Massa Marittima, Medieval hilltop town in Grosseto Province, Italy
Massa Marittima is a medieval town in Grosseto Province with stone buildings arranged in circles around a central square and cathedral. The layout reflects its origins as a hilltop settlement where streets wind upward through different levels of the town.
The town began as a refuge when the bishop's seat moved inland in the 11th century to escape coastal pirate attacks. The settlement then developed into a center for mining and metalworking activities that shaped its economy for centuries.
The Cathedral of San Cerbone stands at the heart of town with ornate stone details and religious artworks that reflect medieval artistic tastes. The square in front serves as the social center where locals and visitors naturally gather.
The Mining Museum displays the region's mineral history through galleries and reconstructed underground passages that visitors can walk through. The town itself is best explored on foot, as its narrow medieval streets are not designed for vehicles.
The Fonte dell'Abbondanza features a medieval fresco showing a tree bearing unusual fruits that was discovered during restoration work in 1999. This artwork remains one of the rare surviving examples of decorative details from that era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
