Marina di Grosseto is located on the coast about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the Maremma capital, immersed in the Grand Duchy pine forest that characterizes most of the area.
The earliest evidence of the area being frequented dates back to 1720, when a military outpost was established to defend the stretch of land between the mouth of the Ombrone river and the Castle of Castiglione della Pescaia. The outpost served mainly to control landings and to quarantine any people suffering from diseases, to the extent that it was soon named after Saint Rocco, protector of plague victims and the sick in general.
Of that outpost remains today the fort around which, in the early 20ᵗʰ century, the first nucleus of fisher’s shacks formed. At first, there was little more than huts, which were eventually transformed into real dwellings over the years, served by a burgeoning marina as early as the 1920s.
In the 1930s, the San Rocco settlement changed its name to Marina di Grosseto, developing a neighborhood to the right of the harbor frequented by wealthy landowners who had graceful Art Nouveau villas constructed for their vacations. Today, it is divided into two parts by the Marina, comprised of a more fashionable district to the right of the bridge and the Sciangai district to the left, which still retains a retro feel linked to the seafaring tradition.
Marina di Grosseto is not far from the WWF San Felice Oasis and the Diaccia Botrona Nature Reserve. In the summertime it offers services and events designed for diverse audiences, from family and children’s entertainment to cultural events and folk festivals, welcoming visitors into a relaxed but lively atmosphere.
Numerous bicycle paths connect it to Grosseto, Principina a Mare, Castiglione della Pescaia and the Maremma Park, making it a rightful entry among Tuscany’s slow and sustainable tourism destinations.
