A weekend on holiday in the old town of Scansano

23 Dec A weekend on holiday in the old town of Scansano

To admire the splendor of this small town of medieval buildings and wonderful panoramas in the countryside of Tuscan Maremma.

Scansano

Among ancient walls, towers and castles

In Scansano, one of the most picturesque towns of Maremma, walking through the alleys of the historic center you can admire the remains of ancient medieval structures, surrounded by a walled perimeter and numerous churches like those of San Giovanni Battista and Madonna delle Grazie. Once outside the town you can marvel at different castles like the castle of montorgiali, located in dominant position over the populated center, with an impressive structure characterized by various buildings with round arched windows and external walls of stone brick. Built around 1188, it was originally in possession of the rich signori of Montorgiali, allies of the more powerful Aldobrandeschi family.
Another castle to visit is the one of Montepò, that belonged to the signori of Cotone. An impressive fortified structure, erected around the year 1000, then passed on to the signori of Cotone and in the 14th century under control of Siena, to then be sold to the Sergardi family. In renaissance times it was transforimed into a fortified farm. Today it presents itself with a rectangular layout, with a courtyard flanked by four corner towers and walls of stone and brick, today property of an important vineyard.

A small jewel, the Castagnoli theater

The communal theater of Scansano owes its foundation to a period of fervent development which this town experienced during the 19th century, when the Grand Dukes of Lorena decided to transfer public offices from Grosseto to Scansano for the summer period, giving rise to the so-called estatura.
The rich signori who temporarily moved to this town decided to construct the theater but the 64 founding members abandoned construction following a poor management of funds. Finalized in 1891 thanks only to a conspicuous donation by well-known local notary Filippo Castagnoli, and subsequently named after him.

The Morellino di Scansano

A red wine of international fame, known for its excellent quality, produced with San Giovese grapes, it reflects the millennia-old art of the cultivation of grapes that is practiced in Maremma. Some archeological remains have in fact shown that even in the Etruscan period the cultivation of grapevines and the production of wine were flourishing activities.
The art of grapevine cultivation continues to this day to give rise to one of the most renowned wines of the the region, the Morellino di Scansano. Its area of cultivation is limited and to cultivate it the vineyards have to adhere to a rigid production production procedure. The name Morellino, according to tradtion, comes from the Bay horses, commonly called morelli, from which it takes its color, vigor and intensity.

The road of wine and flavors of Colli di Maremma

A unique trail, through a region that offers a great variety of culinary excellencies, the undisputed main character is the wine, but the rest of the products of the region are no less excellent. The extra virgin olive oil, the cheeses, the meat of Maremma cows and game, the honey and many other products, an experience rich in flavors and smells. Various other routes are available, all excellent.