Vetulonia: Unearthing Tuscany’s Ancient Treasure

Hello dear friends,

Honestly, I didn't even want to make a post about this place because when I first explored it some time ago in the province of Grosseto, I didn't find many interesting things. Moreover, my bad mood that day, stemming from a tough workday with very unpleasant clients, reflected in the photos I took. You know when something happens, and you just don't want to remember it, but then I thought it was right to share this place despite the negative associations with those photos.

At home, I discovered that this small hamlet in the municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia, which today has less than 400 inhabitants, was once an important Etruscan city. When we talk about the Etruscan people, we refer to a civilization that lived in these lands in the 9th century BC. I am always astounded when I think of all the years that have passed. Who knows how many people have walked these streets or stayed in these houses?
Vetulonia is the name of this place, situated 300 meters above sea level and more than 20 km from Grosseto. It’s a truly peaceful place where I'm sure the summer heat is less oppressive.

The only place of interest that I remember fondly, and as you know, I’m not usually lucky enough to find open churches, but this one was open and active. I was very impressed by its appearance because it's clear that it has undergone modifications over the years. The Church of "Santa Maria delle Grazie" and Jude strikes you with its exterior. The bell tower doesn’t even look like a bell tower; it almost resembles a tower. We must understand that in the medieval era, bell towers had multiple purposes, not only to ring bells but also to defend the village from foreign invasions.

As you can see from the photos, the interior of the church is quite austere. Probably after the Napoleonic invasion, very little of the original items remained inside the church. However, it was still very fascinating to wander around these places, even if practically deserted. I couldn't find a single person to chat with and perhaps learn some secrets of this town.

What I definitely noticed is that many houses were closed and in total decay. Unfortunately, projects are needed to revitalize these places, but it seems that no one is interested.

I hope you enjoyed my photos, even though I was in a bad mood that day. See you in my next post, and I wish you all a wonderful day!