Tenuta Valle Buia
Orbetello - Strada Vicinale delle Casacce 3
Book now
The Parco naturale dell’Uccellina, officially known as the Parco naturale della Maremma, stretches across more than 10,000 hectares in Grosseto province in the heart of the Maremma, along the Tyrrhenian coastline running from Principina a Mare to Talamone, extending eastward to the Aurelia main road. It was established in 1975 by the Tuscany Region under regional law no. 65 of 5 June 1975.
The central and southern sections of the park are dominated by the Monti dell’Uccellina, whose highest point is Poggio dei Lecci (451 metres above sea level). From these hills, you can take in views of the entire coast and Tyrrhenian Sea, including the islands of Giglio, Elba and Corsica – a truly unrivalled panorama. Particularly striking is the sight of the Ombrone river where it reaches the sea, its dark waters stretching far offshore and gradually mingling with the green waters of the sea.
The park headquarters and visitor centre for the Uccellina park are located in Alberese (telephone +39 0564 407098, fax +39 0675 407292). North of the Ombrone estuary, the terrain is flat and occupied by the Trappola marshes, a system of temporary and permanent water features. To the left of the Ombrone lies an area characterised by dunes and pine forests, crossed by artificial canals dating back to the early land reclamation work carried out by the Lorena dynasty.
The central and southern sections of the park are dominated by the Monti dell’Uccellina, completely covered in dense vegetation consisting mainly of Mediterranean scrubland. The hills are dotted with ancient towers, including those at Castelmartino, Collelungo, Cala di Forno and Bella Marsilia, as well as the impressive Abbey of San Rabano.
To access the park, you must visit the Alberese visitor centre to use the shuttle bus service. Buses run hourly from 9 am to 2 pm, taking you into the park to Pratini, where the various trails begin.
The park’s wildlife includes several species: wild boar and fallow deer predominate, but you’ll also find roe deer, porcupines, badgers, foxes, wildcats, stone martens and weasels, along with abundant bird life. As for flora, this is undoubtedly the realm of Mediterranean scrubland, featuring holm oaks, oak trees, strawberry trees, gorse, thyme, rock rose and rosemary. Cork oak is also present, and you may encounter some specimens with bark stripped off for cork production.
The Uccellina park offers several marked walking routes. Each route requires an entrance ticket available for purchase at the Alberese visitor centre during spring and summer, or online in autumn and winter.
Rising from the Mediterranean scrubland of the Uccellina Park stands the imposing Abbey of San Rabano, or rather, the ruins of what was once the Monastery of S. Maria ad Alberese. This complex, established in the 11th century as a Benedictine settlement, remained active until 1475, when Siena, which controlled the entire area, relocated the priory headquarters from San Rabano to Alberese.
The monastery ruins are well preserved and accessible from Pratini, located within the Uccellina Park. The three-apse layout of the church is believed to date from the building constructed during the 11th and 12th centuries, with a loophole in the central apse displaying the same stylistic features as the entrance portal.
The central apse has been raised, while the others retain their original hemispherical roof covering, upon which sits a further extension – easily distinguishable as the lower section is built of locally squared and well-worked stone blocks, whilst the upper section features smaller, irregularly sized blocks.
The dome dates from a later period, possibly 1321, when the Abati family took possession of the monastery and strengthened its defences with crenellated walls. At that time, the watchtower was also constructed, now known as Torre dell’Uccellina.
Within the Uccellina park, near Cala delle Cannelle beach, there are several accommodation options offering the perfect setting for a nature-focused holiday.
Otherwise, don’t overlook the possibility of staying in Alberese, where you’ll find the park visitor centre. Here, the accommodation includes apartments, guesthouses, residences and villas, whilst outside the town centre there are several agriturismos, estates and farmhouses.
Another convenient option is staying in Talamone. This Grosseto locality is well developed for tourism, offering accommodation of every type, from hotels to campsites, bed and breakfasts to apartments. Plus, it sits directly on the coast, which is certainly a bonus if you want to combine your park visit with a relaxing day at the beach.
Since the visitor centre is situated in Alberese, this is where you’ll head for your park visit. The village is just 20 minutes’ drive south of Grosseto centre, accessible via the Alberese provincial road.
Therefore, the route from any Tuscan city to the Uccellina park involves first reaching Grosseto, then Alberese. From Florence, for example, it takes just over 2 hours, travelling along the Florence-Siena motorway link and then the SS223 Paganico state road. From Siena, the distance reduces to 1 hour and 10 minutes along the same route.
Things change slightly if you’re coming from the coast. From both Pisa and Livorno, you’ll head south along the SS1 Aurelia to Grosseto, then turn towards Alberese. From either city, the journey is just under 2 hours.
Finally, for those travelling by public transport, we recommend taking the train to Grosseto, whose station sits on the Tyrrhenian railway connecting Pisa to Rome, then catching a bus to Alberese on the G15 regional service, which departs directly outside Grosseto station. The bus journey takes approximately 25 minutes.
What's the weather at Maremma Regional Park? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Maremma Regional Park for the next few days.
The Uccellina Park is located in the province of Grosseto, between Principina a Mare and Talamone. It forms part of the larger Maremma regional park.
Hotel 
Budget accommodations 
Apartments 
Family Hotel 
Luxury Hotel 
Resorts