| That's right. The Maremma - Italy's "Wild" West! | | | | the main role of these rugged men in their vests |
| Forget all the old Spaghetti Western | | | | and fedoras is to preserve the heritage and |
| clichés. You CAN still find real cowboys... in | | | | traditions of the buterri. They put on shows for |
| Italy! | | | | the public and even conduct an annual |
| The Maremma is part of western Tuscany | | | | "transhumance" moving the herd from one |
| bordering the region of Lazio to the south and | | | | exhausted pasture to a better one across the |
| Umbria to the east. While the rest of Tuscany | | | | Tuscan countryside. And YOU can become a |
| has to some degree been over explored and | | | | buterro yourself joining them for two exciting |
| over commercialized, the Maremma remains little | | | | days! |
| known to many tourists and is often not even | | | | Just because we have been talking about the wild |
| covered in many of the popular guidebooks. | | | | side of the Maremma, doesn't mean we can't |
| Because of this it is less crowded, more natural | | | | indulge in a little luxury. After all, with all the riding |
| and less expensive to visit than many other parts | | | | and herding, a person could probably use a good |
| of Tuscany and Italy in general. If you are looking | | | | soak in warm, mineral waters and a massage, |
| to have a travel experience that is a true slice of | | | | right? That's the amazing thing about Maremma, it |
| Italian life and history, this is your place. The | | | | has all of that too. It is home to some of the |
| Maremma in the past has been primarily a | | | | oldest, most healing natural springs in all of Italy. |
| mosquito infested swamp isolated from the rest | | | | The Italians are very proud of their thermal spa |
| of Italy. Yet in ancient times, the Etruscans were | | | | traditions and take the "waters" whenever they |
| able to drain the swamps and create bountiful | | | | can. The mineral laden waters are actually heated |
| farmland which provided much of the wheat, | | | | by the depths of nearby volcano Monte Amiata. |
| grapes and olives to other parts of Italy. When | | | | A visit to the thermal spas of Saturnia will surely |
| the Etruscans mysteriously disappeared, the | | | | cure whatever is ailing you. |
| Maremma reverted to its wild roots. It was not | | | | The food and wine of the Maremma is unique as |
| until Mussolini drained the swamps again, that the | | | | well. Wild boar, pheasant and other types of wild |
| Maremma came back to life. Today it is home to | | | | game as well as fresh seafood are area |
| some of Tuscany's and Italy's most wonderful | | | | specialties served in every home and restaurant |
| beaches, a Natural Park that is teeming with game | | | | depending on the season. Mushrooms and |
| and lush vegetation, natural healing springs and | | | | chestnuts are abundant as well - in the Fall there |
| some of Tuscany's more intriguing hilltop towns. | | | | are festivals devoted to each. Wines have been |
| Whether you are a history buff, a slow food | | | | made here since Etruscan times. One red in |
| aficionado or an outdoors person, there is | | | | particular from the village of Scansano, Morellino di |
| something for you here in Maremma. | | | | Scansano is gaining in popularity. It is made |
| Now, back to the cowboys. The modern day | | | | primarily from the Sangiovese grape and is a |
| butteri is the proud descendant of an ancient | | | | cousin to the more well known Brunello and Super |
| breed of men who have tended these unique | | | | Tuscans from nearby in Tuscany. If you enjoy |
| Maremman cattle for centuries. To understand | | | | good food prepared in it's most simple and |
| the butteri, you must understand the maremman | | | | traditional way with ingredients fresh from the |
| bull. Unlike the Val di Chiana used for bistecca or | | | | land, this is reason enough to fall in love with |
| the charolais, the maremman bull bears the proud | | | | Maremma. |
| and noble stamp of an ancient and wild animal. | | | | And the beaches are some of the finest in all of |
| The relationship between a buterro and his mount | | | | Italy; favored by Italians and European travelers |
| is also very different from our American cowboy. | | | | from Germany, Austria and Switzerland in |
| They treat their horses with a very fine hand; | | | | particular. Here you can find secluded white sand |
| using only the tiniest of spurs and a special bite | | | | coves and black sand beaches that seem to |
| that will not hurt their teeth. The horses | | | | stretch on past the horizon. The emerald and |
| themselves are a unique race; quite robust and | | | | turquoise waters of the Mar Tirenno - Tyrrhenian |
| extremely reliable in any situation. The saddle used | | | | Sea - form a spectacular coastline. A sunset picnic |
| by the butteri is typically a "scafardo" built on a | | | | on the beach is an experience that will live in your |
| wooden saddlebow. And his most important tool is | | | | memory forever. Paradiso! I could go on and on |
| "l'uncino" a stick with a small hook on the end that | | | | about all the treasures of travel to this most |
| is used for everything from opening a latched | | | | unique part of Tuscany but I think I will leave |
| gate to picking up a hat off the ground. Today | | | | some of it for you to discover on your own. |