Great Things to do in Tuscany
for Free

in Maremma

There are many wonderful things to do in Tuscany for free: this is a guide to just some of those that you can do in Maremma in Tuscany - an unspoilt and special land full of mysteries and adventures that make great days out.

This page is full of suggestions of what to do in Tuscany for free that go beyond visiting Maremma's many wonderful medieval hill towns and cities, nature parks or gorgeous beaches. For those and a wide selection of other things to do and places to visit in Maremma, browse the main left-hand navigation menu and start exploring this undiscovered land. But be warned, once you do you may not want to leave!

Enjoy...

Wonderful Things to do in Maremma for Free

A Festival for Children

"Il Borgo dei Ragazzi" in Suvereto - held on the last Sunday in September of each year - is a festival for children.All the activities from clay modelling to street painting to story telling and collage are all compeletly free for the children of the town, neighbouring villages and visitors. .. makes a great

Note: The publicity for this great annual event advises that the activities continue until sunset, but actually the activity stalls all start to close at about 17:30 and are completly gone by 18:00, so much so that you wouldn't know that there had been a festa that day! So if you are going, make sure you get there early enough after lunch.

Go to a Carnival

Love a bit of a show, lots of noise and colour?! Then how about going to a Tuscany carnival? There are six in Maremma each year. Great outdoor family events in the winter months.

Click on the link to find out about Carnevale di Follonica (Follonica Carnival) in February where the above photograph was taken, or this one for details about them all - Maremma Italy carnival page.

Watch a Palio race

From frog and wheelbarrow to wine barrels and the more conventional palio horse races, Maremma has them all! Whole town events - often part of annual festivals or celebrations - that are completely free to watch and make for great whole days out full of wonderful memories.

Palios in Maremma

The photograph above of the Palio di Castel del Piano is by kind permission of If@@.

Watch a medieval archery competition

The "Trofeo San Cerbone" makes for a great free afternoon out in Maremma in Tuscany in October. A mtach of medieval archery skills between the quarters of the medieval city of Maremma and that of the Tuscan town of Lucca.

The only expense (if you don't park in the center of the town - there are plenty of places outside of the city walls in the free public car park on the lower slopes of the town next to the magistrates court in ...) will be for the great homemade gelato that you or your children won't want to miss whilst watching. Try the dark chocolate gelato from Bar Centrale and you will be in heaven!

Find out more at medieval crossbow competitions, tournaments and displays in Maremma.

Explore a medieval castle, fort or tower

As a kid I just loved runnning around the grounds of a castle with my siblings with the bow and arrow set my parents had brought us: we could and did play happily for hours hiding in the nooks and crannies... And I still equally love to explore castles today: ruined or otherwise. But I digress! For some perfect days out that will keep a family of all ages happy and only cost the price of the petrol to get there, try Maremma's many medieval castles, forts and towers. Most of those open to the public have free entry. Here are two. The link at the bottom will take you to many more. Have fun!

Castello di Scarlino

Even if the center of Scarlino castle is closed the site itself is worth a visit for the wonderful 360 degree panoramic views of Maremma. A morning or afternoon out can be made from visiting the castles medieval town built on the hillside below either before (it is all uphill on foot!) or the easier way, after and downhill! Castello di Scarlino.

La Rocca di Campiglia Marittima

The castle grounds of La Rocca di Campiglia Marittima are open until 17:00 each day and make a great place for a family picnic. The castle sits on a hill over 280 metres above sea level with wonderful views of the Maremma coastline (and even the island of Corsica) and the structure has a keep, cistern, crenellated walls, bastions and a mullioned window... La Rocca di Campiglia Marittima

Note: there is a charge to enter the small museum inside one of the restored buildings on the site.

More of Maremma's medieval castles

Things to do in Tuscany -
Special Events and Offers

This section is for those special events or offers that are time limited. I update the list regularly, so check back often.

September 2010

A guided trek through Maremma's metalifferous hills
4 September 2010

"Passeggiate tra storia e natura all scoperta del Parco minerario: trekking su Monte Gai" - a walk through history and nauture to discover the Mineral Park - Monte Gai. Starts at Ghirlanda at 16:30. Booking is essential: telephone 0566 902289.

October 2010

Origami and Japanese Calligraphy Workshops
8 and 15 October 2010

As part of the Sol Levante calligraphy to post-modern contemporary Japanese art exhibition in Massa Marittima, on the 8 and 15 October 2010 there will be free origami and Japanese writing workshops for children held in the Palazzo dell'Abbondanza. Tel. 0566 902078 to book places.

A Tour of Pitigliano and the Etruscan Vie Cave
10 October 2010

A free tour by Touring Club Italiano of the wonderous Pitigliano - Maremma's "Little Jerusalem" - visiting the old town, the Jewish Quarter and synagogue, and then the tewnty-metre deep Etruscan Vie Cave.

For more information: www.touringclub.it