Scarlino
The wonderful village of Scarlino is located in the province of Grosseto, in the magical territory of the Tuscan Maremma, and is immersed amongst vast fields of olive trees and vines, sweet hills and plains of absolute splendor.
Situated amongst a panorama of immense beauty and great environmental interest, the town, small but definitely extraordinary, rises on one of the slopes of the Monte Alma, and is seen as a small jewel of art and culture.
The environment which surrounds the town is a paradise to discover and admire in all its splendor and beauty, offering visitors the opportunity to travel through its natural tracks, appreciating every shade, every perfume and every small section of this wonderful terrain.
The town itself, is characteristic for its great beauty and the profound wonder it inspires through its monuments and ancient palazzi.
Between the streets of its historic centre you can admire and appreciate the town’s unique history and art, observing the beauty of its architecture and structures.
The Maremman city of Scarlino is also custodian to many splendid work of religious art, demonstrating the very ancient roots of a town which has immense artistic and cultural importance.
Not to miss:
Church of St. Martino: dating back to the 14th century.
Church of St. Donato: a splendid medieval construction decorated with many fascinating frescoes and three towers.
Oratorio della Santa Croce (Oratory of the Saint Cross): built in the Renaissance period it is home to a great number of works of art of extraordinary beauty.
Just outside the city you can find the Canonica di San Michele (The Parsonage of St. Michele). Dating back to the 13th century, it was built in the Romanesque style, however today, there remains only the ruins of its bell tower and apse.
Rocca Aldobrandesca (Aldobrandesca Fortress): begun during the Middle Ages, it is surrounded by impressive towers.
Palazzzo Comunale: a building dating back to the 1200’s.
The ruins of the ancient city wall, erected between the 4th century and the 2nd century.
Casa Novelli: a structure, which today, is privately used, but was built in the second half of the 15th century and is decorated with some interesting frescoes.
Fonte del Canalino (Fountain of the Little Dog): built in the 16th century, it is just outside the fortified town.
Porta Senese: which was used to access the castle in ancient times
Palazzo del Conte: originally the residence of the Appiani family, it is today the seat of the Bank: Monte di Paschi di Siena.
The town of Scarlino is also the home of the Centro di Documentazione del Territorio (Centre of Documentation of the Territory): an exhibition of ruins, objects, instruments and funeral urns which have been found in nearby archaeological zones and tell of the history, the past and the evolution of the area of Scarlino and of the town itself.
History:
Ancient possession of the Aldobrandeschi family, the town of Scarlino was built during the year 1000 and soon became part of the dominion of the city of Roselle and the Alberti family.
From the beginning of the 13th century, the town once again fell under the power of the Aldobrandeschi, before passing into the hands of the city of Piombino, with the Appiani family.
It then became part of the Stato dei Presidi (Spanish State of Presidi) and for many centuries was the dominion of the Principality of Piombino, passing then under the power of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, before being annexed by the new Kingdom of Italy in the 19th century.