Places to Visit in Tuscany for Free

in undiscovered Maremma

There are some wonderful places to visit in Tuscany, and this page is your resource of all of those that are free. It is updated regularly when there are special offers or events in which entrance to museums, gardens or exhibitions etc which normally charge a fee is granted for free.

This selection of great places to visit in Tuscany for free operate free admission all year round. For Maremma's gorgeous beaches, preserved medieval hill top town and villages, protected parks and nature reserves - also all free to visit - take a dip into the main navigation menu on the left of each page.

Places to Visit in Tuscany for Free

Visit an Aquarium

Grosseto Civic Aquarium
Via Porciatti, 12 - Vallo degli Arcieri - Troniera Mura Medicee - Grosseto

This civic aquarium is a joint venture between the Scuba Diving Club of Grosseto and the Natural History Museum of Maremma. It is located in the medici walls of the tunnels of the Bastione della Rimembranza.

Opening times:
May to June and September to December from 09:30 to 12:30 and 16:00 to 19:00
January to April: Closed
Remaining period: 09:30 - 12:30 and 15:00 to 19:00
Monday and Friday: 21:00 to 23:00
Closed Sunday and Monday

Tel: +39 0565 488870

Visit an Art Gallery or Art Collection

Art Collection
Palazzo Nerucci, Piazza Indipendenza, 30 - Castel del Piano

For more information: www.comune.casteldelpiano.gr.it

Amedeo Modigliani Civic Art Gallery
Piazza del Popolo, 2 - Follonica

Opening times:
15 June to 15 September 17:00 to 23:30 and
16 September to 14 June 15:30 to 19:30
Closed Monday

For more information: www.comune.follonica.gr.it/modigliani

Visit an Etruscan Tomb

Places to visit in Tuscany for free: the monumental Pietrera Etruscan tomb in Vetulonia, Maremma

Feel like Indiana Jones in Maremma! and visit the Belvedere, Pietrera, Diavolino and Fibula d'Oro monumental Etruscan tombs and burial chambers at Vetulonia in which rich treasures - jewellery and vases - (now stored in the Archaeological Museum of Florence) were discovered. Treasure tomb found in Vetulonia.

Visit a Medieval Castle

Places to visit in Tuscany for free: Scarlino Castle

Most of Maremma's many medieval castles that are open to the public are free. These are two: Castello di Scarlino (in the photograph above) and La Rocca di Campiglia Marittima. Visit the main Medieval Castles page for many more.

Visit a Museum

The following museums in Maremma are listed in alphabetical order by the city, town or village in which they are found.

60 Tuscan Museums 100% Free

This year (2010) the Tuscany Tourist Board ran a "60 Tuscan Museums 100% Free" competition via mobile phone entry. Entirely free to participate - you just needed to dial a number and wait for it to ring (no charge to your 'phone), after which you would receive an SMS message telling you whether you had one free admisison or not. If you have, the SMS message - don't delete it! - gives you free pass to 60 listed museums (there are brochures at most museums with the list) throughout Tuscany. You will need to give the cashier at each museum your mobile telephone with the SMS message open and your 'phone number. The free entrance is valid for 30 days.

If you aren't successful one day, try the next as the "competition" allows one entry per day per mobile telephone. If there are a group of you, why not all try: one of you may win! That way you can spread the saving out amongst you.

Go to www.turismo.intoscana.it for more information.

The David Lazzaretti Study Centre
Palazzo Comunale, Piazza Indipendenza, 30 - Arcidosso

Open for visits form Monday to Saturday, but to do so you need to contact the Council Library at biblioteca@amiata.net

For more information: www.centrostudilazzaretti.it

The Mount Amiata Fauna Park Visitors' Centre
Via del Porticciolo, Piazza del Castello, Arcidosso

Open on request.

For more information: www.parcofaunistico.it

Iron and Cast-Iron Museum
Comprensorio ex ILVA, Follonica

Opening times:
Summer months: Wed from 17:00 - 20:00, Fri from 08:30 - 13:30 and 17:00 - 23:00, Sat from 08:30 - 13:30 and 17:00 - 23:00, Sun from 17:00 - 23:00
Winter months: Wed from 16:30 - 19:30, Fri from 09:00 - 12:00 and 16:30 - 19:30, Sat from 09:00 - 12:00, Sun from 16:30 - 19:30

For more information: www.comune.follonica.gr.it

Castel di Pietra Archive Centre
Via Terranova, 31, Gavorrano

Places to visit in Tuscany for free: the middle ages castle of Castel di Pietra

Find out about the Castel di Pietra where the Sienese lady Pia de Tolomei was murdered by her husband.

Opening times:
January to May: Sun and public holidays from 09:00 - 13:00, plus open daily from 1 Jan to 6 Jan
June: Tue, Thurs & Sun from 10:00 - 13:00 and Wed, Fri & Sat from 15:00 - 19:00
July to August: Tue & Thurs from 10:00 - 13:00, Wed & Fri from 15:30 - 19:30, Sat from 15:30 - 19:30 and 21:00 - 23:00, Sun from 10:00 - 13:00 and 21:00 - 23:00
September: Tues, Thurs & Sun from 09:00 - 13:00 and Wed, Fri & Sat from 15:30 - 19:30
October: Sun and public holidays from 09:00 - 13:00
November to December: Sun and public holidays from 10:00 - 13:00 and 15:00 - 18:00

Guided tours of the castle (a ruin) require an admission fee, but visits to the centre are free.

Museolab of the City of Grosseto
Ex Convento delle Clarisse, Via Vinzaglio, 27 - Grosseto

Open: from Tuesday to Thursday from 09:00 to 16:00, with guided tours possible by prior arrangement.

For more information: www.archeo.unisi.it

Le Colline Metallifere Traditional Carpenter's Workshop
Vicolo Massaini, Massa Marittima

Open June - September from 10:00 to 19:00 and October to May for groups bookings only.

For more information: www.massamarittimamusei.it

Museum of the Vine and Wine
Piazza Centrale, 2 - Montenero d'Orcia

Open on request.

For more information: www.stradadelvinomontecucco.it

Museum House
Via Grande, Montecello Amiata

Opening times:
July to August: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 16:30 to 19:00
Sunday: 10:00 to 12:00

Visits out of season can be made by prior arrangement.

For more information: www.comune.cinignano.gr.it

Santa Caterina Ethnographic Museum
Via Roma, 15 - Santa Caterina, Roccalbegna

Open upon request.

For more information: www.comune.roccalbegna.gr.it

Territorial Archive Centre for History and Archaeology at Scarlino
Via della Rocca, Scarlino

Opening times: Tues, Thurs and Sat from 09:00 - 12:00

Visits during other times are possible with prior arrangement.

City of Tufo Park Visitors Centre
Palazzo Pretorio, Piazza Pretorio, 12/a - Sovana

Opening times:
From tow weeks before Easter to the 2 November of each year between 10:00 and 13:00, and 16:00 and 19:00.
26 December to 6 January from 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00
The rest of the year: from 10:00 to 13:00.

The Etruscan Necropolis of Sovana is also open from two weeks before Easter to the 2 November, but with continuous hours from 10:00 to 19:00. And from 26 December to 6 January from 10:00 to 17:00.

For more information: www.comune.sorano.gr.it

Link to all of Maremma's museums - Maremma Museums Italy

Places to Visit in Tuscany for Free
Special Events and Offers

Throughout the Year

See above under "Visit Museums" for the possibility to visit 60 museums throughout Tuscany for free.

January to March

Il Giardino dei Tarocchi

On the first Saturday of each month between 09:00 and 13:00 entrance to Il Giardino dei Tarocchi, Niki de Saint Phalle's Tarot Garden, is free.

NOTE: If the Saturday is a public holiday, then the garden will open with the same free entrance on the following Saturday.

The garden is similarly open for free between November and December (see below).

September through to December:
Martedi Arte - Tuesday in Art

As part of a national project, from 28 September 2010 to 28 December 2010, on the last Tuesday of each month, a number of state museums will be opened during the evening with free entrance.

There is one museum in Maremma that is included in Maremma Laziale: the Museo Archeologico Nazionale Tarquiniense (the Tarquiniense National Archaeological Museum), in Piazza Cavour 1 - Tarquinia (Viterbo).

The Tuesdays are:

28 September 2010
26 October 2010
30 November 2010, and
28 December 2010

For more information and the full list of the special openings and free entrance to state museums as part of this project, visit www.benicultutali.it

October 2010

The Giardino di Ritorno - the garden of recycled art by Rodolofo Lacquaniti - has an open house for Contemporary Art Day on Saturday October 9th 2010. Visits normally cost Euros 10,00 per person.

Read Alexandra Korey's write up for Turismo in Toscana here.

November to December

Il Giardino dei Tarocchi

On the first Saturday of each month between 09:00 and 13:00 entrance to Il Giardino dei Tarocchi, Niki de Saint Phalle's Tarot Garden, is free.

NOTE: If the Saturday is a public holiday, then the garden will open with the same free entrance on the following Saturday.

The garden is similarly open for free between January and March (see above).