Scansano
Scansano is a wonderful little town in the province of Grosseto; in fact it is only 20 kilometres away from Grosseto itself.
It is seen as one of the most beautiful and eminent centres in the Tuscan Maremma, a true gem of architecture, history and ancient culture. Inside the walls you can enjoy a pleasant walk and visit the sites, ancient palazzi and historic monuments of great beauty and profound artistic interest.
The Maremman town rises of the top of a little hill and from high you can enjoy the beautiful natural panorama, from the stretch of sea to the wonderful Tuscan hills.
Scansano is also famous for the production of the internationally renowned wine; the Morellino di Scansano DOC.
The town of Scansano presents itself as one the most celebrated locations in the Maremma, delighting visitors as the home of breathtaking and splendid works of art and monuments with great historical importance.
From the streets of the Tuscan village you can appreciate the beauty of Church of the Madonna of Grace, an impressive building dating back to the 1600’s and home to the stunning alfresco of the Madonna herself, part of the church was completely rebuilt in the 19th century and today it provides an interesting neoclassic element.
The Church of St. Joseph Battista, built back in the second half of the 13th century and completely restructured in the 1700’s, is home to some precious alfresco works, not to mention a terracotta figurine of the Madonna of the Bird and other beautiful 18th century alters.
Not to miss:
The Castle, built sometime prior to the 12th century (the first documents stating its existence were produced in the last decade of 1100): the castle was just one of the many houses of the Aldobrandeschi family.
Palazzo Pretorio: constructed in the historic part of the village of Scansano
Palazzo Podestá: the House of the Commune Treasury
The very ancient Etruscan settlement of Ghiaccio Forte: just outside of the town of Scansano, it is a striking village which, according the reconstructions performed by the archeologists, may have been destroyed by a terrible fire. Amongst the precious ruins lies an area which definitely resembles an outdoor oven, as well as various objects made of terracotta. The rest are houses and three doors which were used to access the fortified city.
The Roman Villa: outside the main centre, its construction dates back to between 50 BC and 50 A.D.
Castello del Cotone (Castle of Cotone): which, dating back to the Middle Ages, was an important stronghold for the Cotone family, the powerful city of Siena, and of the Tolomei Counts.
Castello di Montepó (Castle of Montepó): built in the course of the year 1000 it is extremely close to a church.
Convento del Petreto (Covent of Petreto): definitely before 1274, the building was created as a convent for the Franciscan order and amongst the famous religious figures who have stayed there, is St. Bernardino.
The Archaeological Museum of the Vine and Wine: an interesting exhibition housing numerous ancient objects and utensils used in the past for the cultivation of grapes and the production of wine. The museum also tells the story of the famous Morellino di Scansano and offers interesting news regarding its history and its characteristics.
History:
For what we know of the history of Scansano, the beautiful territory saw the presence of the Etruscans and the Romans, which we can assume from the numerous finds that have been found in archeological sites surrounding the city. In the course of the Middle Ages the town of Scansano lived under the domination of the Aldobrandeschi family, who managed to maintain power until the 13th century. Then, in the beginning of the 15th century, the power was passed into the hands of the house of the Sforza. With the arrival of the Renaissance this section of the Maremma became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, included under the politics of the powerful De’Medici family of Florence.
Finally in the second half of the 19th century, the town became part of the new Kingdom of Italy