Description of the attraction
Principina a Mare is a seaside resort that is part of the commune of Grosseto in the province of the same name in Tuscany. The center of this tiny town, vacant in winter, is mostly made up of vacation homes, upscale hotels and mid-range campgrounds. Tourists are attracted here by the proximity of the mouth of the Ombrone River and the Maremma Natural Park, famous for its beaches and virgin nature. The largest number of holidaymakers comes to Principina a Mare in July and August, especially during the period of Ferragosto, an Italian national holiday. These are mainly tourists from Lombardy and Veneto, as well as from the central regions of Tuscany, but there are also foreigners - Dutch, Austrians, Germans and Swiss. The latter are especially numerous in June and September.
The Principina a Mare coastline is characterized by its characteristic “Maremma” wild beaches, which in places flow into the swampy areas of the Ombrone estuary. This area, known as Palude della Trappola, is located around the Torre Trappola tower, an old medieval fortress built to collect salt. Once upon a time, there were extensive salt pans in these places, which eventually disappeared completely. Not far from the tower you can see the chapel of Santa Maria della Trappola, and outside this marshy area there is another chapel - the Strillaye Chapel. It is located on a farm next to the Strada della Trappola road.
The Trappola Wetlands are ideal for birdwatchers as they are home to a large number of bird species. Recently, a special tourist route has been developed, which partly passes through the territory of the Maremma Natural Park.
