Massa Marittima and San Galgano day trip from Siena or Grosseto
A day trip to Massa Marittima and San Galgano from Siena or Grosseto: Piazza Garibaldi and the Romanesque cathedral of San Cerbone, the Mining Museum and the medieval Tree of Fertility mural at the Fonte dell'Abbondanza, the Torre del Candeliere and the Sienese fortress in the upper town after lunch, then the drive north to the Montesiepi chapel, with its sword in the stone, and the roofless abbey of San Galgano. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Massa Marittima and San Galgano in 1 day
Day 1
Historic centre of Massa Marittima (Piazza Garibaldi)
The lopsided medieval main square with the cathedral, the town hall and the Palazzo del Podestà, best at aperitivo time.
Massa Marittima Cathedral (San Cerbone)
Romanesque cathedral raised on steps above Piazza Garibaldi, with carved reliefs of the life of San Cerbone and a 13th-century font.
Mining Museum
Galleries dug into the hill under the old town and set up as a mine, showing centuries of mining in these hills.
Fonte dell'Abbondanza (Tree of Fertility mural)
Medieval public fountain with a strange 13th-century mural of a tree hung with phalluses, rediscovered during restoration in the late 1990s.
Torre del Candeliere and Cassero Senese
Sienese fortress of the upper town, joined to a tall tower by a high arch; climb it for views over the Maremma.
Montesiepi Chapel (Sword in the Stone)
Round Romanesque chapel on the hill above the abbey, built over the sword the knight Galgano drove into the rock in 1180.
Abbey of San Galgano
Roofless 13th-century Cistercian abbey church in the Merse valley, its Gothic arches and bare walls open to the sky.
Watch: Massa Marittima and San Galgano
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
A car is best. From Siena it is about an hour and a quarter, on the road that passes the abbey of San Galgano, so the plan ends there on the way back. From Grosseto it is about 45 minutes north through the Maremma hills; buses run from Grosseto and Follonica but not often.
Staying in Siena or Grosseto? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Massa Marittima and San Galgano
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, mild for walking the steep lanes and for the drive to San Galgano. Summer is hot but the town sits high and catches the breeze. The Balestro del Girifalco crossbow contest is held in May and in August, and the abbey of San Galgano hosts summer concerts.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Massa Marittima and San Galgano on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Massa Marittima and San Galgano on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Massa Marittima and San Galgano on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Massa Marittima and San Galgano
- The Torre del Candeliere and the Mining Museum keep short hours and are often open only at weekends outside summer; check before planning a weekday visit.
- The Mining Museum is seen on guided visits through galleries under the town, cool even in August; bring a layer.
- The town has two parts, the lower Città Vecchia round the cathedral and the upper Città Nuova; the climb between them is short but steep.
- At San Galgano, the sword in the stone is in the round chapel of Montesiepi, a short walk up the hill from the roofless abbey.
- The Balestro del Girifalco crossbow contest fills Piazza Garibaldi in costume in May and again in August.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Abbey of San Galgano: Spike, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fonte dell'Abbondanza (Tree of Fertility mural): Francesco Bini, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Massa Marittima (Piazza Garibaldi): Markus Bernet, CC BY-SA 2.5
- Massa Marittima Cathedral (San Cerbone): Mykola Pokalyuk, edited by MenkinAlRire, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Torre del Candeliere and Cassero Senese: Tulumnes, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
