Editing Grosseto (section)

==History==
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The origins of Grosseto can be traced back to the [[High Middle Ages]]. It was first mentioned in 803 as a fief of the Counts Aldobrandeschi, in a document recording the assignment of St. George's Church to Ildebrando degli Aldobrandeschi, whose successors were counts of the Grossetana Mark until the end of the 12th century.

Grosseto steadily grew in importance, owing to the decline of [[Rusellae]] and [[Vetulonia]] until it was one of the principal Tuscan cities. In 1137 the city was besieged by German troops, led by [[Henry X, Duke of Bavaria|Duke Heinrich X]] of [[Duchy of Bavaria|Bavaria]], sent by the emperor [[Lothair III]] to reinstate his authority over the Aldobrandeschi. In the following year the [[bishopric of Roselle]] was transferred to Grosseto.

In 1151, the citizens swore loyalty to the [[Republic of Siena]], and in 1222 the Aldobrandeschi gave the Grossetani the right to have their own [[podestà]], together with three councilors and consuls. In 1244 the city was reconquered by the Sienese, and its powers, together with all the Aldobrandeschi's imperial privileges, were transferred to Siena by order of the [[imperial vicar]]. Thereafter Grosseto shared the fortunes of Siena. It became an important stronghold, and the fortress (''rocca''), the walls and bastions can still to be seen.

In 1266 and in 1355, Grosseto tried in vain to win freedom from the overlordship of Siena. While [[Guelph and Ghibelline]] parties struggled for control of that city, Umberto and Aldobrandino Aldobrandeschi tried to regain Grosseto for their family. The Sienese armies were, however, victorious, and in 1259 they named a podestà from their city. But Grosseto gained its freedom and in the following year and fought alongside the [[Florence|Florentine]] forces in the [[Battle of Montaperti]].

Over the next 80 years Grosseto was again occupied, ravaged, excommunicated by [[Pope Clement IV]], besieged by emperor [[Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Louis IV]] and by the [[antipope Nicholas V]] in 1328, until it finally submitted to its more powerful neighbour, Siena. The [[Black Death|pestilence of 1348]] struck Grosseto hard and by 1369 its population had been reduced to some hundred families. Its territory, moreover, was frequently ravaged, notably in 1447 by [[Alfons V of Sicily]] and in 1455 by [[Jacopo Piccinino]].

Sienese rule ended in 1559, when [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] handed over the whole duchy to [[Cosimo I de Medici]], first grand duke of [[Grand Duchy of Tuscany|Tuscany]]. In 1574 the construction of a line of defensive walls was begun, which are still well preserved today, while the surrounding swampy plain was drained. Grosseto, however, remained a minor town, with only 700 inhabitants at the beginning of the 18th century. Under the rule of the House of Lorraine, Grosseto flourished. It was given the title of capital of the new Maremma province. In 1943, the city was heavily [[Bombing of Grosseto in World War II|bombed by the Allies]]. On 22 March 1944, the [[Maiano Lavacchio massacre]] took place into the countryside between Grosseto and [[Magliano in Toscana]]. 

In 2024, Grosseto was selected as the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism. This accolade, awarded by the [[European Commission]], recognizes small, non-traditional, and emerging sustainable tourism destinations in Europe, with Grosseto being chosen ahead of 40 other cities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grosseto: The snubbed Italian town that's now winning awards |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240724-grosseto-the-snubbed-italian-town-thats-now-winning-awards |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>