Maremma Park Over 25 km of wild and unspoiled nature that directly overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea and the park of the Tuscan archipelago make up Maremma Park, one of the most exciting and emblematic places in the whole territory. An unmissable stop on an itinerary to discover this region. The reserve has an extension of 9800 hectares that winds along the Maremma coast and touches the seaside resort of Principina a Mare in the municipality of Grosseto and that of Talamone in the municipality of Orbetello. In its territory, there are still the last marshy lands located near the mouth of the Ombrone river, which, rich in life and still wild, are home to important colonies of marsh birds. Further south, the area is made up of the famous Uccellina mountains which are almost entirely covered by a dense Mediterranean scrub. While to the east, at the foot of the mountains, there are vast grassy expanses, where the Spergolaia Farm is located, the administrative center of the regional company and headquarters of the Maremma cowboys. Tasks to be done The reserve is open every day all year round and to enter it is necessary to purchase the entrance ticket at the appropriate visitor centers. Inside the park it is possible to carry out various activities divided into itineraries including following the paths on foot, observing the animals in the typical Mediterranean scrub and bird watching, among meadows and marshes where the colonies of birds have found their natural habitat; you can slide on the water with canoes, or go mountain biking or horseback riding in the wilderness. Absolutely not to be missed is the opportunity to visit the park at night under the stars and among the noises of the night. Alberese and its surroundings In the heart of the Maremma Natural Park is the inhabited center of Alberese which is only 15 km from Grosseto.This village has ancient origins and it is assumed that the territory was already inhabited in prehistoric times as evidenced by the remains found in the areas known as the Fabbrica and the Scoglietto. Alberese is an agricultural center that has developed in the “Palazzo” or the large fortified building, now known as Villa Fattoria Granducale, built in 1470 by Beuccio Capacci prior of the order of Malta. In this village one of the most characteristic elements is the presence of many churches all from various eras and with different architectural styles. A prime example is the church dedicated to Santa Maria built in the thirties of the twentieth century on a Neo-Romanesque design by the engineer Enzo Fedi; much older is instead the parish church of Sant’Antonio Abate built in 1587 with the function of chapel of the grand-ducal villa. Outside the town, in the heart of the Natural Park, is the Abbey of San Rabano located on a hill between Poggio Uccellina and Poggio Lecci at an altitude of 320 meters. The church was built around 1101 AD and was an important seat of the order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in 1307 and was then definitively abandoned in the 16th following the construction of the parish church of Sant’Antonio Abate. Also interesting to visit are the towers of Alberese or at least what remains of them. There are three scattered throughout the reserve: the Tower of Castel Marino dating back to the 13th century located in Marina di Alberese, the Tower of Collelungo which is located in front of the Alberese beach built in the 16th century (one of the best preserved pinnacles of the Grosseto coast) and the Torre dell’Uccellina which is located in the center of the Spergolaia area near the mouth of the Ombrone.