The village of Civitella Marittima
The village is of medieval origin and the first documented mention of the Castle of Civitella dates back to the year 1000 A.D., following the construction of the Abbazia Ardenghesca. The village history is tied to the Ardengheschi family and the hamlet was originally known as Civitella Ardenghesca (literally, the little town of the Ardengheschi). This remained unchanged for many years up to the fall of the powerful family in the 15th century. The name used thereafter was Civitella Marittima, which means "a little town in the Maremma", even if the surrounding area is still known as the "Ardengheschi hills".
The village lies on the top of a hill overlooking the plains of the Maremma on one side and, on the other, the hills of Siena dotted with many other hilltop towns. Civitella is a typical Tuscan village, with buildings that, over the centuries, have been built one on top of the other. The ancient walls made of stone and brick reveal its medieval origins. Sudden squares nestled among narrow alleys surprise the visitor with the bustling local everyday life.
The surroundings of Civitella Marittima are characterized by the open unspoilt countryside where forests alternate with the vineyards and olive groves that cover the gentle hills and with the cultivated fields – wrapped in bright green crops and poppies in spring and in golden ears of wheat and yellow sunflower in summer. Thanks to its position on the top of a high hill, these beautiful Tuscan landscapes can be admired for miles.
Among the places whose history is inextricably tied to that of the village, the Terme di Petriolo, natural hot springs in the middle of the woods along the river Farma, deserve special mention. The thermal baths of Petriolo, 15km from Civitella, have always been very popular for their generous sulphurous hot springs and their healing powers and even today they are still a very popular destination for spa and health treatments. The ruins of the ancient fortifications stand to remind the visitors of the battles that were fought to conquer and maintain control over the hot springs and of the passage of kings, popes and nobles through these lands.
The position of Civitella Marittima is ideal for daytrips. From here, guests can reach many famous sites of great historical, artistic and naturalistic interest such as Siena, San Gimignano, Grosseto, Montalcino, Massa Marittima, Pitigliano, Volterra, the archaeological excavations of Roselle and Ansedonia, the abbeys of San Galgano and Sant’Antimo, the spas at Petriolo and Saturnia, the Nature Park of the Maremma, the Mount Amiata Park and the Park of the Val d'Orcia. Moreover, guests can go to the beach and visit beautiful coastal towns such as Castiglione della Pescaia and Punt'Ala, or enjoy the restaurants in the lively towns of Follonica and Marina di Grosseto. Monte Argentario with Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole are popular destinations too and the point of departure to visit the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago such as Isola del Giglio and Giannutri or the beautiful Isle of Elba (ferries from Piombino).
Guests should also not forget to enjoy the wonderful culinary traditions of the Maremma and to try its wines. The table follows the seasons and its products: hunting, fishing, agriculture, wine and olive oil are all part of the traditions of this land and of its day-to-day lifestyle.
