Skip to main content

MASSA MARITTIMA: A PHOTO GUIDE (THANK YOU WINTER SUN)

For reasons to me unknown (or at least too complicated to be explained), fate has me walking Massa Marittima's picture perfect town center every year once during winter. And each time I can't but stop and marvel at the timeless beauty of Massa Marittima's monuments against the backdrop of a crisp blue winter sky. 

No need for a Fellini film, if you can spend a morning people-watching on the tourist free main square in front of the gorgeous cathedral (building it in an oblique angle towards the rest of the piazza was a true act of genius!). This February morning serendipity even went so far as having me run into Donna, the blogger behind Maremma Guide, who writes one of the most informative and useful websites for people exploring this part of Tuscany. 


Massa Marittima archaeological museum. Palazzo del PodestĂ , piazza Garibaldi
The archaeological museum and a slice of the cathedral

San Cerbone cathedral in Massa Marittima
Winter  morning rush hour in front of Massa Marittima's San Cerbone cathedral


Cathedral of San Cerbone and cypress tree, Massa Marittima, piazza Garibaldi
The Tuscan just know where to plant those cypress trees (but not where to park their cars)



Locals on a winter morning in Massa Marittima
NovitĂ ? 


Keeping Massa Marittima clean
Busy even in the winter


View towards the cathedral and Palazzo del PodestĂ  in piazza Garibaldi
Morning chat




Yellow facade and washingline in Massa Marittima
Perfect laundry weather



Cloister of the San Pietro all'Orto abbey in Massa Marittima's CittĂ  Nuova (new town) neighborhood
It's just me and the city




Massa Marittima: a local crossing the square in front of the San Cerbone cathedral
Massa Marittima. These people dress with style.




Massa Marittima, off piazza Garibaldi
Men at work





Trompe l'oeil facade close to Massa Marittima's main square
Fake or real?





Looking for more Tuscany photos? Check out my photo guides or follow me on Instagram (@anythingtuscan) or Facebook: Map It Out's Facebook page


Popular posts from this blog

WINE AND ARCHITECTURE: PETRA WINERY BY MARIO BOTTA

Southern Tuscany is home to a handful of wineries, which are often described as wine cathedrals.  The Petra vineyard near Suvereto (by architect Mario Botta) is an interesting example of this new approach in winery architecture. At Petra the world-class architect went beyond designing an impressive wine cellar, but also included the outlay of the vineyards in his aim to form a contemporary agricultural landscape.  Main building of the Petra Winery in Suvereto If it is true that the way to good wine starts in the he vineyard, it is also true that only the quality of the cork,  the design of the label,  and the beauty of the bottle shape will bring the consumer's experience to full circle.  Taking this thought further it's obvious that the birthplace of a good or even fantastic wine, is yes the vine and its grapes, but also the winery building in particular and the whole estate in general.  If you know any of Botta's works,  you'll recog...

Storytellers at the Todo Modo bookshop in Florence

I may not be religious, but I totally worship the Todo Modo bookshop in Florence for its beautiful interior design, central location - a ten-minute walk from the station and Ponte Vecchio - and the cafè hidden among shelves and plants hanging from the roof. UqBar serves some of the best lunches to be had in Florence - especially for people who'd love to forego the usual Tuscan fare for a delicious miso soup . But Todo Modo does another thing well. The shelf-filled spaces in the back can be turned into a small theatre which makes for a great event space among all the books. I had my Across the Big Blue Sea book presentation there and was back last month for a Storytellers night - the first event of a great new series.   Linda and Steve, the team from the The Beehive Hostel in Rome have decided to take their storytellers nights to Florence, and Todo Modo has agreed to host them. Whether residents or just travelling through, English speakers will have great fun...

SAN BIAGIO AT NIGHT - JUNE 7, 2019

San Biagio at night (with Montepulciano in the background) Day or night, San Biagio,  il tempio di San Biagio,  is always a looker. But it's a special treat to be able to visit the interior of the church all through the night.  As one of 150 churches in Italy, Montepulciano's famous temple church will stay open through the night for the ' La Lunga Notte delle Chiese' event. Concerts and various cultural happenings will take place during the long night of churches on June 7, 2019 from 9.15 pm.  Check the event website for details of the participating churches in Tuscany and all over Italy.