Pian di Rocca

This tiny village is a rustic example of an old Tuscan farm town. Named the "plain between the rock" because of its location at the foot of Rocca di Capalbo, the compact hamlet retains the old buildings, farmhouses and chapel to show how rural life was once lived.

The Fattoria di Pian di Rocca is an example of a typical fortified farm complex made up of several buildings clustered around interior courtyards. The homes, gardens and old chapel keep the original style and ambiance.

There was an Etruscan presence before the Romans took over, and artifacts from those settlements were excavated and put on display in the archeological museum in Grosseto. The nearby Necropoli di Val Berretta is the site of the original 4th century BC Etruscan settlement.

The town is known for the cultivation of its own variety of artichoke, called appropriately the artichoke of Pian di Rocca. It is a conical bud with deep green and violet coloring that is very tender.

Pian di Rocca is part of the municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia and is located seven kilometers from that seaside town. Grosseto and Follonica are in easy reach as are the beaches of the Tuscan coast.