FAI Spring Days in Castiglione della Pescaia

A journey through the Medici Maremma

The FAI Spring Days are the premier event dedicated to promoting Italy's cultural and landscape heritage, organized by the FAI - National Trust for Italy. In Castiglione della Pescaia, in the heart of the Maremma in the province of Grosseto, the event offers a thematic itinerary that weaves together history, nature, and architecture: "Towers along the Cavalleggeri route, formerly the Customs road."

Cosimo I's network of towers

In the 16th century, Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici commissioned a network of defensive watchtowers along the Tuscan coast to protect the territory from pirates and smugglers. These towers also served customs functions and were connected by the road traveled by the cavalleggeri—young men, often from aristocratic families, tasked with patrolling and defending the coastline. It is this fascinating history that the FAI Spring Days itinerary allows you to rediscover.

Sites to visit

The itinerary unfolds across two main stages in the municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia. In Castiglione della Pescaia, the route starts at Porta San Giovanni and continues through the church of the same name and the adjacent Orto dei Frati, the private area of the Rocca Pisana gardens, Piazza Solti, Porta a Mare, Via Maestra, and the village with Palazzo Camaiori and Palazzo Centurioni. In Punta Ala, you can admire the Forte di Troia Nuova, known as Castello di Balbo, a private residence exceptionally open for the occasion.

Guided tours and hospitality

Visits are led by FAI volunteers and "Apprendisti Ciceroni" (student guides), who share the history of these sites with expertise and passion. Access is provided for a voluntary donation, a format that allows everyone to participate while supporting FAI's mission to protect heritage.

Why attend

• Visit private sites that are normally closed to the public
• Discover the history of the coastal towers and the Medici Maremma
• Stroll through the medieval village of Castiglione della Pescaia, one of the most charming in Tuscany
• Enjoy a cultural experience with the whole family for a voluntary donation

The FAI Spring Days represent a major highlight for Castiglione della Pescaia and all of Tuscany, uniting the beauty of the Maremma landscape with the rediscovery of often-overlooked historical heritage.