It will come as little surprise that Italian cuisine has recently been added to UNESCO’s cultural heritage list. All over Italy, food is a serious matter. Tuscany is no exception, celebrated worldwide for its cucina povera and iconic wines.
Beyond its well-trodden routes lies the coast of Maremma, the region’s low-key wild west, where culinary traditions remain firmly rooted in the land. Here, recipes change from one village to the next, shaped by farming and the rhythms of rural life and the daily catch.
Yet few are aware of Maremma, let alone its remarkable food and wine culture. The seafood is exceptional, of course. Inland, in the hills of Maremma, you’ll find wild boar, venison and guinea fowl. As local chefs and small-scale vineyards continue to impress, Maremma remains an off-the-beaten path food and wine destination for locals and vacationers in the know. By eluding the spotlight, Maremma has preserved its authenticity, offering experiences that feel genuinely local and unique.
Drawing on decades of experience across Italy, our Villa Specialists and award-winning concierge offer unrivalled insight and insider access to Maremma’s villas and experiences. Read on to discover a side to Italy beyond the crowds.
Uncover Maremma’s Local Culinary Scene
With 160km of unspoilt coastline along the Tyrrhenian Sea, Maremman cuisine features seafood-heavy recipes that are fresh and unfussy. Parts of the sea between Elba and the mainland remain a few degrees warmer than the rest of the Mediterranean, with unique varieties of fish you won’t find elsewhere.
Staple ingredients include seppie (cuttlefish, whose ink is the key ingredient in riso nero, black risotto); totani (baby squid) and salty bottarga (tuna roe), often shaved onto pasta; and riccio (sea anemone, great with linguine). Local specialities include Cacciucco, spicy soup-stew similar to the French bouillabaisse.
Just 10km inland, Maremma’s mountainous forests are home to wild boar, venison and guinea fowl, three staple ingredients of the region’s rustic cuisine. These game meats are slow-cooked in hearty stews with chestnuts, mushrooms or local herbs.
Wine in Maremma: Small-scale Producers to Winemaking Dynasties
There has never been a better time to explore Maremma’s dynamic wine scene. Since Etruscan times, this wild corner of Tuscany has provided the perfect conditions for winemaking. Today, a new generation of passionate winemakers is transforming Maremma into one of Italy’s most exciting wine regions. Small-scale wine producers are experimenting with both traditional and international grape varieties, focusing on quality over quantity.
Its most famous wine, Morellino di Scansano, comes from wild, unspoilt terrain between hills covered in olive groves. Vermentino is the region’s crown jewel, a rich and refreshing wine with a range of floral aromas and subtle hints of fresh herbs.
The region’s increasingly sought-after rosés also deserve special attention, with small-scale wineries such as Podere 414 and Tenuta Ammiraglia producing vibrant, palate-friendly wines that capture Maremma’s coastal influence. Tenuta Ammiraglia’s “Alìe” is a standout Tuscan rosé with a light, luminous colour and soft ruby highlights.
Other notable names shaping Maremma’s reputation include Fattoria Le Pupille, a long-established winemaking dynasty. Just offshore, on Isola del Giglio, Fontuccia is a highlight – a superb cantina overlooking the sea, where an abundance of sun, wind and salty air combine to make the perfect winemaking conditions.
If you’re staying in one of our private villas, enjoy private tastings and tours in the company of sommeliers, cellar masters and winemakers. For a more relaxed experience, we can also organise private, in-villa group tastings with Tuscan winemakers.
Things to do in Maremma: History, Ancient Folklore and Hot Springs
Monastero di San Bruzio
Beyond Maremma’s exceptional food and wine scene, there is plenty more to discover. For history buffs, we recommend visiting the ruins of San Bruzio in Magliano in rural Tuscany, located about 2km southeast of the historic centre of Magliano. The 11th-century monastery once served as a religious complex before it was subsequently left to abandon.
Camminata Sulle Murata
A walk along the Camminata sulle Mura in Magliano in Toscana follows a gentle route for all levels. It’s one of the best ways to explore the village and its surroundings, including the well-preserved medieval walls. Between vineyard visits and leisurely mealtimes, this is one of the most enjoyable ways to work up an appetite and take in Maremma’s rich history.
Olivo della Strega
Steeped in local legend, this is one of Europe’s oldest olive trees, with an estimated age of around 3000-3500 years. Its name – the Witch’s Olive Tree – harks back to folkloric ancient rituals and rural superstition. It’s easily accessible by car, with roadside access, allowing visitors to marvel at its ancient, twisted branches up close.
Wellness and Hot springs
Maremma is also home to mineral hot springs made popular during ancient Roman times. The large Terme di Saturnia is most popular among locals, with its cascading pools set in a stunning valley landscape. Speak to our award-winning concierge for local recommendations.
Read our guide for more information on things to do along the Tuscany Coast, including a day trip to Tuscany’s hidden Riviera.
Where to Stay – The Best Luxury Villas in Maremma Italy
Sartomare
Great for multigenerational vacations, this fully staffed, 75-acre coastal retreat is just 15 minutes away from Maremma’s beautiful beaches. Sartomare’s dedicated team can organise everything for your epicurean stay, from Frescobaldi winery tours to boat charters and reservations at Maremma’s high-end beach clubs, such as Feniglia, Giannella and Capablio.
Villa Denise
For smaller parties, Villa Denise showcases the best of Maremma’s food and wine, producing its own organic red and white wines on site. Whether you’d like to arrange chef-prepared dinners or private in-villa wine tastings, no request is too big or too small. Take home a bottle of the villa’s wine from the lovely owners, Agostino and Elena, who live in a separate house on the large estate.
Il Chiesino
Perched on a hilltop along the stunning Tuscan coast, Il Chiesino is an excellent base for exploring Maremma’s food and wine scene. Guests of the villa love to visit Fattoria Le Pupille nearby, a renowned local winery, where they can sample award-winning wines and learn about traditional Tuscan winemaking. To elevate the experience, our Concierge Service can arrange local chefs to prepare classic Maremman dishes made from seasonal ingredients.
Discover more of our handpicked portfolio of villa rentals near the Tuscany coast and Maremma.
Connect with Our Villa Specialists
Our Concierge Specialists are here to enrich your villa rental experience, with Maremma’s food and wine scene at your fingertips. Their intimate knowledge of the Tuscan coast offers authentic Maremman experiences tailored to your needs and requirements. Connect with our Villa Specialists today and discover our handpicked portfolio of villa rentals near the Tuscany coast and Maremma.