In ancient times the Maremma was a marshland, so much so that during Medieval and Feudal times the cities built on the Etruscan and Roman remains where abandoned in favour of fortified hamlets inland. Thanks to reclamation carried out in the 19th century, the region offers one of the most fertile countries of Tuscany, with its fields of wheat and beautiful farmhouses scattered throughout as well as cities rich in history perched on hilltops, among them Campagnatico. Campagnatico is a typical Medieval town, both in its urban structure and in its strategic position. It stands on a rise, planted with olive trees, that drops off sharply to the east over the Ombrone Valley. The ancient castle belonging to the Aldobrandeschi family from Sovana was mentioned in Canto XI of Dante's Purgatory.

...
L'antico sangue e l'opere leggiadre
d'i miei maggior mi fer sì arrogante,
che, non pensando a la comune madre,
ogn'uomo ebbi in despetto tanto avante
ch'io ne morì, come i Sanesi sanno
e sallo in Campagnatico ogni fante
Io sono Omberto;
...

Dante Alighieri - Divina Commedia - Canto XI, Purgatorio

It subsequently passed into the hands of the Tolomei who were particularly keen on controlling this extremely fertile land. Campagnatico, along with the rest of the Maremma, suffered greatly as the result of various wars and calamities.
It declined in the Medieval period and returned to prosperity under the government of the Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo I di Lorena who gave it an agricultural reform abolishing the great landed estates, actuated the rebuilding of the biggest part of the run down buildings, and promoting the building of a printing house, a watchmakers and a glassworks. The entire area is abundant in Mediterranean scrub and the rolling hills are planted with vineyards and olive groves that yield excellent wine and oil. Today Campagnatico is the principal town of a wide area that includes not only the charming Medieval town of Montorsaio, but numerous villages that keep local traditions alive by staging fairs, pageants and celebrations for their patron saints that offer the tourist a chance to partake in the spirit of these hospitable and friendly people. The traditional civil and religious celebrations in honour of Maria Santissima delle Grazie are held in Campagnatico during the first half of September. During these festivities, the four town districts (Santa Maria, Castello, Centro and Pieve) challenge one another in the "Palio dei Ciuchi" (Donkey race), initiated in 1957. This remarkable donkey race is preceded by a parade in medieval costumes through the town streets and is followed by the presentation of an artistic trophy to the winning district.

The church San Giovanni Battista is set on the ruins of the defensive system of the fortress, whose tower is used as a bell tower. It is an interesting building from the transition time between Romanesque and Gothic. It is a single nave building with raised presbytery and chapels framed by wide ogivals arches. The main door is lintelled under an adorned round arch. On the top of the façade there is a bichrome wall decoration where is a smart rose window. Inside there is a "Madonna and Child" attributed to Guido di Graziano; a wooden ciborium with holy elements adorned wickets from the XVI century and some frescos of Santa Maria delle Grazie's church, representing "Stories of the Holy Virgin", by Cristoforo di Bindoccio (1393). (Continue...)

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