The capital of the region, and the largest city, is Grosseto. Much of it is modern and uninteresting, but the old center is lovely, and it’s full of churches and palaces, villas, fortification, lovely little town squares, and military fortifications. As the capital, it is also home of the extraordinary and extensive Maremma archeological museum.

Grosetto has no ancient Etruscan origins; the local powerhouse was nearby Roselle, and during the Roman period it was ignored, but the area was ceded to the Aldobrandeschi in 803 after the decline of Roselle, grew with the power of that family, and was by the end of the middle ages an important trading center because it was close to the sea and extensive salt production.