Things to do

Inland
The Alta Maremma provides great hiking and cycling country. Exploring by car brings its own rewards, and trips to Sovana, Sorano and Pitigliano are strongly recommended. Not only beautiful in their own right, they also contain important Etruscan sites. Visit the hot springs at Saturnia, and luxuriate in the warm pools or be massaged by the hot waterfall nearby for free. The Terme welcomes visitors who might wish to try a range of health and beauty treatments or simply to visit the bar and restaurant.
Siena, with its Renaissance splendour, is just over an hour away, and makes a worthwhile day trip. Florence is about an hour further on. From Grosseto, the centre of Rome is little more than a couple of hours by train. Take a day to savour the atmosphere of the ‘eternal city’. Closer to hand, the exquisite medieval Roccalbegna with its 12th century church and its very own mountain crag, complete with 11th century watchtower remains, is a fine example of the undiscovered gems for those in search of adventure and culture alike. The bar/restaurant La Grotta can provide anything from a glass of beer or an espresso to fine dining at easily manageable prices.
Monte Labbro, with its mountain-top hermitage, and its chapel in a cave, provides an intriguing and mystical vantage point from which to gain breathtaking views of the surrounding country. Monte Amiata, on the other hand, boasts a ski run and a collection of Alpine bars and restaurants at its summit. A surprise find in southern Tuscany, and worth a hiking visit even in summer to enjoy cool fresh mountain air.

Pitigliano

At the coast

Long sandy beaches and a nature reserve can be found just south of Grosseto at Alberese Marina. Further south along the Via Aurelia is the Gianella, another unspoiled sandy beach that stretches from the mainland to the Monte Argentario. Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole are two very smart resorts, boasting yachting marinas and internationally renowned dry docks. Recommended dining is at the unpretentious Il Delfino, tucked behind the filling station in the ‘Old Port’ at Santo Stefano. More or less across the quay tickets can be bought for ferries to the islands of Giglio (all year round) and Giannutri (summer only).
Visitors to Giglio will arrive at the picturesque Giglio Porto, whose shops and sea-front restaurants are well worth exploring. A short bus or taxi ride will take you Giglio Castello, an unforgettable ancient but inhabited citadel at the islands summit. The much smaller, flatter Giannutri is barely inhabited, but has a hotel, a golf course and a Roman villa.
The islands, the Monte Argentario and much of the mainland coastline provide excellent snorkelling and scuba diving, and speedboats are easily hired for the day.

Choose your season...

La Primavera
March, April and May are ideal get-away-from-it-all months, whether sipping wine on the veranda or relaxing with a book or DVD by the open log fire. Good walking and exploring weather, and a gift to those who enjoy photography and painting.

L’Estate
Bella Vista is equipped with its own sensitively designed 12 x 6m swimming pool, and two of Europe’s most beautiful, unspoiled beaches (Gianella and Alberese Marina) are roughly an hour’s drive away. The glamorous resorts of the Monte Argentario are within easy reach, with regular sailings to the islands of Giglio and Giannutri.

L’Autunno
A time when the warm air is spiced with the aroma of ripening fruit. Most evenings are still warm enough to enjoy a candle-lit dinner under the veranda, accompanied by the songs of crickets and waking night birds. On less clement evenings, local restaurants offer blazing log fires, hearty dishes of wild boar and other game.

L’Inverno
Even in winter this area exerts its charm, particularly on those looking for relaxation and something a little different. The coziness of the stone-built farm house comes into its own, as guests sample the local wines and roast chestnuts over the open fire while snow flurries give way to bright clear days. Novice or casual skiers can enjoy the slopes offered by Monte Amiata, less than an hour’s drive away.

The Hermitage, Monte Labbro