Art and elegance ooze from every pore of Grosseto, rising up on the coastal edges of verdant Tuscany in a whirl of duomos, cobbled piazzas and medieval walls. During the early Middle Ages, this town fluctuated under the hegemonies of Siena and Florence nearby, while today its silent streets and rustic character give it an altogether unique and alluring Italian flavour.

Most Grosseto tour guides recommend travellers start by walking the hexagonal walls of the Medici fortress that encompass the heart of the town, moving on to the cobbled roadways of the central district, where the majestic faces of the St Lawrence Cathedral and the city’s Museum of Archaeology play host to a wealth of treasures and relics from Grosseto’s past. All around, the town ticks over to the calming sounds of travellers digging in to regional flavoured baked breads, or sipping Chianti in the shade, while, nearby, the aqua blue waters of the Monte Argentario and the Etruscan ruins of Roselle await exploration.