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Rain or shine, tourists are flocking to Italy carelessly.
Home to a whopping 60 World Heritage Sites, the most of any country, and with a cultural wealth of few countries – and civilizations as a whole–could match, it is on the bucket list of (almost) every travel enthusiast.
That is both a blessing and a curse: although it is true that the Italian peninsula is one of humanity’s most prized possessionsit can get Hello busy all year round.
Yes, even in the fall.
From the floating city of Venice to museum-packed Rome, it’s rarely packed with googly-eyed visitors, and if you’re easily overwhelmed by the crowds, be warned that Italy’s streets are busy. not for the faint hearted.
But there may be an exception to the rule:
Hidden in the Tuscan hills, yet not far from the Tyrrhenian Sea, lies Grosseto small, charming local authority most tourists are completely unaware of its existence, and a must see if you’re looking for a more authentic side of Italy this fall:
Have we found one of Italy’s best kept secrets?
Grosseto is much smaller compared to other well-known Italian cities, with a population of around 82,000, and unless you go there specifically, you would probably miss it entirely.
Even if it is something 9 miles offshoreit’s not the place you pass if you drive from Rome to the cradle of the Renaissance Florence, or even from Florence to the tourist hotspot Siena or Pisa.
That said, it’s still only a two and a half hour drive from the capital, and less than two hours from Florence, but you might be wondering, ‘why go out of my way to visit Grosseto when there are many more notable sights nearby?‘
Well, the question is whether you are looking for it beat the crowds or not (even if only for a moment):
A medieval gem without an audience in Italy
Yes, there are a few more!
Indeed, Grosseto does not have its own Colosseum, but it is one remarkably well preserved walled city, And we wouldn’t mind spending two or three days exploring ourselves.
A walk through the largely car-free, car-free historic center is a trip back in time, and if you’ve ever been to Italy, you know how that goes: lots of winding alleys, flanked on either side by tall, skinny houses that adjoin each other . a strict pastel color palette.
These can lead to hidden courtyards ornate medieval fountains––still in use; we should say – either a strange baroque church or a palatial mansion.
In the case of Grosseto, all roads seem to lead to Piazza Dante, where some of the city’s most beautiful public buildings are gathered, including St. Lawrence Cathedral, an Italian-Gothic wonder dating back to the 13th century, the Town Hall and the Palazzo Aldobrandeschi. .
Just a 6-minute walk from the square, Cassero Senese is a imposing red brick keep built in the Middle Ages, and within the same radius of 500 meters, Maiano Bastion is a common starting point for walks along the city walls, which still surround the historic center.
And the best thing about it is… no crowds!
The best thing about it is that Grosseto is still not overwhelmed by the massesas many of its Tuscan counterparts have done.
In high or low season, you may find it difficult to gain entry to museums in Florence or climb the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa without queuing for at least an hour, unless you’ve paid an exorbitant fee for an arranged, 40-minute guided visit.
Grosseto remains (largely) untouchedand tourists that Doing The people who end up here are usually those actively seeking a more relaxed, less chaotic version of Italy, where the main square isn’t overrun by tour groups and museum admission costs between $5 and 10.
This ties into our next point, which is Grosseto much more affordable than the average Italian city:
An affordable cultural outing
Based on Numbeo According to estimates, a standard pasta and wine dish at a cheap local restaurant will cost €15, or $16.62 at the current exchange rate, while a dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant will cost around $60.95, or $30.47 each.
If you’re traveling on a budget and wondering where to go for the tastiest, freshest, best value pasta in town, we can recommend the casual, family-run Trattoria Il Giogo – prices are excellent , ranging from $13 to $31, and their anchovy paste is heavenly.
As we mentioned earlier, Grosseto is not far from the Mediterranean coast, so if you love seafood, make sure you add Rotonda 1933 to the list. Marina di Grosseto add to your list of restaurants: dishes cost between €11 and €23, and that sea view from the terrace?
Belissimo!
If you’re not yet convinced about a weekend getaway to Grosseto from Florence or Rome, the hotel prices might be your dealbreaker:
The privately run guest house Affittacamare Mazzini 78 offers single rooms in the heart of the city by only $73 this falland they are not the only accommodation providers with particularly attractive rates this season:
B&B La Locanca Chic has double rooms from $97, or $48.50 per person, Casa Vacanze Arcobaleno has a whole apartments in the Grosseto countryside, 10 minutes drive to the city, for $83 per night, and even 4-star accommodation Grand Hotel Bastiani costs a reasonable $114 to book.
Grosseto is Italy’s next must-see destination
Grosseto is one of Italy’s last hidden gems, but it won’t stay that way for long:
It’s already on the radar of major publications like the BBCand just this year, the European Commission named the country a Green Pioneer in Smart Tourism, for its efforts in promotion durable tourism – apart from the absence of crowds, did we mention that this is the gateway to the Maremma Regional Park?
Grosseto is the first Italian city to win this prestigious award, and it is further proof of the authorities’ commitment responsible, high-quality tourismunlike numbers.
We doubt it will ever become a Pisa – it lacks both the international airport and the 55-metre-high inclined tower – but it could are no longer completely unheard of.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
