Grosseto is the ‘capoluogo’ or ‘main city’ of the province and is the most important city of the Maremma Grossetana, encompassing the central section of the Maremma along the coast as well as part of the Parco Nazionale della Maremma and part of the Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano which includes the small Island of Giglio off the coast of Monte Argentario. It is an Etrusco-Roman city and is very close to the small Etruscan city of Roselle which is most widely known for its large archaeological remains and natural hot springs.
The very wealthy and important Aldobrandeschi family is given credit for most of the building and renovation that happened in Grosseto during the twelfth century. The important Etruscan and Roman buildings were kept up and new buildings like the grand Palazzo Aldobrandeschi (Aldobrandeschi Palace) were commissioned by the family. In the city of Grosseto there are a multitude of historical sites to view including churches from the 1100s like their Duomo, the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, as well as many ancient monuments, fortifications and protective walls.
