. Nerve center of the town enclosed within a city wall which preserved the integrity over the centuries, is Piazza Dante, which includes neogothic Palazzo Aldobrandeschi, the Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the Palazzo Comunale, a nineteenth century building in Neo–Renaissance style.
At its core, on slightly raised area it stands the Monument to Canapone, dedicated to the Grand Duke Leopold of Lorraine. Ricasoli street connects Piazza Dante to Porta Vecchia, the oldest door on the walls, which outside it opens Piazza del Sale, the ancient market town, whose present name is derived from the historic building that overlooks here, Cassero del Sale, a building that originally served as a collection point and distribution of salt that was mined along the Maremma coast.
In Grosseto tourists can enjoy authentic cuisine with simple and frugal origins. Among the traditional dishes they occupy a pride place vegetable and fish soups and dishes with wild game, especially wild boar. Wine, oil, cheese, sausage, chestnuts, mushrooms and truffles are the typical products that you can taste at the manufacturers of the territory, in many restaurants or in the many festivals that are organized throughout the year. To try typical Maremma cooking, Italian Traditions recommends you the Locanda de’ Medici at the Bastion of Remembrance, Locanda Porta Vecchia in Piazza dei Maniscalchi and Vineria da Romolo, a small but very typical trattoria with a particular decor that combines rustic and pop style where it is worth going especially for meat.
Continue towards the center to discover a modern and intimate restaurant with attached wine bar, L’Uva e il Malto, which does not hide its Maremma’s roots with specialties based on the skillful combination of innovation and tradition. The menu focuses mainly on fish, sometimes the best on the market. Ideal for those who want to “eat with the eyes”, even before the palate! For a drink and snack make a stop at the enoteca wine bar Canapino, a youthful atmosphere adjacent to the historic and elegant Ristorante Canapone, which offers a wide menu path between land and sea. For those who like fish, prawns steamed with passatine chickpeas are a good choice. For one or more nights in this Tuscan town, Italian Traditions selected for you two hotels that offer a quiet and peaceful hospitality and that at the same time gives you the possibility to reach quickly the historic center. Try Albergo San Lorenzo and the Hotel Airone.
