Maremma

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For the breed of dog, see Maremma Sheepdog.

The Maremma is an area in Italy, consisting of part of southern Tuscany (and partly coincident with province of Grosseto area) and some part of northern Latium (a bordering region of the province of Viterbo).

The poet Dante Alighieri in his Divina Commedia, identifies Maremma between Cecina and Corneto, the former name of Tarquinia.

Non han sì aspri sterpi nè sì folti

quelle fiere selvagge che 'n odio hanno

tra Cecina e Corneto i luoghi colti.

It was traditionally populated by the Butteri, cattle-breeders who used horses until recently, with a distinctive style of saddle. Once unhealthy because of the many marshes, Maremma was drained during the fascist regime and re-populated with people coming from other Italian regions, notably from Veneto.

Provided with significant natural and environmental resources, Maremma is today one of the best tourist destinations in Italy, where ancient traditions have survived and Tuscan culture is preserved. It is being promoted as a destination for agritourism.

The village Scansano lies within Maremma and is noted for Morellino di Scansano wine, which is vinted from Morellino grapes grown locally.

Montecucco and Monteregio are two other very popular D.O.C. wines produced in the Maremma.

Alta Maremma (Upper Maremma) is the norhern part of the Maremma region, right on the border with the Province Siena. This interesting area is characterised by the many beautiful hilltop villages (Civitella Marittima, Roccastrada, Roccatederighi, Sassofortino, Monte Massi, Massa Marittima, Cinigiano, Campagnatico, Pari), which remind of the hilltop towns of the Siena area.de:Maremma fr:Maremme it:Maremma ru:Маремма sv:Maremma