In the 17th century, the Maremma was a difficult land marked by malaria, marshes and depopulation. In this context, Massa Marittima managed to maintain an important role thanks to its healthier hilltop position and its long mining tradition connected to the Metalliferous Hills.
After its great medieval splendour, the town continued to experience a significant cultural and artistic season during the 1600s. The leading families of Massa Marittima commissioned artworks for the city churches, contributing to the creation of an extraordinary artistic heritage that can still be admired today in the historic centre.
The itinerary guides visitors through some of the city’s most important sites: the Cathedral of San Cerbone, renewed according to the spirit of the Counter-Reformation; the Church of San Francesco; the Church of Sant’Agostino, rich in 17th-century paintings; the complex of San Pietro all’Orto; and the Convent of the Poor Clares, an important religious and social centre of Massa Marittima at the time.
Among the artists featured along the route are important protagonists of 17th-century Tuscan painting such as Rutilio Manetti, Raffaello Vanni, Jacopo Chimenti known as Empoli, Lorenzo Lippi and Antonio Nasini.
Even today, Massa Marittima has preserved almost intact its medieval urban layout, offering visitors an immersive experience through art, architecture and local history.
Follow the map and discover the artworks preserved in the city’s historic sites.