Villas in Tuscany: Maremma
Investors looking for villas in Tuscany have historically headed for areas such as Chianti, Florence, Pisa and Lucca.
But where to turn to now that because of the demand in this part of Tuscany, villas have shot up in price?
There is a place that retains Tuscany’s charm but is far more affordable. Welcome to the Maremma, in southern Tuscany.
This is a place that has drawn Italian holidaymakers for decades. They have been joined by visitors from Holland, Germany, France and the US to name a few, hundreds of whom have purchased Tuscany villas here. To most UK visitors, however, it remains an undiscovered treasure.
The Maremma starts from Follonica, south of Piombino, and extends as far south as Monte Argentario. Eastwards it stretches to the borders of the province of Siena.
There are 100 miles of stunning coastline. Follonica is a lively beach resort that also has the Modigliani art gallery, with works by Picasso, Dali and Bolano.
Some 10 miles south of here is the beach of Cala Violina, where the white sand is so fine that, according to folklore, it produces the sound of violins when walked on.
A short stroll inland lies Pian d’Alma, which houses two Etruscan necropolises dating from between 700BC and 500BC.
Monte Argentario is an island attached to the mainland by three fingers of land, creating a natural lagoon. Viewed from the air it appears crafted with amazing precision, a large flower between the Maremma and the sea, overlooked by Monte Argentario’s forts of Orbetello, Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano.
Just off the south-west coast of Monte Argentario is Isola Rossa. The natural landscape is totally unspoilt here and the views are breathtaking ‒ ponds, little islands, cane thickets and pristine white sandy beaches.
In fact, mile after mile of the Maremma coast is bathed in rare beauty, with stunning flora, fauna and wildlife.
Sailing is popular while Punta Ala, on the south side of the Gulf of Follonica, boasts one of Europe’s largest and most beautiful golf courses, looking out over the sea.
In Tuscany villas tend to be more affordable the further south one goes. Consequently, the Maremma coast has become a prime location for investors looking to buy villas in Tuscany.
Talamone, Marina Albanese, Castiglione della Pescaia and the fashionable Punta Ala are great as resorts and as spots in which to snap up villas in Tuscany, either as buy-to-let or as holiday homes .As Monte Argentario, almost completely surrounded by the sea, is one of the most highly sought-after areas of southern Tuscany, villas here tend to be highly prized, with owners holding onto them for as long as possible given their huge rental potential.
Villas in Tuscany’s Maremma hinterland are also a great investment as well. Some of the towns here are among the region’s most scenic.
Pitigliano, for instance, its houses spectacularly hewn from the tufo rock. The hilltop town has amazing views over the valley, with acres of olive groves.
Saturnia’s thermal baths are a must-see, a place where you can be pampered with beauty treatments and relax in thermal pools.
Semproniano, Castel del Piano, Piancastagnaio, Sovana, Bagni San Filippo, Manciano and Abbadia San Salvatore are other scenic towns, with picturesque shops selling traditionally made handmade utensils, pottery, art and works in wrought iron. They are also handy bases from which to discover the beauty of the Maremma.
But you cannot leave the region without seeing a palio ‒ a medieval racing contest. Unlike Siena’s famous event, which features horses, in Roccastrada it is run with donkeys and in Paganico, at the foot of Mount Amiata, with frogs.
Mount Amiata is another of Maremma’s delights, a dormant volcano turned holiday and ski resort.
All this, and some of the most affordable villas in Tuscany. But for how much longer?