Massa Marittima in Tuscany

Massa Marittima is a historic village located in the heart of the Maremma in the province of Grosseto, inland contrary to what its name would suggest, 20 minutes far from the coast of Follonica, in the Metalliferous Hills of which it is the main urban centre.
It preserves a beautiful medieval center with a beautiful Romanesque cathedral on a harmonious square, an interesting museum, beautiful palaces and ancient walls.
Twice a year, on the Sunday following 20 May and the second Sunday in August, the Balestro del Grifalco takes place in Massa, a secular challenge of archery, preceded by a historic procession.
Massa Marittima is also the heart of the production of Monteregio DOC, a very good wine.

Things to see in Massa Marittima

San Cerbone Cathedral

The heart of Massa Marittima is the Piazza Garibaldi with its main monument the Cathedral San Cerbone.
This Romanesque church was built between the 11th and 14th centuries, then redesigned in later times. Its bell tower reaches 40 meters. The bas-reliefs of the 13th century panels of the main portal tell stories of the history of San Cerbone.
The interior with its separate naves of large columns retain baptismal fonts from the 13th century, the 14th century stained glass window of the central rose window, a wooden crucifix by Giovanni Pisano, or the Maestà by Duccio di Buoninsegna from 1316.

Piazza Garibaldi

It is the main square of Massa with its beautiful medieval buildings, surrounded by the cathedral, the Palazzo del Podestà, the Palazzo Vescovile, etc.

Fountain of Abundance

Below the Piazza Garibaldi you can discover the pretty Fountain of Abundance (Fonte dell’Abbondanza). It is located under the arcades of the Palace of Abundance, whose basins are currently empty, decorated especially with an amazing secular fresco called “Tree of Fertility”, which has survived under a thin layer of plaster, dated from around the early fourteenth century. It represents a large tree with phallus-shaped fruits, and women who pick these fruits.

Podestà Palace and Archaeological Museum

In Piazza Garibaldi, the beautiful Podestà Palace dates from the early thirteenth century, seat of the Podesta who ruled the city. It bears the arms of these various podestas.
The Podestà Palace hosts the archaeological museum of Massa Marittima, with its rooms on the prehistoric including a reconstructed cave, a section dedicated to the Etruscans of the region with reconstructions of objects and a neighbourhood.

Museum of Sacred Art

The Museum of Sacred Art houses works from the cathedral in five rooms, including bas-reliefs, sculptures, capitals, crucifixes and a section on 14th century art, with the Majesty of Antonio Lorenzetti. One room is dedicated to Italian ceramics, another to 15th century art and furniture from other churches is discovered.

Palazzo Comunale

The beautiful Palazzo Comunale located in Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi is composed of two palaces from the 13th and 14th centuries, connected by a central body.
The façade shows the coat of arms of the Medici family installed in 1555 when the region was included in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The mayor’s office was a remarkable 16th-century chapel.

Convent of Santa Chiara

The convent of the Clares of Santa Chiara was built with San Bernardino da Siena. It houses the municipal library and its old fund.

Massa Walls and Sienese Fortress

The historic center is still surrounded by the medieval walls of Massa Marittima, begun in the 12th century and then reinforced by the Sienese, with some towers and gates that have survived. The 19th century ruins have been recently restored, including the Clock Tower (or Torre del Candeliere) and the Fortress of the Sienese.

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Where is Massa Marittima, map

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