The historic center of Manciano begins in Piazza Garibaldi. This picturesque square can be reached by taking via Cavour from the base of the town. Next to it there is a small garden where you can sit and enjoy incredible views of the surrounding countryside. The statue among the pines is by the famous Maremma painter Pietro Aldi, originally from here.
The Art Nouveau fountain in the center of the square was built in 1913 to celebrate the completion of the Fiora Aqueduct. The frowning sea monsters around the base are dolphins, and the bas-reliefs around the stem represent the passage from the water shortage of ancient times (the abandoned bucket) to the well-being of modern times (the shepherd boy who drinks from the jet of running water).
Via Cavour connects the north side of Piazza Garibaldi to Piazza Magenta and the Cassero. The multiple renovations have kept intact only a part of this 15th century fortress, namely the sloping plinth. The rest of the building is a jumble of renovations that took place until 1935. Admire the magnificent panorama from the terrace on the left side of the fortress: on a clear and sunny day, it is possible to see everything, from Mount Amiata to the Argentario sea. Il Cassero is now the town hall of Manciano and is closed to visitors, unless a guided tour is booked (on request; English-speaking guide available; 0564 620532; €5). The ticket also includes entry to the Museum of Prehistory and Protohistory, to the Council Hall, where you can admire some paintings by Paride Pascucci and Pietro Aldi and to the panoramic tower, from which you can enjoy an unforgettable and boundless view of the Maremma.
Go down the steps starting from the Cassero and turn left to find Porta Fiorella, an arch dating back to the 15th century. The coat of arms above the arch, representing a rampant lion, belongs to the Aldobrandeschi. The Church of San Leonardo in via Cesare Battisti, founded in the 15th century, will draw your attention with its bright salmon colored facade: it is dedicated to the patron saint of Manciano, San Leonardo, who was said to have been sentenced to death for a crime not committed. An angel freed him and ordered him to run until he heard the triple tolling of a bell. Locals say that the Church of San Leonardo was built on the spot in Manciano where the saint heard the third toll. The exterior is modern, and inside there are two splendid works by Paride Pascucci:
The Apostles, painted in 1909, should represent Jesus washing the feet of his apostles but, in typical Pascucci style, the men portrayed are Maremmans, with faces hardened by work in the fields and eaten away by malaria; the dark, dark colors of the painting make the bearded men appear even older and more battered. The second painting by Pascucci, however, is very bright and depicts Saint Leonardo kneeling in front of the Holy Family (1894).

Museum of Prehistory and Protohistory
(Piazza Magenta; Saturday and Sunday 10:00-13:00 and 15:30-19:00; 0564 620532; €2)

This is one of the few museums in Italy to preserve artifacts from prehistoric civilizations. It has recently been refurbished and is a fantastic choice for the family with a special itinerary for children, who will be accompanied by the mascot ‘Lucy’, and a 3D model of a prehistoric hut. The visit is interactive and is done with a tablet, which will be delivered to the museum front office. The first room covers the Paleolithic. The Elephas antiquus teeth on display belong to a prehistoric elephant the size of a house. In the next room, it is the end of the ice age and the beginning of the Neolithic (around the sixth millennium BC for the Maremma). In this era, the previously nomadic man had begun to settle down and work the land with primitive tools and knives such as those on display. Next to it is the Chalcolithic, the age in which man began to use copper and other extracted minerals to make tools and ornamental objects, such as the rings and buttons on display. Much of this collection comes from the tombs of the Rinaldone civilization (fourth-second millennium BC). The last room of the museum represents the Bronze Age. The ceramics on display date back to 1700 BC. C. and were used for cooking; they are the oldest found in this area. Finally, there is a room dedicated to the finds from the late Bronze Age of Scarceta (1000-900 BC): here village life is reconstructed with plates, necklaces of glass beads, terracotta buttons and even small animals toy.