Last updated: November 2026
The Maremma Regional Park is the wild end of the Tuscan coast: pinewoods, marshes, the Uccellina hills, long empty beaches and the long-horned Maremma cattle, still herded by the butteri on horseback. It runs along the coast between Principina a Mare and Talamone, and the village of Alberese is the way in.
This is the practical version: where to start, the walks, the horses, and the beach at Marina di Alberese.
The short version
- Start at the visitor centre in Alberese, Via del Bersagliere 7/9. It has maps, sells tickets and books guided visits.
- Easy walks: a 1.8 km forest trail, a 2.2 km wildlife trail, and the flat 5.6 km route to the Ombrone river mouth.
- Big hikes: Le Torri (11.3 km), San Rabano abbey (17.6 km, or 7.9 km short), Cala di Forno (17.4 km), Collelungo beach (11.2 km).
- Horse riding with authorised equestrian guides. Some stables take complete beginners.
- Marina di Alberese has controlled access, with a summer shuttle, and an accessible rest area.
Walks for everyone
Visit Tuscany lists the short, flat trails as good for families: a 1.8 km forest trail into the Mediterranean woods, a 2.2 km wildlife trail best at dawn or dusk for deer, the 5.6 km Bocca d’Ombrone route across the plain to the river mouth, and I Valloni, a flat 8.3 km through the Granducale pinewood. You can book guided walks at the visitor centre.
For longer days, Le Torri (11.3 km) passes the old watchtowers with views to the islands. San Rabano (17.6 km, or a 7.9 km version) climbs to an abbey in the woods. Cala di Forno (17.4 km) reaches a bay you can only get to on foot or by sea, and the 11.2 km route to Collelungo leads to one of the wildest beaches in Tuscany. Take more water than you think, and start early in summer.
On horseback
The park’s own page puts it beautifully: the horse is how the Maremma was seen for centuries, when there were almost no roads. From the saddle you see further, you can go where walkers and cyclists cannot, and wild animals are less alarmed by your scent. Guided rides go through the pinewoods to the beach or up to San Rabano, and some centres do sunrise or sunset rides, or days with the butteri. The park says some stables welcome people who have never ridden. It publishes a brochure listing the authorised equestrian guides.
Bikes and canoes
The cycle path to Marina di Alberese is about 8 to 10 km and mostly flat, which suits families. Longer routes go through the pinewood to Collelungo, or up into the Uccellina hills on a mountain bike or e-bike. There are bike hire shops in Alberese. On the Ombrone, canoe trips leave from “La Barca” in Alberese, in stable Canadian canoes, with sunrise, sunset and full-moon outings too.
The beach at Marina di Alberese
Marina di Alberese runs for several kilometres south of the Ombrone mouth. Access is controlled, and in summer the park runs a shuttle. Check the park’s website for this year’s dates. There is an accessible rest area with a walkway, three shaded spaces and a JOB beach chair. More in accessible beaches in Tuscany.
The park rules
- Stay on the marked trails.
- Do not feed the animals.
- Take all your rubbish home.
- Some trails and the beach have summer access arrangements. Check the park’s news page before you go.
Alberese is a long way from Lucca or Florence, and a car makes the southern coast far easier.
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The practical bits, including ZTL zones and insurance, are in Hiring a car in Tuscany.
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Frequently asked questions
Where do I start a visit to the Maremma park?
At the visitor centre in Alberese, Via del Bersagliere 7/9, for maps, tickets and guided visits.
Can beginners go horse riding in the Maremma?
Yes. The park says some stables take people who have never ridden.
Can I drive to the beach at Marina di Alberese?
Access is controlled, and in summer a shuttle runs. Check the park’s news page for this year’s arrangements.
Are there easy walks?
Yes: a 1.8 km forest trail, a 2.2 km wildlife trail, and the flat Bocca d’Ombrone and I Valloni routes.
Where these facts come from
I checked these in November 2026. Rules and seasons change, so please look again before you travel.
- Visit Tuscany: sports and nature in the Maremma Park
- Parco della Maremma: tours on horseback
- Parco della Maremma: news and visiting arrangements
More from the hills
Susan x