Tosco's Glossary

Acquacotta aglione Aglione is the giant garlic of the Valdichiana, a local variety that will surprise you with… agritourism Agritourism, in Maremma, means farm-stay accommodation. Not just a simple bed and breakfast, but… agriturismo An agriturismo is much more than a farm with guest rooms. In Maremma, it's… alla maremmana Alla maremmana is the expression you'll hear and see everywhere to describe a… Ansonica Ansonica is the iconic white grape variety of the Giglio Island and the Argentario. You…

Bianco di Pitigliano Bianco di Pitigliano is the iconic local white wine of Upper Maremma… borgo A borgo, in Maremma, is much more than a simple village. Think rather of a… Brunello Brunello is the great red wine of Montalcino, just north of the… bruschetta Bruschetta is toasted bread, rubbed with garlic, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil… Butteri

cacciucco cacciucco di carne Cacciucco di carne is the land-based version of the famous fish dish from… Cantina Sociale A Cantina Sociale, in Maremma, is a wine cooperative. Several small producers pool… cantine In Maremma, a cantina is much more than a simple wine cellar. It's the… casale A casale, in Maremma, is a restored old farmhouse, often with care, and transformed… waterfalls A cascata, in Maremma, is a natural waterfall. But forget the image of Niagara… Caseificio A caseificio, in Maremma, is much more than a simple cheese factory. It's the place where the... castagnole Castagnole, you'll find them mostly at carnival. They are small balls of... Castello A Castello in Maremma is not necessarily a fairy-tale castle... cellar A cellar, in Maremma, is much more than a simple underground warehouse. It's the place... ciaffagnone ciao Ciao is the all-purpose word. You use it to say hello, goodbye, and... Ciliegiolo Ciliegiolo is this local grape variety that gives its name to a red wine... cinta senese city of tuff The "tuff city" refers to those hilltop villages of Maremma, like Sovana, Sorano or... columbarium A columbarium, in Maremma, is a Roman remnant that you'll often come across on the... country house A country house in Maremma is a restored country home, often old, which... cetaria A cetaria is an ancient fishery, a basin carved into the coastal rock by...

DOC DOC is the acronym for Denominazione di Origine Controllata. Concretely, it's an Italian label that... DOCG DOCG is the acronym for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita. It's the highest level... Dolce Vita La Dolce Vita, in Maremma, is the pace of life you adopt here.... domus When we talk about a domus in Maremma, you're probably thinking of Roman remains, and... DOP DOP, Denominazione d'Origine Protetta, is the label that guarantees you the origin and quality... Duomo When you hear about the Duomo in Tuscany, forget the simple word "cathedral". It's...

E-bike An E-bike is an electrically assisted bicycle. Concretely, you pedal and a small... EVO EVO is the acronym for Olio Extra Vergine d'Oliva, your extra virgin olive oil. In...

Faraglione A faraglione is a rocky islet, a stone column that emerges from the... Fattoria A fattoria, in Maremma, is much more than a simple farm. It's an agricultural estate... Festa delle Cantine fiaccolata a cavallo focaccia fraction A frazione is a hamlet, a village administratively attached to a larger commune.… frazione A frazione is a hamlet or small village that depends administratively on a commune… Fresco Fresco, in Maremma, is the art of painting directly onto a lime plaster… St. Joseph's Fritters fungo porcino The fungo porcino is the porcini mushroom. In Maremma, it is not uncommon to…

Mediterranean scrubland Mediterranean garrigue, you come across it everywhere in Maremma. It is that low vegetation and… Ghetto The term Ghetto, in Maremma as elsewhere in Italy, specifically designates the old Jewish quarter… Giglio Porto giurisdavidico Giurisdavidico refers to the religious and social movement founded in the 19th century by David Lazzaretti,… glamping Glamping is camping in comfort mode. Forget the Quechua tent and the air mattress… gnocchi Gnocchi, in Maremma, are not just simple pasta. They are small… Gran Selezione Gran Selezione is the top of the top for a Chianti Classico. Imagine a kind… Grotta In Maremma, when we talk about a «Grotta», you often think of a…

hamlets In Maremma, a hamlet is much more than a small group of houses. It is often… new oil New oil is the extra virgin olive oil just pressed after the autumn harvest. In…

IGT IGT, Typical Geographic Indication, you will often see it on wine bottles in… Invernacciu The Invernacciu is the cold wind that blows from the northeast in Maremma, a bit like… Isola Isola, in Maremma, does not only designate an island. It is often the name of a… Isola del Giglio

kilometre zero Kilometer zero, in Maremma, is the guarantee that what you eat comes from the…

lagoon A lagoon, here, is a coastal body of water, shallow, separated from the sea… mastic tree The mastic tree is that Mediterranean shrub you see everywhere in Maremma, with its… località A località, in Maremma, is much more than a mere hamlet. It's a micro-zone, often… locanda A locanda, in Maremma, is much more than a simple inn. Forget the image of the… lucumonies The lucumonies, in Maremma, are the twelve Etruscan city-states that formed their confederation.… Lungomare The lungomare is the seaside promenade you'll find in the…

macchia The macchia is the dense Mediterranean vegetation you see everywhere in Maremma. Forget… Maestri d'Ascia The Maestri d'Ascia are the master shipwrights, those who build and… maquis The maquis, in Maremma, is the dense Mediterranean vegetation you see everywhere. Forget… 📖 Mediterranean maquis young wild boar The wild boar piglet is the young of the wild boar, recognizable by its longitudinal stripes that fade… sidewalk The marciapiede is the sidewalk. In Maremma, as elsewhere in Italy, it is often… Maremma The Maremma is southern Tuscany, the province of Grosseto. Forget the clichés… maremman The maremman is the inhabitant of the Maremma, the one who lives there and shapes it.… maremmana Maremmana is first and foremost the emblematic cattle breed of the Maremma. You recognize it… Maremmana Maremmane is what is typical of the Maremma. It's an adjective that… Maremmani The Maremmani are the inhabitants of the Maremma. And not just any inhabitants.… maremmano Maremmano is not just an adjective. When you are in Maremma, it refers to… Maremma The Maremma is that part of Tuscany that extends roughly over the… Grosseto Maremma The Maremma Grossetana is the part of the Maremma located in the… Marrone Marrone is the name of the local chestnut, not just any chestnut. Here, in… vintage The vintage, for you traveling in Maremma, is the year the grapes were harvested which… monta da lavoro The monta da lavoro is working horsemanship, the equestrian style of the butteri, the… Montecucco Montecucco is above all a wine appellation of the Maremma, renowned for its wines… Morellino Morellino is the emblematic red wine of the Maremma, the controlled designation of origin of… 📖 Morellino di Scansano must Must is the juice of freshly pressed grapes, before it becomes… Walls When we talk about Walls in the Maremma, we are not thinking of just any…

nenfro A nenfro is a dark grey volcanic stone, typical of northern Maremma,… nonna Nonna is the grandmother, but in the Maremma, it is much more than a family bond.… Notte dei Pirati The Notte dei Pirati is the event that transforms Porto Santo Stefano into a joyful… novello Novello is the new wine, which you taste as early as November, a few… necropolis A necropolis, in the Maremma, is a collection of ancient tombs, often Etruscan, grouped together at…

olio nuovo Olio nuovo is the olive oil from the new harvest, the one that has just been pressed.… olivastra seggianese The olivastra seggianese is the emblematic olive tree of Monte Amiata, an ancient tree that produces… olive groves The olive groves, in the Maremma, are those expanses of olive trees, often centuries old, that shape the… olive trees The olive trees, in the Maremma, are not just trees. They are… Olivo della Strega otium Otium is the art of taking one's time, of deliberately slowing down. In the Maremma, it shows…

unleavened bread Unleavened bread, or matzah, is a flat, unleavened bread, traditionally consumed… palace A palazzo, in the Maremma, is above all an imposing building, often ancient, that has… Palazzo Comunale The Palazzo Comunale is simply the town hall of the city or village.… Palazzo del Podestà The Palazzo del Podestà is the former seat of the Podestà, the local governor of a town… Palio A Palio, in the Maremma as elsewhere in Tuscany, is a tense horse race,… Palio dei Carretti The Palio dei Carretti is a race of go-karts, or rather of… Palio Marinaro The Palio Marinaro, in Maremma, is a rowing boat race, often… pane sciocco Pane sciocco is the saltless bread typical of Tuscany. Here in Maremma,… pappardelle Pappardelle are those large flat and wide pasta, often homemade here… PAT PAT means Prodotti Agroalimentari Tradizionali (Traditional Agri-food Products). These are food products recognized by… pecorino Pecorino is the sheep's cheese par excellence that you will find everywhere… 📖 pecorino DOP Peschiera A peschiera, in Maremma, is a freshwater or brackish basin, often of Roman origin,… 📖 Little Jerusalem The Little Jerusalem, you will find it in Pitigliano. It is the nickname given to the quarter… Piazza The Piazza is much more than a simple square. In Maremma, it is the beating heart… piazzetta A piazzetta is a small square, often paved, in the heart of a medieval village. This… pici Pici is the pasta of Maremma, and more broadly of the south of… picio A picio is that thick and rustic pasta, typical of Maremma and… pieve A pieve is a rural parish church, often ancient, which served as a religious center… Pineta Granducale pine forest A pine grove, in Maremma, is much more than a simple pine forest. You will… Podere A podere is a farm. But in Maremma, when you talk about it for your… podestas The podestà are those magistrates who, in the Middle Ages, governed the Tuscan communes.… Poggio A Poggio, in Maremma, is a hill. But not just any hill. It's the kind… polenta 📖 Ponte del Diavolo The Ponte del Diavolo, or Devil's Bridge, is in Maremma the medieval footbridge… porchetta Porchetta is deboned pork, stuffed with aromatic herbs like rosemary, garlic and… Porcino Porcino is the porcini mushroom. In Maremma, it is the Boletus edulis, an emblematic mushroom of… Porto Porto, in Maremma, does not refer to a Portuguese city, but simply a port. You… Posidonia Posidonia, you'll come across it on the beaches of Maremma, especially out of season.… seagrass meadows Posidonias, you'll often see them on the beaches of Maremma, especially after a… bottarga Bottarga, or poutargue in French, is a pouch of mullet or… Pro Loco A Pro Loco is the local association of volunteers that brings life to its… pronaos The pronaos is that small covered space just in front of the entrance of an Etruscan or… prosciutto Prosciutto is raw ham, period. In Maremma, you'll mainly encounter two… pyrite Pyrite, you may know it as fool's gold. In Maremma,…

ragù Ragù, in Maremma, is much more than a simple meat sauce. Forget… ribollita ricotta Ricotta, you'll come across it everywhere here, and it's not the cheese… Rione A rione, in Maremma, is much more than a simple neighborhood. Imagine it as a division… Riserva A Riserva, in Tuscany, is an official designation for wines that have… Rocca A Rocca, in Maremma, is a medieval fortress, often perched on a height. Unlike… Rocca Aldobrandesca The Rocca Aldobrandesca is the medieval castle you see enthroned in many… 📖 Rosato Rosato is the local rosé, but be careful, not just any rosé. Here in Maremma,… Rosso di Montalcino The Rosso di Montalcino is the "little brother" of Brunello. You'll often find it… rostinciana Rostinciana is simply the pork chop grilled Tuscan-style. You… white roads The white roads, or strade bianche, are those dirt paths you come across…

📖 sagra A sagra is a village festival dedicated to an agricultural or culinary product… Festivals A Sagra is a village festival in Maremma. It always revolves around a… salami Salami, in Maremma, is much more than a simple cold cut. Forget the industrial versions… salumi Salumi are the whole range of Italian cured meats. In Maremma, you'll mostly come across… sangiovese Sangiovese is THE dominant red grape variety in Tuscany, and therefore in Maremma. You… Sangiovese Grosso Sangiovese Grosso is the grape variety that makes Brunello di Montalcino,… sarcophagus A sarcophagus, here in Maremma, is much more than a simple funerary vessel. It's a… sars Sars is the local name for sarsaparilla, a climbing plant that you… scacciadiavoli Scacciadiavoli, you'll come across it often in Maremma, especially in old villages. It's… scaveccio Scaveccio is an ancestral preservation technique, typical of Maremma, which transforms… Schiacciata scottiglia Scottiglia is a kind of mixed meat stew, often game such as… self-catering Self-catering is the option where you handle your own meals. In Maremma, that means… sfratto Sfratto is that stick-shaped cake, typical of Pitigliano, Sovana and… Sfratto dei Goym The Sfratto dei Goym is the Jewish cake of Pitigliano, a kind of little stick… sfumata Sfumata is that veil of light mist that rises over the hills… slow life Slow life in Maremma isn't just a trendy concept.… snorkeling Snorkeling is simply swimming on the surface with a mask, a snorkel and… soffioni Soffioni are those fumaroles you see escaping from the ground, especially around… soffritto Soffritto is the aromatic base of local cooking. Forget the idea of a simple… Soprintendenza The Soprintendenza is the authority that oversees cultural and landscape heritage in Italy.… spia A spia, in Maremma, is a spring. Not just any spring, but the one that… Spiaggia Spiaggia is simply a beach. In Maremma, it takes on a special dimension. Forget… Stagionato Stagionato, you'll often see it on menus or labels in Maremma. It… coats of arms Les stemmi, ce sont les blasons, les armoiries que tu vois gravés sur les… gravel Un sterrato, c'est une route non goudronnée, de terre ou de gravier. En Maremme,… strada panoramica Une strada panoramica, en Maremme, c'est une route secondaire, souvent sinueuse et vallonnée, qui… strade bianche Les strade bianche, littéralement "routes blanches", sont ces chemins de terre non goudronnés qui… street food La street food en Maremme, ce n'est pas juste manger sur le pouce. C'est… stuccoes Quand tu te balades en Maremme, tu vas croiser des stucs, ces décorations murales… stud-book Un stud-book, ici en Maremme, c'est le registre officiel qui trace la généalogie des… Super Tuscans Les Super Toscans, ce sont ces vins rouges qui ont bousculé les règles strictes… Super Tuscan Le Super Tuscan, c'est l'étiquette donnée à des vins rouges toscans qui ont fait…

table d'hôte La table d'hôte, c'est le dîner que tu partages avec tes hôtes dans ton… tagliatelle Les tagliatelles, en Maremme comme ailleurs en Toscane, c'est une pâte à l'œuf fraîche,… lodge tent Une tente lodge, en Maremme, c'est une habitation toilée, montée sur une structure rigide,… tenuta Une tenuta, c'est un grand domaine agricole, souvent historique, qui regroupe plusieurs activités. En… terme Un terme, en Maremme, c'est une source thermale naturelle. Tu en trouveras partout, souvent… terms Les termes, ou thermes, en Maremme, ce n'est pas juste un spa. C'est l'héritage… terracotta La terre cuite, c’est cette argile locale, travaillée et passée au four, qui donne… lands of tufa Les terres du tuf, c'est la zone où la roche volcanique, le tuf, affleure… terroir Le terroir en Maremme, c'est l'empreinte spécifique d'un lieu sur ce qui y pousse… thermal baths Les thermes, en Maremme, c'est l'accès à des sources d'eau chaude naturelle, souvent sulfureuse,… Saturnia Thermal Baths Les Thermes de Saturnia, c'est l'ensemble des sources d'eau chaude sulfureuse qui jaillissent près… Tiemme Tiemme, c'est la compagnie de bus locale. Oublie les trains pour te déplacer dans… edicule tomb Une tombe à édicule, tu vas en croiser pas mal en Maremme. C'est une… Tomboli Les Tomboli, tu les verras entre la lagune d'Orbetello et la mer. Ce sont… tombolo Un tombolo, en Maremme, c'est une bande de sable qui relie une île au… 📖 tombolos Torciata La Torciata, c'est l'événement majeur du Vendredi Saint à Pitigliano. Imagine une procession nocturne… Torciata di San Giuseppe Torre Une Torre, en Maremme, c'est une tour, souvent côtière et de guet. Tu en… Torre del Saraceno Torre Medicea Une Torre Medicea, c'est une tour de guet construite par les Médicis, principalement entre… tortelli Les tortelli, en Maremme, c'est bien plus qu'une simple pâte farcie. Oublie les raviolis… tortelli maremmani tortello Un tortello, c'est une sorte de gros ravioli. En Maremme, tu le trouveras presque… tortello maremmano Le tortello maremmano, c'est le ravioli local, mais en version XXL et au caractère… tramontane La tramontane, c'est ce vent froid et sec qui descend des Alpes, ou plus… trattoria Une trattoria, c'est le restaurant familial par excellence, celui où la cuisine est simple,… trattorias Une trattoria, c'est le restaurant familial par excellence en Maremme. Oublie les menus à… trattorie Une trattoria, c'est le restaurant familial par excellence en Maremme. Oublie les chichis et… travertine Le travertin, c'est cette roche calcaire poreuse que tu vois partout en Maremme. Elle… three-room apartment Un trilocale, c'est un appartement avec trois pièces principales : un séjour-cuisine, une chambre… tuff Le tuf, c'est cette roche volcanique claire que tu vois partout en Maremme. C'est… tumulus Un tumulus, en Maremme, c’est une colline artificielle, souvent recouverte de végétation, qui cache… Tuscia Tuscia, c'est l'ancien nom de l'Étrurie, le territoire des Étrusques. Quand tu voyages en…

Val d'Orcia Le Val d'Orcia, c'est cette région au nord-est de la Maremme, célèbre pour ses… Val di Chiana Le Val di Chiana est une vallée fertile qui s'étend entre les provinces de… Valdarno Le Valdarno, ou vallée de l'Arno, est une région géographique qui n'a rien à… basins Quand on te parle de vasques en Maremme, on ne te parle pas de… grape harvest La vendange, en Maremme, c'est bien plus qu'une simple récolte de raisins. C'est le… harvested Tu as peut-être déjà entendu parler de "vendanges" ou "vendangés" en Maremme. C'est le… Vermentino Le Vermentino, c'est le vin blanc emblématique de la Maremme. Quand tu en commandes… Vermouth Le Vermouth, tu vas le croiser souvent ici. Ce n'est pas juste un apéritif,… 📖 Via Cava 📖 Via Cave Vie Cave Les Vie Cave sont ces chemins creux spectaculaires, parfois profonds de vingt mètres, que… winemakers Les vignerons, en Maremme, sont bien plus que des producteurs de vin. Ce sont… vineyard Un vignoble, ici en Maremme, c'est bien plus qu'une simple parcelle de vigne. C'est… vineyards Un vignoble, ici en Maremme, ce n'est pas juste une parcelle de terre avec… tuff villages Les villages du tuf, tu les trouves perchés sur d'impressionnantes falaises volcaniques. Ici, on… vin brulè Le vin brulé, c'est ce vin chaud aux épices que tu trouveras sur les… new wine Le vin nouveau, c'est le vin de l'année, celui que tu goûtes quelques semaines… Vin Santo Le Vin Santo, en Maremme, c’est le vin de dessert par excellence, souvent servi… vinification La vinification, c’est l’art de transformer le jus de raisin en vin. Pour toi,… vino novello Le vino novello, c'est le vin primeur italien, l'équivalent de notre Beaujolais nouveau. Il… 📖 sunken roads hollow ways Les voies creuses, ou "vie cave" en italien, sont d'anciens chemins étrusques et romains,… VolcanicWines VolcanicWines, ce n’est pas juste un terme marketing. En Maremme, ça désigne les vins…

ZTL La ZTL, ou Zone à Trafic Limité, est un périmètre urbain où la circulation…

beach establishment Un établissement balnéaire, c'est une portion de plage privée que tu loues à la…