Tuscany’s Maremma region has several noteworthy plans and projects in store this season. Here’s the latest at a glance.
Flying high
#GROSSETO
International travel is becoming easier for residents in Southern Tuscany. In May, a new flight route was introduced between Grosseto and Bern, Switzerland. Operated four days a week, the route is operated by Swiss airline Skywork and can be booked online at www.flyskywork.com.
On the plans, president of SEAM, the airport’s company name, Tommaso Francalanci commented to The Florentine, “The Bern flight route is an experiment to open up the military airport for civil purposes, as Pisa has done. For now, the Bern service has been increased from three to four times … What we’re working on in the meantime is a unique project in Italy: an agreement with the 28 municipalities, hotels and tourism companies in the Grosseto province. When a flight company shows interest and the airport’s evaluation is a positive one, we will be ready to offer a full tourism package.”
Flights to Bern currently leave from Grosseto on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Calmer waters
#PETRIOLO
The 14th-century natural thermal waters of Petriolo are having a makeover.
Between the provinces of Siena and Grosseto, the baths will be returned to their former glory thanks to financing by insurance company UnipolSai and non-profit Italia Nostra.
“The area owned by UnipolSai could be managed without putting much energy and resources into it or we could choose to be front and centre in an extraordinary redevelopment for a common good,” explained Pierluigi Stefanini, president of the Unipol Group.
Expected to take three years to complete, the restoration will consist in the restoration of the area’s three towers, gate, walls, inn, thermal baths, chapel and the surrounding woodland.
From spa to cinema
#SATURNIA
Saturnia is shaking things up this summer.
From August 31 to September 2, the spa town will be hosting the Saturnia Film Festival showcasing international arthouse cinema. The films will be shown in Manciano’s piazza Garibaldi and Montemerano’s piazza del Castello before moving to the famous Terme di Saturnia for the final night’s awards ceremony.
The winning short film chosen by a panel of experts will win 1,500 euro.
