The province of Grosseto, located in the middle of the Tyrrhenian coast, is the subject of many legends that have been transmitted during the centuries to keep the tradition alive, because of its long and ancient history
The mermaid in the caves on the Grosseto coast
A fisherman used go out every night to fish. One night his boat was dragged to the coast by the stream; the fisherman tried to fight the stream but didn’t manage to oppose to it. The boat was dragged inside a cave and, after getting used to the dark and thanks to the feeble moonlight, he glimpsed a mermaid. After a little while the stream dragged the boat back to the sea, and the fisherman left with the image of what he just saw in his mind. That image didn’t abandon him and he spent his whole life to looking for that cave, which he never found again.
The brooding hen in the San Rabano Abbey
The legend tells that one of the treasures in the San Rabano Abbey is a brooding hen completely made of gold, which goes and cheeps together with her chicks around the southern area of Grosseto. Many hunted her driven by greed, but the hen has always survived, hiding in the numerous underground holes and tunnels in Maremma. They also say that those who saw her were dazzled by her splendor and went mad.
Fishermen versus Pirates in Maremma
In the sea in front of the Argentario promontory a race takes place every year that has become a tradition for the local population. It’s called Palio Marinaro dell’Argentario. This regatta has its origins at the time of pirates when fishermen had to fight for survival. Whether legend or reality, this shows the affection and respect that Maremma has for the sea and life along with it.
