Manciano
Manciano is a town in the province of Grosseto, perched on a hill overlooking the Tuscan Maremma
Updated 21 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Manciano now
The story
The story of Manciano
Manciano: introduction and location
Manciano stands on a hilltop in the Maremma of Grosseto, in the southern part of Tuscany, not far from the border with Lazio. From the historic centre the view opens onto a landscape of hills planted with olives and vines, broken up by woodland and eroded clay ridges, with glimpses of the Tyrrhenian coast in the distance. The municipality covers a wide area made up of several hamlets, each with its own character, from hilltop villages to thermal areas, farmland and nature reserves. This variety of landscapes and settlements makes Manciano a good starting point for exploring a lesser-known side of the Tuscan Maremma.
History and origins
Manciano's origins date back to the Middle Ages, when the fortified village was fought over by local ruling families and neighbouring towns, in a border area between Tuscany and Lazio long marked by struggles for control of the land. The historic centre still shows traces of this defensive past, with remains of walls and a tower that was once part of the village's fortified system. The wider municipal territory also preserves older evidence linked to the Etruscan presence in the Maremma, with archaeological sites documenting settlements and necropolises dating back several centuries before the Roman era.
Nature and landscape
The landscape around Manciano is typical of inland Maremma: hills covered with olive groves and vineyards alternate with oak woods and patches of Mediterranean scrub, while in some areas the ground opens into pale clay ravines known as calanchi. The Fiora river crosses the municipal territory, creating cool, green valleys quite different from the surrounding hilly scenery. Not far away are the well-known thermal waters of Saturnia, which flow warm and sulphurous from underground, a natural phenomenon that makes this part of the Maremma distinctive both geologically and scenically.
What to do and see
Visitors to Manciano can spend time walking through the historic centre, among narrow lanes, panoramic views over the Maremma and the remains of the old village's defensive tower. Among the municipality's hamlets, Saturnia is best known for its hot springs, while Montemerano is a small, well-preserved medieval village appreciated for the intimate atmosphere of its lanes and little squares. The Marsiliana area, meanwhile, holds archaeological sites linked to Etruscan civilisation, evidence of the ancient settlement of this land. Overall, the municipality offers a mix of cultural visits, countryside walks and thermal stops, suited both to those seeking relaxation and to those who prefer more active itineraries.
Flavours and traditions
Manciano's cuisine reflects the rural traditions of the Tuscan Maremma: extra virgin olive oil, wine, bread and meat-based dishes, including beef from the local Maremmana cattle breed, form the backbone of the local table. The area's woods yield mushrooms and chestnuts, ingredients that often appear on autumn menus alongside game such as wild boar, stewed or used to dress pasta. The surrounding hills host vineyards that fall within the wine denominations of southern Maremma, while locally produced olive oil accompanies much of the traditional cooking, from first courses to grilled meats.
Not to be missed
- The historic centre of Manciano and the remains of its defensive tower
- The thermal waters of Saturnia
- The medieval village of Montemerano
- The Etruscan archaeological sites around Marsiliana
- The hills planted with olives and vines along the Fiora valley
To see
What to see in Manciano
Routes · Trovido Route
