Roselle

Roselle lies in the province of Grosseto, where the modern village stands beside the ruins of an ancient city. The archaeological site of Rusellae once belonged to the Etruscans, who founded it in the 7th century BC. After Rome took control in 294 BC, the city grew into a Roman municipium with a forum, amphitheatre and baths. By the 6th century AD the focus had shifted down to the Ombrone valley, where Grosseto rose to prominence. The bishop moved his seat to Grosseto in 1138, ending Rusellae’s political role. The present village grew up along the road between Grosseto and Siena. In the 17th century Bishop Giovanni Battista Gori Pannilini built the church of San Lorenzo for travellers. In the 19th century Leopold II of Tuscany drained the land and opened the Leopoldine Baths in 1824. A parish church followed in 1938, and later excavations turned the old city into an archaeological park. The thermal springs at Bagno Roselle drew visitors throughout the 20th century. Today the archaeological park shows the remains of the Etruscan and Roman city. Visitors walk among the forum, amphitheatre and baths, all set on a gentle rise above the plain. The church of San Lorenzo still stands in the modern village, while the thermal baths continue to operate. The site offers a quiet place to see layers of history from Etruscan walls to Roman streets.