You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience The bad news: You've hit your limit of free articles.The good news: You can receive full access below.WORLDteen | Ages 11-14 | $35.88 per year Residents of the Tuscany beach enclave of Orbetello want a state of emergency declared They’re hoping the official label will help combat an ongoing attack Millions of the tiny bugs have invaded Orbetello in Italy a scrap of land jutting into the Orbetello Lagoon The lagoon is a natural reserve off Tuscany’s coast Located between the Tyrrhenian Sea and Monte Argentario Orbetello is less than two hours’ drive north of Rome Fishers blame the midge swarms on a mass die-off of juvenile fish Fry are the main predators of midge larvae Similar insect invasions have occurred before Locals say the fish die-offs are from low oxygen in the lagoon Orbetello city hall allocated $327,000 to combat the midges Officials promise emergency measures to “protect citizens and economic activities in the area,” according to Mayor Andrea Casamenti the midges keep people indoors and threaten local businesses They could also threaten the flourishing summer tourist trade Local residents are demanding that the Tuscan region declare a state of emergency over the midges Residents believe the ruling would free up more funding to correct the problem We are segregated in the house,” the petition read It blamed poor management of the lagoon for the midge disaster A petition called “Save the Orbetello Lagoon” quickly registered more than 19,000 signatures Sometimes it’s difficult to understand the benefit of a bug that bugs just about everyone Yet Genesis 1:31 reveals that “God saw everything that He had made it was very good.” That “everything” includes midges and other so-called pests Pier Luigi Piro is president of the Orbetello fishers cooperative He says the lagoon needs serious upgrades—and investments More funds would make it possible to clean out canals and move water between the lagoon and the Tyrrhenian Sea Officials from the mayor’s office and trade groups must work together to deal with the crisis we hope to have a serene tourist season.” But he warns God created all living beings—including insects and creeping things Each plays a part in the balance of God’s wondrous world © 2024 WORLDteen | 828-435-2982 | memberservices@wng.org Millions of midges have emerged from the Orbetello lagoon in Italy’s popular Tuscany region blackening the walls of buildings and jeopardising businesses in the tourist area This frame grab taken from an undated video released by the Orbetello Fishermen’s Cooperative on Thursday shows a swarm of midges in the lagoon area near Orbetello (Orbetello Fishermen ‘s Cooperative via AP ROME (AP) — Residents of the Tuscany beach enclave of Orbetello are seeking a state of emergency declaration to help combat an invasion of midges that are keeping people indoors and threatening businesses catering to tourists Millions of the tiny bugs have invaded Orbetello a speck of land that juts out into the Orbetello lagoon a natural reserve off Tuscany’s coast between the Tyrrhenian Sea and Monte Argentario Fishermen say the swarms began about three weeks ago and blame a 2024 mass die-off of juvenile fish that are the main predators of midge larvae Similar invasions have occurred in the past and fishermen say the die-offs are the result of overall oxygen depletion in the lagoon ecosystem Orbetello city hall allocated 300,000 euros ($327,000) and promised a series of specific emergency interventions to combat the invasion following a meeting with key trade associations A permanent commission was created and the emergency measures would aim to “protect citizens and economic activities in the area,” Mayor Andrea Casamenti said in a statement demanding that the Tuscan region declare a state of emergency to free up even further funding A change.org petition “Save the Orbetello Lagoon” had registered more than 19,000 signatures by late Thursday We are segregated in the house” like during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic It blamed ineffective management of the lagoon for the calamity president of the Orbetello fishermen cooperative said that the lagoon ecosystem needs serious infrastructural investments to clean out canals and favor the exchange of water between the lagoon and the Tyrrhenian He said that he hoped that the consortium of the mayor’s office and trade groups that have come together to deal with the crisis gets to work as soon as possible otherwise beyond the damage a lot of activities will risk closure,” he warned Now two and a half weeks since he was discharged from the hospital Pope Francis continues to return to his every day work In a message to pilgrims from the Italian dioceses of Grosseto and Pitigliano-Sovana-Orbetello he extends a special greeting as they make the journey through the Holy Door The Pope expresses his hope that this pilgrimage will “renew everyone in faith He offers a heartfelt thought for the sick and elderly in the group.  “Let us live this time of trial by contemplating the Lord Jesus on the cross Pope Francis extends a word of encouragement “in the face of the difficulties we see in the world and feel in our hearts.” He challenges the pilgrims to “persevere in prayer witnessing every day the hope that makes us salt of the earth.” he entrusts the dioceses to the intercession of Mary and their patron saints Pope Francis reminds the pilgrims to pray for him Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here A plague of mosquitoes is plaguing the Tuscan town of Orbetello residents are calling for a state of emergency to be declared - and are already warning of a further threat The Tuscan town of Orbetello is plagued by a massive mosquito invasion. Residents are suffering so badly from the situation that a petition has been launched calling for a state of emergency to be declared Our children go to school and breathe in air full of mosquitoes," the initiators write in the petition But that's not all - according to the petition there is another animal problem: "If the dead mosquitoes are eaten by spiders there will also be the phenomenon of abnormally large spiders." It is time for the region to intervene but the result of ineffective management of the lagoon The petition states that humans have caused this natural disaster due to wrong and neglected decisions The municipality will provide 50,000 euros for an analysis of the density of larvae in the sediments of the lagoon in order to find out how the phenomenon will develop in the coming weeks. Orbetello is located in the south of Tuscany. Due to its location on a headland, the town is extremely popular with tourists. This is Radio Schuman, your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news, insights, and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond. From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs, this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans. Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics. No agenda, no argument, no bias, No Comment. Get the story without commentary. Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives. With explanations, engaging Q&As, and lively conversations, the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society. Europe's water is under increasing pressure. Pollution, droughts, floods are taking their toll on our drinking water, lakes, rivers and coastlines. Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters, how our wastewater can be better managed, and to discover some of the best water solutions. Video reports, an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters, from Euronews. We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source, analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing. We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt. For several days, fish have been dying in the Orbetello lagoon in Tuscany. Some attribute this to a lack of oxygen in the water, potentially caused by Valonia algae, or even due to chemical levels that are out of control. The second daughter of Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg and Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein, Princess Marie Astrid of Liechtenstein married her long-term in a glamorous wedding at the late-Gothic Orbetello Cathedral in Capalbio, Tuscany. Princess Marie Astrid, 34, was every inch the head-turning bride in a white embroidered gown and the decorative 19th-century Kinsky Honeysuckle tiara, formed of glittering honeysuckle motifs in diamonds, silver and gold. Her husband, Worthington, 36, an American known as ‘Rafe’, was a handsome vision in pinstripe trousers and a green satin tie. an assembly of high-profile guests were in attendance including Princess Alessandra and Prince Christian of Hanover Princess of Hanover and Princess Mafalda of Hesse also looked stunning in a long peach dress with a clutch to match This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. Marie Astrid’s wedding train was something to behold, thick, weighty and intricately embroidered – it took four of her well-dressed guests to artfully manoeuvre the piece into the church. The flower girls and page boys were adorable with lime coloured ribbons around their middles and flower crowns atop their heads. Princess Alsessandra of Hanover, ever elegant, clearly got the memo, with a lime green ribbon to accessorise her floral cocktail dress. The weather was without fault – the bridal party basked in the late summer Italian sunshine. The pastor wore a golden robe that sparkled as it caught the light. The church aisle was laden with greenery and the apse of the cathedral adorned with expansive biblical frescoes. The beautiful Alessandra de Osma married into the ever-chic Hanoverian royal family when she wed childhood sweetheart Prince Christian of Hanover Ralph Worthington is the son of Ralph Worthington IV, and his great-grandfather, William Morrissey (the father of his mother, Lucinda Earle Morrisey), founded Metropolitan Oil. Princess Marie Astrid is the second daughter of Princess Margaretha and Prince Nikolaus, and the older sister of Prince Josef Emanuel. As the water temperature reaches a record high of 35 degrees thousands of fish are dying in the lagoon off the Italian town of Orbetello This has consequences for local fishing and tourism fishermen and tourists are on the alert due to a fish kill in the Mediterranean Thousands of fish carcasses have been floating for days in the lagoon of the town of Orbetello in the heart of the Tuscan bathing peninsula of Monte Argentario A total of 200 tons of eels and other fish have died in three days An unusually large number of fish came to the surface and died after hours of agony Orbetello. Allarme per la moria di pesci e di granchi da gg le cui carcasse emanano un cattivo odore. Il sindaco e i soliti danno la colpa al caldo. E di tutta la merda gettata dal cielo e dai vari scarichi sia di fogne che dai natanti? Di analisi ne hanno fatte? Non se ne parla. pic.twitter.com/tXYNCRAJXR Fishermen complained of losses running into millions which reached a record high of 35 degrees in the past few days These are currently the highest temperatures in the entire Mediterranean region A lack of water exchange in an almost closed system and the growth of algae caused the oxygen content to drop to almost zero Fishermen tried to pump cool water into the lagoon but the measure was not enough to stop the fish die-off which have recently become an increasing scare for fishermen because they consume clams and other smaller fish Tons of fish carcasses had to be disposed of in Orbetello The concern is that the decomposed carcasses could lead to a hygiene emergency at the height of the tourist season The mayor of Orbetello called for measures to support the fishermen affected The tourism industry is worried about the August weeks Restaurant and bar owners have already complained of heavy losses as customers are avoiding dining in establishments near the sea because of the stench The authorities asked the government in Rome for help wanted to declare a state of emergency: This is to take measures to support the fishermen affected With material from the news agency Keystone-SDA or take a one and a half hour train journey into Orbetello leisurely pace; take picturesque strolls along sandy stretches feast on Tuscan delights or explore one of the three impressive fortresses towering over the village we highlight some of the very best things to do the space counts over 1,300 trees and shrubs belonging to about 150 species (including 24 species of Eucalyptus) the botanical garden hosts weekly events that include live music guided tours and art exhibitions which can be booked on the website Website: ortobotanicocorsini.com La ParrinaLucrezia WorthingtonWine tasting at La ParrinaThe agricultural estate La Parrina extends across 1,500 acres of vineyards with a 19th-century stone manor housing 15 rooms and 5 apartments for guests It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon whether you’re strolling around the estate with your little ones to visit the farm animals browsing the bottega for fresh produce grown on-site or enjoying a wine tasting that showcases the local flavours of Maremma Sample La Parrina’s white and red wines paired with an incredible selection of cheeses made on the estate for a real treat – the Parrina Merlot Radaia paired with Gutus cheese is a match made in heaven Website: parrina.it Porto Ercole beachGetty ImagesHave a beach dayBooking a trip to Porto Ercole wouldn’t be complete without spending a laid-back day or two at the beach A five minute drive from the centre takes you to Feniglia beach sandy stretch lined with pine trees is fully equipped with beach facilities or drive to the opposite side of Porto Ercole to reach smaller coves such as Acqua Dolce and Spiaggia Lunga where the water is clearer but they both require a moderate hike down and up a hill so ensure to bring appropriate footwear Porto ErcoleLucrezia WorthingtonThe best shops in Porto ErcoleCeramicaThis little shop in Porto Ercole sells handmade ceramics that make great gifts for your loved ones or souvenirs to bring home You’ll mostly find decorative items like sea creatures and sailboats capturing the spirit of this fisherman’s village there are also pretty coffee and tea cups ready for purchase and if you’re looking for something in particular Safari Blu is one of the oldest boutiques in Porto Ercole and yet it is still one of the most fashionable shops in this town Inside is a display of independent Italian and International brands including elegant clothing beachwear and footwear presented in colour co-ordinated stands Keep an eye out for the sandals; they come in various coloured beads and are a pretty addition to your summer wardrobe This small boutique showcases a collection of clothing and accessories exclusively made in Italy as well as their own personal line of handcrafted bags rows of patterned gowns and maxi dresses alternate with monochromatic pieces swimwear and hats as well as winter puffer jackets and cashmere The food in Porto Ercole reflects the region's blend of agricultural and maritime traditions from the coastal regions to the Maremma hills Wild game and foraged ingredients are just as important as seafood – but there is one restaurant where you can find an exceptional steak La Vivienda is set within a rustic farmhouse amid the countryside setting of the Argentario Polo Club A warm dining room extends out into an outdoor veranda where you can take a seat and watch the sun slowly set across the fields The menu is a contemporary take on local flavours Address: Località Le Piane, 1, 58019 Monte Argentario GR, ItalyWebsite: lavivienda.it Hosteria AlicinaAlicina sul PortoThis new spot by the port is easily one of the top restaurants in the area It first opened Hostaria Alicina back in 2014 in a different location Alicina brings fresh energy to the waterfront with an elegant outdoor terrace perched at the water's edge where guests can feast on seafood while taking in views of the docked boats and the menu boasts 90 per cent locally sourced seafood from Porto Ercole with standout dishes like spaghetti with clams and sea urchins Address: Lungomare Andrea Doria, 4, 58018 Porto Ercole GR, ItalyWebsite: instagram.com A low-key trattoria-style restaurant where the idea of savouring a classic spaghetti alle vongole with a crisp glass of wine comes to life La Pinta is located at the beginning of the port although the sun sets behind Monte Argentario the sky still turns a pretty pink tinge at dusk Whether you're stopping by for a morning cappuccino and croissant this modern venue is a favourite among locals featuring a nautical-inspired colour palette but it’s the charming outdoor terrace by the water that truly sets the scene for a perfect social hour Address: Lungomare Strozzi, 6, 58018 Porto Ercole GR, ItalyWebsite: bardelporto.cafe has become the go-to destination for late-night gatherings It’s known for its top-tier selection of spirits and champagne as well as an adventurous cocktail menu and live music and jolly voices echo around the port Address: Lungomare Andrea Doria, 54, 58018 Porto Ercole GR, ItalyWebsite: instagram.com La Roqqa HotelALESSANDRO MOGGILa RoqqaUnder new ownership designed by the Milanese architectural studio Palomba Serafini Every detail has been carefully considered from the colour schemes and furnishings that mirror the surrounding landscape to the snazzy touches throughout whitewashed lounge or work out in the air-conditioned gym The rooftop bar on the fourth floor offers local wines while the on-site Scirocco restaurant serves standout dishes including the highly recommended "spaghetti with eight tomatoes" – a dish where the tomatoes are picked in collaboration with the social cooperative L'Orto Giusto a farming initiative that provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities Address: Via Panoramica, 7, 58018 Porto Ercole GR, ItalyWebsite: laroqqa.com Hotel Il PellicanoCourtesy of the Pellicano HotelsIl PellicanoCarved into the rocky coast of Monte Argentario originally opened in the Sixties by a British aviator and his American wife stands as a testament of elegance and old-school glamour The interiors are complete with terracotta floors four-posters in the rooms and stylish tapestries across the furnishings this 50-roomed mediterranean refuge is a taste of La Dolce Vita where simple pleasures such as laying on your terrace reading a book or sunbathing at the private beach-club become the daily routine Guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to cuisine from bistro-style dishes at the Perigrill to Michelin-starred dining at Ristorante Il Pellicano; always with endless views of the sea below Address: Località Sbarcatello, 58019 Porto Ercole GR, ItalyWebsite: hotelilpellicano.com a town that connects Monte Argentario to the terra firma This 15th-century building treasures the lovingly restored Casa Iris a three-roomed B&B curated by Matthew Adams and James Valeri Matthew and James turned to architect Giorgia Cerulli (who also designed the G-Rough hotel in Rome) to help bring their vision into life restoring this antique palazzo into a lovely modern apartment whilst highlighting its history all the magnificent frescoes in the property have been restored by Maria Rosaria Basileo Casa Iris is also available to rent as a full property Address: Corso Italia, 3, 58015 Orbetello GR, ItalyWebsite: casairisorbetello.com First published on CNT UK All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service (updated April 1 2021) and Policy and Cookie Statement (updated April 1 The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page down 60% as thousands of midges torment locals and tourists Authorities in a Tuscan town have urged residents to close their windows and refrain from hanging out washing as they tackle a plague of midges that has been tormenting locals and tourists for weeks well known for its lagoon and long stretches of sandy beach overlooked by Monte Argentario say business has been badly hit as customers avoid venturing out for dinner “We are forced to close two hours early,” the owner of Caffè sul Corso di Luigi Drogo Some establishments have switched off outside lights and are taking dinner bookings only until 9pm “Takings are down by 60% despite these measures,” said Marco Di Pietro while describing the “psychological horror” inflicted by the midges on outdoor diners “Thousands of midges gather around the light bulbs and move like a disturbing wave between the outdoor tables,” he told Corriere Orbetello midges on a white car Photograph: SuppliedLa Repubblica quoted a visitor from Rome as saying Orbetello had been “completely overrun” by the insects “For almost a month it has been impossible to walk along the lagoon Now it has become impossible to even dine or have an aperitif outside The situation reached such an extreme yesterday that many shops and restaurants were forced to close at around 9pm.” said last month that the infestation is linked to the conditions of the lagoon amid high temperatures that have reduced the presence of the midges’ natural predators Authorities said they would undertake pest control procedures overnight on Wednesday – the fourth time the town has been fumigated in several weeks But residents complained that a deep disinfestation They are not the only ones being invaded by insects this summer – the nearby Castiglione della Pescaia has been hit by swarms of wasps said: “Today it is difficult to find a solution to a problem that should have been dealt with earlier What I can say is that we are here for any citizens who express concern or whose season has been ruined by these insects.” The fifth edition of the Hypermaremma contemporary art festival officially opened this morning with the unveiling of Tulip the monumental sculptural work by artist Virginia Overton Placed at Orbetello ’s Polveriera Guzman and facing the lagoon Tulip (“tulip”) is a 6-meter-high concrete work punctuated by a constellation of pink glass ’little windows’ Arranged “back to back,” three vertical segments carved from pre-existing molds and typically used for the construction of large tunnels form an upright structure that opens toward the vault of heaven.First presented at the 59th Venice Biennale Tulip activates a new form of collaboration that aims to share important existing productions in dialogue with the Maremma landscape Overton’s work will dialogue with the historic architecture of the Polveriera Guzman: a building constructed in 1692 by Flemish architect Ferdinand De Grunembergh Throughout history it was used as a gunpowder store remaining closed to the public for a long time It is currently home to the Orbetello Archaeological Museum where Etruscan Roman and medieval artifacts recovered from neighboring localities are preserved to tell the story of the exploits of past peoples Although hidden by an apparent inscrutability the medium employed is never chosen by Virginia Overton purely for its aesthetics but also for its history and the potential future it holds Overton often uses recycled or ready-made materials she finds in the detritus of everyday life in the urban landscape Overton’s interest in public art originates from its symbolic function within a collective space where her sculptures often call attention to the inexorable need for balance of size and gravity The public is invited to move around the work and its surrounding benches without preferring a single perspective Tulip and the Maremma landscape are meant to reflect on our territory and our community “Virginia Overton’s site - specific sculptural installations,” wrote Madeline Weisburg in the Venice Biennale catalog "explore the unexpressed potential of objects associated with industry and infrastructure concrete and the attached machinery such as cranes pick - ups and carts that lift and move them These materials often have performative behavior bisecting or amplifying its inherent characteristics the artist presents two sculptures at the Arsenale the heart of Venice’s shipbuilding industry since the early 12th century Overton installs spheres in the water reminiscent of the glass floats used by sailors to keep fishing nets in the bright pink tones of Venetian street lamps Overton’s buoys rise and fall with the tide highlighting the variability of the lagoon A second sculpture includes a large-scale construction in the shape of a tulip Created from pre-existing molds usually used for architectural tunnels three perpendicularly interlocking segments create a vertical structure punctuated by circular pink glass windows and form a triangular opening and vaulted to the sky Additional modular elements are arranged toward the water act as benches offering visitors a moment of rest amidst the historical layers-physical and psychological-of the Arsenal." YAC (Young Architects Competitions) and WWF launch WWF OBSERVATION CABINS a competition of ideas for the design of some observation points and a visitors’ center for the WWF Oasis of Orbetello as a unique space to protect and safeguard nature Courtesy of YAC - Young Architects CompetitionsSoil consumption, deforestation, poaching. If the numerous species living on Earth had a voice, there would be a deafening cry of pain rising from deserts, mountains, burning forests, and polluted skies. In the fight for the protection of ecosystems there are no winners or losers. Yet, human beings seem to linger. While the delicate balances supporting this planet are eroding, anarchic economic systems linger in the race for a progress with no future and a wealth with no tomorrow. This is the awareness at the base of WWF’s initiatives. For sixty years, WWF has been giving voice to the silent cry of those who have none to ask for help. WWF’s oases were created to achieve this goal. They aim at protecting the abundance of this planet and the right to exist of every living creature. However, there is no protection without knowledge. There is no conservation without access. Protecting means giving access to the wonders of Mother Nature. This is because only by enjoying the existing beauty can one fall in love with it and only by falling in love with it can one become an active player in defending our planet. Courtesy of YAC - Young Architects CompetitionsThis is the goal of WWF Observation Cabins. This is YAC’s and WWF’s competition to support one of the most ancient WWF oases. Such a competition aims at creating a place where, to raise awareness, visitors can reconcile with nature by enjoying and acknowledging the beauty that lies where human beings manage to remain silent and listen. Thanks to this competition, architects will have the opportunity to play a crucial role in defending the planet by designing observation points and a visitors’ center. Such elements will stand for a perfect combination of beauty, species protection, and training humans to respect the planet. This place will be a space to protect and safeguard nature. This competition aims to rediscover the main identity of architecture, namely as a “tamed” nature where human beings can be moved by bright sunsets, be amazed by flying pink flamingos, or tremble at the freezing touch of western breezes. Courtesy of YAC - Young Architects CompetitionsJury 1st Prize: 8.000 € 2nd Prize: 4.000 € 3rd Prize: 2.000 € 2 Gold Mentions: 500 € each 10 Honorable Mentions 30 Finalists 15/03/2021 “early bird” registrations- start 11/04/2021 (h 23.59 GMT) “early bird” registrations- end 12/04/2021 “standard” registrations- start 09/05/2021(h 23.59 GMT) “standard” registrations- end 10/05/2021 “late” registrations- - start 06/06/2021 (h 23.59 GMT) “late” registrations- end 09/06/2021 (h 12.00- midday- GMT) Materials submission deadline More information at: www.youngarchitectscompetitions.comContact: yac@yac-ltd.com This competition was submitted by an ArchDaily user. If you'd like to submit a competition, call for submissions or other architectural 'opportunity' please use our "Submit a Competition" form The views expressed in announcements submitted by ArchDaily users do not necessarily reflect the views of ArchDaily You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Here are 10 villages not to be missed in Maremma.1 OrbetelloSurrounded by the waters of its lagoon Orbetello is a jewel waiting to be discovered This rich and lush land has been an important crossroads of people and goods since Etruscan times Over the centuries many have been the lords who have taken turns on this strip of Maremma and for each of them Orbetello has always been a strategic center to be cared for and reinforced The work destined to change the history and fortunes of Orbetello forever dates back to 1842 when the Grand Duke of Tuscany Leopold II inaugurated the dam the narrow embankment that connects the town to the slopes of Argentario It is on this road on the water that one still arrives from Argentario to Orbetello before leaving the car and devoting oneself to a visit among its small and great masterpieces the small church of Santa Maria alle Grazie the cathedral or the spectacular lagoon promenade: Orbetello is full of monuments and evocative views that should be appreciated unhurriedly letting yourself be enraptured by the unique atmosphere of the lagoon Porto Ercole is one of the most popular seaside resorts in Maremma but this ancient fishing village on the Argentario promontory also offers visitors much more The ancient center lies protected by walls and winds at the foot of the imposing Rocca Spagnola in a maze of alleys small squares and steep stairways that overlook the sea and where cars cannot get develops along the splendid natural bay and on its seafront it is possible to find a moment of relaxation immersed in one of the most evocative views where you can recharge your batteries and then go up the coast to discover the 16th-century fortifications such as the Rocca Porto Santo Stefano is the main town of Argentario and one of the most popular vacation spots for tourists and travelers The town of Porto Santo Stefano is developed along its two harbors the commercial one is the largest and ferries to the islands of Giglio and Giannutri also depart from there is surely the most characteristic one and can be reached by walking along the iconic promenade designed by one of the masters of Italian style This is definitely also the most glamorous area of the town full of clubs and restaurants overlooking the sea where you can relax and admire the beauty of this seaside village Perched 400 meters above sea level on the western slope of the Metalliferous Hills Massa Marittima is just under 20 kilometers from the sea and springs up as if by magic from the woods covered with Mediterranean scrub It is precisely its more elevated position and thus far from the malaria-infested marshes of the coast that made Massa Marittima for centuries one of the most flourishing centers in these parts The first traces of settlements are traced back even to prehistoric times while it is known that the Etruscans already exploited its mineral wealth The signs of this long history can still be touched today by walking through the streets of its town center which slopes gently down from the hill toward the coast divided between the Old Town The WWF oasis of Lake Burano, the Tarot Garden the Aldobrandesca fortress: there are many places not to be missed during a visit to Capalbio but for the discreet beauty of its coastline Always a sought-after destination for the Roman jet set Capalbio can now truly satisfy every taste: both of those who are looking for a chic vacation among millionaire villas and exclusive clubs and of those who instead want to enjoy the sea in close contact with a still unspoiled nature lying on a beach that is still proudly free and wild Lying placidly on a hill just over 200 meters above sea level, Montescudaio is an ideal place to relax and fully enjoy the best Maremma has to offer the perfect starting point for so many excursions within the beautiful Tuscan countryside but it is only by putting one foot after the other and wandering through its ancient streets that one can appreciate its full beauty Here it seems as if time has stopped in the Middle Ages an ancient era whose legacy can still be strongly perceived by getting lost in the narrow streets or venturing onto the castle walls from which the eye can sweep as far as the sea Enough to describe in three words the village of Bolgheri one of the best known symbols of this corner of Tuscany In this enchanted place made famous by the verses of the first Italian to receive the Nobel Prize for literature starting with its famous Viale dei Cipressi a real jewel in which to let your imagination run wild among the medieval streets Of particular interest are then the church of Santi Giacomo e Cristoforo Piazza Alberto and again the path to the discovery of Carducci’s life and the famous castle of the Counts della Gherardesca stretched between the slopes of the Piombino promontory and the Gulf of Baratti and was known since ancient times for its intense metallurgical activity Today you can visit the archaeological park in the lower part of which you can admire while in the higher part you can walk in the ancient acropolis with the temples Between the plain and the hills lies the municipality of Campiglia Marittima with its two urban centers: Campiglia and Venturina The latter is famous for its spas and large green areas but it is Campiglia that preserves the most important traces of these lands’ past The roots of the first nucleus of this village are documented as far back as the year 1000 and there are many legacies from these bygone times that can still be admired up close A visit to Campiglia cannot fail to observe first of all the splendid Rocca dating back to the 12th century and then again the parish church of San Giovanni the church of San Lorenzo with its works of art and then the Praetorian Palace Rosignano Marittimo with its seven hamlets is the ideal place for a vacation that combines together art culture and entertainment among crystal clear waters is a charming medieval center that from the top of a hill dominates the entire Tyrrhenian coast and the entire village developed around it A few kilometers from Rosignano is the tourist resort par excellence of these lands: Castiglioncello which with its distinct elegance has always attracted artists No less fascinating is then the hamlet of Vada whose history winds uninterruptedly back to Etruscan times tips and exclusive itineraries in Florence long walks on unspoilt beaches and diving in clear seabeds full of fish there is no better way to continue relaxing than with a nice drink enjoyed in front of a beautiful sunset So let us take you on a tour of the cocktail bars that offer the best aperitifs in the Argentario If you are still hungry after your aperitif, here is our list of the best restaurants in Monte Argentario. Here instead the most beautiful beaches in Argentario. Barakà Lounge Restaurant Via Vincenzo Gioberti 78 – Orbetelloph the strip of land that serves as the gateway to Argentario the cocktail bar and bistro Barakà offers a happy hour with a traditional flavour but with international contaminations You will also find waiting for you a wide selection of gins that the bartenders will passionately illustrate and a truly original cocktail list Tuscany Bay Beach Strada Provinciale della Giannella Lido and club surrounded by a hectare of garden and overlooking the beautiful beach of La Giannella which made Pino Daniele fall in love with the beauty of the Maremma and convinced him to make his home there in the last decade of his life fantastic cocktails to enjoy in the exclusive gazebo-privacy on the beach and tasty seafood that is always fresh the Sparkling American Bar impresses with the originality and care with which it prepares its cocktails The bar's strong point is its original 'circular consumption' system: discarded ingredients are imaginatively reused: fruit and vegetable peels become the base for chutneys tonics that are no longer effervescent are infused with jasmine Even the service is environmentally friendly the aperitif snacks are served in disposable boxes made of recycled paper Il Grottino Cocktail Bar Via del Molo - Porto Santo Stefano ph On the waterfront of the old harbour in a postcard-perfect location the Grottino Cocktail Bar uses high-quality spirits to make unforgettable cocktails but also serves excellent bubbly will also leave its mark: absolutely try their fresh seafood Bar Bistrot Il BucoLungomare dei Navigatori Popular with locals but also with tourists visiting the Spanish Fortress Il Buco is the perfect place for an aperitif with friends In addition to a wide selection of cocktails here you can enjoy great live music and many DJ sets in a very special location Argentario Golf e Welness ResortLocalità Le Piane - Porto Ercoleph Located between Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole the Argentario Golf and Wellness Resort is an estate consisting of 77 hectares of land protected by the BioAgriCert environmental certification and now welcomes tourists from all over the world who want to experience a relaxing holiday each with a large panoramic terrace overlooking incredible Here you can enjoy classic and original cocktails and excellent food prepared with organic produce from the estate's garden A historic venue with more than seventy years of activity behind it it has been the meeting place of the international jet set for years as evidenced by the many photos hanging on the walls Here you will find classic cocktails but also a very long list of innovative cocktails designed by the bartenders of this venue on the basis of the most varied requirements and always accompanied by many varied and abundant appetisers everything to discover in the 'spartan-chic' paradise between Tuscany and Lazio Our ultimate guide to enjoying the beauty of an incredible sea along the coast and on the islands Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May sees the return of the great wine event in Tuscany's most beautiful cellars An itinerary to discover the coves with the clear sea that are a must in the area Discover with us the highlights of the day of Santa Maria Where to photograph the most beautiful sunsets in Tuscany Cult sea-flavoured places to enjoy the sunset with your favourite cocktail The best restaurants where you can taste authentic local dishes al fresco in front of a breathtaking view After having refreshed the spirit while enjoying a splendid sea and one of the most evocative sunsets in Italy it is time to think about the stomach and the Argentario will not disappoint you in this either that pamper tourists and locals alike with exquisite dishes If you want to enjoy a nice aperitif before dinner, here is a list of the best aperitifs in Argentario. If you want to enjoy the Argentario by day, here is our guide to the most beautiful beaches and coves. The Il Leccino Restaurant at the AgriResort Podere Maremma offers its guests an unforgettable experience from which an excellent extra virgin olive oil is produced it is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the spirit of this land the fruit and vegetables used in the kitchen are those grown in the farm's vegetable garden and the meat and fish are the freshest on the market There is also an open cellar that stocks the best certified Tuscan wines Ristorante Il LeccinoLa ViviendaLocalità Le Piane Overlooking the Orbetello lagoon and embellished by an elegant veranda overlooking the Argentario Polo Club polo field La Vivienda restaurant is ready to satisfy the needs of the most varied palates The cuisine offers the typical flavours of Italian and Tuscan tradition but there is no lack of gourmet reinterpretations a Gold Rack lamb loin accompanied by burnt leeks and a salted peanut sauce the timeless pappardelle al ragù and meatballs stewed with peas A small place but with a large forecourt and a beautiful veranda overlooking the sea I Pescatori is a tasting centre run by the Orbetello lagoon fishermen's cooperative which has exclusive rights to fish in the lagoon What comes to the table is only and absolutely the catch of the day which is served with simple recipes that allow the taste of fresh fish to be savoured at its best the grilled sea bream and the tagliolini with courgettes and Orbetello botargo there is also a small shop where a market is held every day an institution for those who frequent the Argentario exudes the scent of the sea from every dish it is always fresh fish that plays the starring role here such as the timeless spaghetti with seafood The fish dishes on the menu always have an original touch: the classic spaghetti with clams is dressed with a garlic cream the half pacchero with red prawns meets lard the monkfish is accompanied by coconut flakes that of the Giannella tombolo and the Domitian Bay Vecchia Pesa has been mixing traditional Italian and Santo Stefano flavours The dishes on offer are great classics: risotto alla marinara and spaghetti with clams to name a few first courses frittura and mixed grill among the main courses such as that which can be found in the tuna steak with aubergine caponata and pea cream or in the paccheri with swordfish Messina style Large selection of wines from all over Italy Il Pellicano Località Sbarcatello - Porto Ercoleph It is part of the beautiful Hotel Il Pellicano and is very attentive to Tuscan excellence and the seasonality of the products there are no less than three tasting menus here even the desserts are of the highest level offers land and seafood dishes studied with maniacal care in the choice of ingredients their highly original combinations and the presentation of the dishes if you don't believe us try the fantastic smoked fusillo with cacio pepper and bottarga (roe) and perhaps pair it with one of the 300 labels stored in the restaurant's cellar Ristorante Dama Dama Località Le Piane - Porto Ercoleph It is the restaurant of the elegant Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort and owes its name to the nature that surrounds it: the green hills of the Resort are in fact populated by free-roaming deer whose scientific name is precisely dama dama Here the dominant philosophy is respect for nature: the products are always seasonal they come from the Resort's vegetable garden or from selected farms in the Tuscan Maremma A wonderful panoramic terrace and a wine cellar containing the best of Italian oenology complete this splendid picture Ristorante Dama Dama - Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort La TerrazzaViale Caravaggio angolo Via Tramontana - Porto Ercoleph This is the panoramic restaurant and lounge bar of the five-star Porto Ercole Resort and Spa has a splendid view of the Feniglia beach and is equipped with an elegant swimming pool Meat and fish are prepared here according to traditional Tuscan criteria but the menu also includes several vegetarian dishes The wine cellar of this restaurant will leave you speechless: there are many wines on offer selected only from the best cellars Addresses to remember for an atmospheric sunset happy hour Discover the temples of Tuscan hospitality to book now for unforgettable experiences An itinerary to discover the golden beaches and crystal clear seas of the Maremma An itinerary through the hills and medieval villages: let's discover together the best ones not to be missed The most beautiful grape harvests in Tuscany where you can experience them In Tuscany, almost on the border with Lazio, there is a promontory famous throughout the mare nostrum: Mount Argentario. A crystal-clear sea, between theislands of Giglio and Giannutri, in the middle of the “Cetacean Sanctuary” with a marine area classified as “Protected Area of Mediterranean Interest,” surrounds Monte Argentario which was once an island and today is one of the most internationally known places for yachting and sailing and for the unique morphological and environmental features concentrated here The entire promontory (which has a maximum height of 635 meters at Punta Telegrafo) makes a commune in itself with the hamlets of Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole on the two sides of the mountain and boasts a long military history linked to its strategic position on the sea in the middle of the Tyrrhenian Sea (evidenced by the many fortresses and fortifications with which it is encircled) and for its “beautiful to live in” environment so much so that in Roman times several patrician families chose it to build holiday residences there (“Case d’ozio”) The landscape (with a rugged coastline full of very characteristic coves) and the mild climate make it suitable for a vacation many months a year where nature history and traditional events make it rich in different experiences to live not only related to the summer: the steep Monte Argentario rich in man-made terraces over the centuries offers paths in the lush Mediterranean scrub for trekking and biking lovers for excursions among vineyards and palm trees Let’s see an itinerary of 10 points of interest.1 The Orbetello LagoonThe Argentario is connected to the coast by two strips of land to the north and south: the sandy tombolos of Feniglia and Giannella (6 kilometers long) enclose a lagoon with a unique ecosystem one of the most unspoiled naturalistic areas in Italy that amazes for the gifts it can give the pink that invades the lagoon from the flamingos that station or stop there on their migratory journeys There are over 1,500 hectares of marshy land in the middle of which is an isthmus on which stands the town of Orbetello connected to the Argentario by a bridge (the Leopoldina Dam) In the northern part is a WWF Nature Reserve where many species of birds nest or find their space for stops on their journeys: in addition to flamingos Equally rich are the waters of the lagoon: bass Highly developed is the production of the prized botargo Nature is also unleashed in the flora with sclerophyllous vegetation with Phoenician and coccone juniper hoopoes and nocturnal birds of prey live freely whose operation was linked to the movement of water by the tides which can be admired with a short walk from the center of Orbetello The Archaeological Museum of Orbetello since 2004 has been located in a former powder magazine from 1692 along the Levante walls (the place where Garibaldi also stopped to stock up on ammunition and weapons for the Expedition of the Thousand after the attack on Talamone) and preserves in its interior jewels covering a chronological span from theVillanovan to Roman age with artifacts from the Etruscan necropolises in the Orbetello and Talamone area (votive shrines agricultural tools and grave goods) and finds from the Roman structures discovered in the area The collection began in the late 19th century and has changed several locations until the present one and since 2007 it has been part of the museum network of the Maremma Museums Noteworthy are the finds from the necropolis of Orbetello that belonged to the rich Etruscan aristocracy of the 4th century B.C From the Talamone necropolis various decorative objects from the temple doors of the Hellenistic period Also in the museum is the “pediment of the temple of Talamone”: an Etruscan work from the Hellenic age which has very ancient origins dating back to the Neolithic period is built on the isthmus within the lagoon of the same name and that alone would be enough to visit it it was with the Spanish domination that it experienced its greatest moments of development with the related fortifications and constructions A large wall still surrounds the town: these are Etruscan walls later reinforced by the Spanish and the most substantial part of the fortifications rises on the side facing the mainland and is equipped with small square towers played a garrison role against potential invaders the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is certainly worth a visit with its large rose window on the façade reminiscent of that of Orvieto Cathedral Inside it is richly decorated with works of art stucco and furnishings from the 17th century with the San Biagio chapel in Baroque style Positioned to the southeast of Argentario is Porto Ercole which boasts a beautiful bay topped by the Spanish fortresses built at the time of the Stato dei Presidi: Forte Filippo which are still in excellent condition and can be visited as optimal vantage points It was under Spanish rule that Porto Ercole experienced its greatest splendor and became a port of European importance Throughout the promontory there are ten watchtowers and three fortresses It was targeted several times by pirates including Incitaria and Domitiana on Argentario are all mentioned in theItinerarium Maritimum among the ports and landings of the sea route from Rome to Provence Vasari depicted the naval battle that took place here between the Spanish and the French when Porto Ercole was under Sienese rule and its oldest part under the Fortress has kept its past architecture intact and is passable only on foot Among the narrow streets and colorful palaces one arrives at the church of Sant’Erasmo where the tombs of Spanish rulers are located one can enjoy a splendid view from the panoramic terrace and visit the 16th-century Palazzo dei Governanti and to commemorate him there is an inscription on the gateway to the village Porto Ercole was ranked among the most beautiful villages in Italy in 2004 dominated from above by the 17th-century Spanish Fortress is the administrative center of Argentario and ferries to the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago stop here the waterfront was even designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and the highly renowned marina is always full of yachts which consists of a park of no less than 77 hectares with an 18-hole course set in a natural amphitheater composed of olive trees and Mediterranean scrub services for pleasure boating have been developed making it one of the most visited landings in the Tyrrhenian Sea: Argentario is one of the world capitals of yachting with more than 2,000 berths a mooring point for ships up to 80 meters in length (unique on the entire Tyrrhenian coast) and the two roadsteads (at Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole) that can guarantee safe stopping in all weather conditions the Palio Marinaro dell’Argentario is held at Ferragosto with a race between the four districts it towers over the village: it has long since ceased its military functions and is now a place of art and culture hosting two permanent exhibitions illustrating local history one on archaeological finds at sea and one on the mastery of woodworking The fortress has six-meter-thick walls and a square basement and is structured on two levels that keep intact the embrasures from which the cannons were fired Today the interior is home to the Shipwrights’ Museum dedicated to the artisans capable of “making wood sail,” with a display of techniques for developing ship carpentry There is also as permanent exhibition “Submerged Memories,” which collects archaeological artifacts found on the seabed in the archipelago where the oldest ones are from the Roman period On the second floor is the section dedicated to the discovery of the archaic wreck (6th century B.C.) of Campese (Giglio Island) Fort Stella is an imposing fortification with four-pronged bastions with a second six-pronged fortification above it that overhangs the sea above Porto Ercole Built between the mid-sixteenth century and the first half of the seventeenth century by the Spanish (who actually relied on Cosimo I dei Medici to build it) it is such a precise and well-preserved construction that it amazes today’s visitor It was a watchtower that communicated with the other towers of the Argentario with light signals and thus allowed the entire defense system to be alerted against attacks in real time TheSilver Coast Mediterranean Aquarium was created with the intention of reproducing as faithfully as possible the most indicative ecosystems of the Argentario coastline designed and managed by the Mare Ambiente Academy Association with the intention of “proposing,” they explain on the site “a faithful reconstruction of the characteristic environments of the seabed that lap the shores of the Promontory of Monte Argentario so that visitors can experience the beautiful sensations that every diver experiences when diving in Mare Nostrum 7 of which are panoramic with only seawater (about 50 thousand liters in all) it accommodates hundreds of animal and plant species Posidonia and many others.” It is a museum with educational tours and there is also a permanent shell exhibition and underwater photography exhibition inside Not far from Monte Argentario, in the municipality of Capalbio on the border with Lazio, there is a contemporary art park created by French-American artist Niki de Saint-Phalle that transports visitors to an enchanted world: the Tarot Garden although to a child’s eyes it would seem the same but a place where whimsy and inventiveness have taken shape over 17 long years of work and fun among sculptures There are 22 sculptures 12 to 15 meters high representing the Major Arcana of the Tarot composed of iron and concrete then covered with mirror mosaics The idea was born on inspiration to a visit to Gaudí’s Guell Park in Barcelona “that one day I had to build my own garden of joy A meeting place between man and nature,” and so she did: in 1998 the Tarot Garden opened its gates to take people on an “esoteric walk between nature and culture.” The place is truly incredible and worth the cost of the ticket if only to see what Niki de Saint-Phalle’s passion has produced which over the years has involved other artists and many local people who still work there today which atfirst had only one exhibition hall On display here were artifacts mainly from the Arce and private dwellings and related clay decorations from temples on the Arce In 1997 the expansion led to two more exhibition rooms: one dedicated to the harbor area with artifacts found in the necropolis around the city while the second room collects the history of Cosa up to the 15th century The functions that can be deduced for the so fortified colony (with 18 towers and three gates) were always that of garrison: the Romans from here had strategic point of control of the sea against Carthaginian attacks and no less that of control of the territories just conquered to the Etruscans (Volsinii and Vulci) The museum is a promoter of many initiatives aimed at enhancing and discovering one of the most beautiful and also least known archaeological areas of the Maremma and the entire Mediterranean Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker With all my friends?Food & drink One-to-one with the friendly helpful owners.Staff The breakfast is too good to spoil it with lunch.Bed & bath Old-school comfort.The crowd Cultured design-aware globetrotters.In a nutshell Retro-chic design in-depth local knowledge and a charming off-the-radar Italian seaside town in one neat package Set the sceneA handsome pale apricot palazzo in Orbetello’s main pedestrianised street. Inside is an old-fashioned Italian family apartment – which is exactly what it was – with just three bedrooms decorated with historic frescoes and wall paintings which Matthew and James admire for the way it plays mid-century modern design off against a ‘raw’ historic container What stood out in all the rooms (the other two are medium double Rosa and standard double Celeste) was the eye for detail – the blushing pink armchair in our room was a lovely touch We’d be happy to room-hop: there are only three after all How about the food and drink?Breakfast is the only meal served here – but what a breakfast It’s eaten perched on stools in the communal kitchen which is one of many touches that makes you feel more like a guest at a very discreet house party The apricot jam is made by James’ father from fruit in the garden of his place on the Argentario peninsula but pretty much everything on the table is either homemade or locally sourced – and it changes seasonally too Anything to say about the service?The service is Matthew and James: helpful full of good advice on restaurants and things to do There’s no room service but there are dozens of bars and restaurants in the surrounding streets – including a good upmarket trattoria that Matthew recommended Who comes here?When you’ve lived in New York and have the kind of contacts in the fashion media and art worlds that Matthew and James do a steady intake of a certain type of clientele is guaranteed The fun thing is that many of the international crew who come here have no idea where Orbetello is they just know that if these two have done something there We’re also guessing that there’s a small niche of people who love Orbetello already but have never found the right place to stay there – or who have actually never stayed there because there was never anywhere worth staying How does it fit into the neighbourhood?The walled town of Orbetello is the middle, bulging knuckle on an isthmus connecting rocky Argentario (once an island) to the Tuscan coast This used to be an easily defended maritime outpost under Spanish rule for centuries – something that comes through in a certain Balearic vibe And Casa Iris is right at the start of the main pedestrian street Going to Orbetello is making a statement: it’s rejecting the gated villas and the monied yawn of Argentario and choosing to be where people live a simpler kind of dolce vita Anything we missed?Did we mention this is a luxe B&B are two concierges who are even better than hotel concierges because they’re in tune with what most of their guests will like and enjoy as this is one of those rare Italian seaside destinations where it’s better to cycle to the beach than drive there’s a bike hire shop just around the corner Address: Casa Iris, Corso Italia, 3, 58015 Orbetello, ItalyTelephone: +39 39252 98010Wi-Fi: FreePrice: Doubles from £110Website: casairisorbetello.com the B&B is a 16th century palazzo owned by stylist James Valeri (he’s Italian) and his husband Matthew Adams (he’s American) which has been in Valeri’s family for a century or so they left New York’s East Village for Italy to turn the palazzo into the perfect B&B what could be better than a day spent - preferably out of season - on the seashore immersed in the sharp light of a clear day Here we are at the Feniglia reserve in Maremma The itinerary we propose – 30 km long but also practicable for partial sections and by bike – can be reached with the camper (parking in one of the available rest areas between Orbetello and Argentario) but also quickly from Rome with the train along the suggestive Tyrrhenian line that silently skims a sea lit with reflections From Orbetello station we begin to follow the pleasant road Via di Cameretta: a country road of serene homes and farms among rows of olive trees with Monte Argentario standing out on the horizon On the way we touch the pools of the Levante Lagoon where flamingos and gray herons are reflected in the still water where exclusive villas have been created in the beauty of the Mediterranean scrub the road begins to descend and from a steep staircase the smell of salt comes clear (if you are on a bike you can follow the road) In short we are at the waves of the ancient Portus Cosanus port infrastructure of the Roman city of Cosa or Torre Puccini for hosting the Tuscan composer in fact - prevented the seabed from silting up thanks to the movement of the tides While two climbers train on the walls of the crag we immediately see the narrow opening that gives access to the Spacco della Regina Flashlight in hand we enter thisnarrow and high natural fault in a twilight environment made even more magical and mysterious by the faint brightness that filters down from above among the branches of the trees In two places the belly of the mountain widens among the play of lights and shadows some pigeons flutter overhead cooing and then we exit into the grandeur of the third room A dark rock environment that looks like the bottom of a volcano: place of secret rites and magic of the Etruscan Lucumoni We regain the light and we now head to the top of the promontory where cyclopean walls preserve the ruins of the ancient city of Cosa among the olive trees with a view over a turquoise backdrop ranges from Monte Argentario to Tombolo della Feniglia in Orbetello and its lagoon It's all downhill now towards the Feniglia tombolo The path is long and a bit monotonous in the vast and silent pine forest but just let your thoughts go and time flies We move first to the large beach and then to the other side to skirt the lagoon herons and aromatic rosemary blooms that stand out against a Venetian view of Orbetello Legend has it that Caravaggio died of fever on this beach and a visit to the strange stele placed in memory is also in order The Tombolo ends and a cycle path now facilitates our arrival in Orbetello We walk through the streets of the seaside village and through Porta Nuova we access the forgotten Cruise Park where heroic aeronautical memories are collected in the Exedra of the Atlantic Travers This was in fact the site of the military seaplane base (destroyed by the retreating Germans) from which the transoceanic flights of 1930 and 1933 began planned and brought to success by Italo Balbo If today we cross the oceans almost without realizing it we also owe it to these daring and reckless people who dared what was thought to be impossible At this point the memory is completed a kilometer further on in the Orbetello Cemetery where in Atlantic box Italo Balbo and his crew rest who perished in that strange accident at Tobruk airport on 28 June 1940 those who took part in the flights with the Savoia-Marchetti S.55 aircraft Search More results... Thanks to the “Puntiamo i Riflettori” project, the fresco of the Settefinestre Roman villa in Maremma the Superintendence of Archaeology for Tuscany the FAI Maremma Group and the Tuscan Museum Pole will tell how the restoration work took place as part of the exhibition The FAI Maremma Group for Settefinestre: the recovery of a fresco Details of interiors between the Roman villa and the city of Cosa.On display in theformer Polveriera Guzman in Orbetello(Grosseto) from Sept the exhibition illustrates some of the details of the buildings’ interior decorations through a tour between the Polveriera Guzman in Orbetello and the Archaeological Museum of Cosa in Ansedonia In order to understand the wealth of evidence from this area some of the protagonists of archaeological research still in progress have been involved in the exhibition: the Universities of Florence and the Maremma Museum of Archaeology and Art in Grosseto Councillor for Culture of the Municipality of Orbetello "As Municipal Administration we strongly wanted and supported the initiative promoted by the Maremma FAI Group with the support of the Superintendence of Archaeology of Tuscany to restore the fresco of the Roman villa of Settefinestre we asked that the intervention become the occasion for the staging of an exhibition that would offer the resident population and visitors the opportunity to learn more about such an important find and the equally important restoration work carried out The initiative is in line with the willingness of the Municipal Administration to initiate a constructive dialogue with the Archaeological Superintendence on issues of particular importance for the sector of Culture of Orbetello and the entire provincial territory which first of all will focus on the strongly felt need to reopen the Archaeological Museum set up at the Guzman Powder Magazine for which the Municipality has been working for some time in the search for the necessary resources I therefore take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Superintendency of Archaeology of Tuscany which is always open to dialogue and constructive confrontation the FAI Maremma Group for the commitment and dedication spent in the realization of the project the Tuscan Museum Pole for the valuable collaboration in the realization of the event and for the professionalism shown and the excellent result achieved." The opening of the exhibition will be Saturday at the former Polveriera Guzman in Orbetello followed by the opening of the exhibition from 7 p.m where the recent restoration of a portion of the fresco of the House of Diana in Cosa will also be presented The hours of the temporary exhibition (Sept at the former Guzman Powder Mill in Orbetello will be Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m while on Saturdays and Sundays the exhibition will be open in the afternoons Pictured: the fresco of the Settefinestre villa in Maremma Sign up to receive the Gourmet Traveller newsletter and offers we choose to share with you straight to your inbox  By joining, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use Cathay Pacific has more than 70 flights a week from Sydney The two main towns on the Monte Argentario peninsula, Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole, are about 150 kilometres north of Rome, an easy two-hour drive. Or take the Pisa train from Rome and alight at Orbetello or Albinia.  La Locanda di Ansedonia This renovated farmhouse is close to beaches and the archaeological site of Cosa Ghiaccio Bosco This is a holiday farmstay with tastefully converted stables A five-star hotel with 50 rooms plus six cottages and a two-star restaurant Villa Cala del Bove This luxury villa was designed by architect Julio Lafuente and is located in a secluded cove on the Via Panoramica Hotel Torre di Cala Piccola The remains of a Spanish-built watchtower share the grounds with 51 rooms and a restaurant perched on a cliff above the sea This trattoria run by the Orbetello Pesca Lagunare fishermen’s cooperative is known for the freshness of the fish and the authenticity of the menu Ristorante Villa Ambra L’Oste Dispensa The menu at this ethically minded restaurant lists the source of primary ingredients and suppliers This harbourside fish restaurant has a beautiful summer terrace This WWF nature reserve is a birdwatchers’ paradise open between 1 September and 1 May. Check visiting times before arrival. Entrance at SS Aurelia km 147, Località Ceriolo, Albinia, +39 0564 898 829, [email protected] The point of sale for all the fish specialities of the Orbetello co-operative Antica Fattoria La Parrina This old farm has a shop selling its own produce from wine to vegetables long hours lounging and lazing round the uncleared table On the plastic cloth the remnants of a summer lunch: fish skeletons The tinkle of glasses and the chatter of lingering bathers Bagno Florida is a bathing establishment I discovered a long time ago on my first visit to this part of the Tuscan coast and this is an experience I’ve repeated but he always pours me a glass of his own wine from the nearby village of Fonteblanda the waves steam in the hazy afternoon sunshine Rearing up dramatically along the coast is Monte Argentario This massive rocky outcrop was given its name dazzled by the glint of the leaves in the olive groves on its rugged slopes Ulisse’s beach lies on the seaward side of the Tombolo della Giannella The water is shallow here – you stop touching the bottom almost half a mile out My first view of Monte Argentario was a blur of pastel grey on a pink background one morning at dawn at journey’s end after an overnight drive down from the north into what was unknown territory then I’d seen a classified ad under “Vacation Rentals” in a freesheet: “Argentario I found the place on the map: deepest south-west Tuscany almost on the border with Lazio; it appealed to me was on the top floor of an ugly cinder-block building by a railway line There was no lift and the sea was a barely discernible speck of blue in the distance a village originally built in the 1930s by Mussolini to house workers on a swamp reclamation scheme For centuries salt was extracted at the mouth of the nearby river Albegna a customs post built by the Spanish in the 16th century that gave the river – and later the town – its name Today the mainstay of the local economy is tourism and in summer Albinia fills with holidaymakers the grubby apartment and its grimy location became the base for a memorable stay And many of the places I discovered then I still frequent today The only town of any size in the area is Orbetello which stands magically on an isthmus in the middle of the lagoon It’s connected to Monte Argentario by a manmade causeway built by Grand Duke Leopold II of Tuscany in 1842 when the water gleams on either side of the road If Orbetello is the gateway to Monte Argentario the gateway to Orbetello is a monumental triple arch adorned with the coats of arms of Spanish rulers like additions to the Etruscan city walls and fortifications The Spanish had been preceded by the Etruscans Orbetello was an elegant resort in the 1920s and ’30s; today it’s a lively fishing port processing much of their catch to sell in their shop and serve at their lagoonside restaurant The smoking and preserving techniques they use were likely introduced by the Spanish involves marinating eels in barrels of boiling vinegar and pepper brushed with the red pepper sauce they call pimento and smoked over pine branches The fishermen also smoke fillets of umbrine and flathead mullet This last fish has always been vital to the city’s economy; in 1414 when Siena gave Orbetello its coat of arms depicting a lion the locals added a trident and a flathead mullet to reaffirm their seafaring traditions The fishermen make bottarga di Orbetello by extracting the mullet’s roe washing it and leaving it to dry for a week or so They recommend grating it over spaghetti with a splash of extra-virgin olive oil a squeeze of lemon and a twist of black pepper In the old days local fishwives used to make bottarga in their cottages; today it’s the cooperative’s best-selling product Not that the labours of the fishermen of Orbetello end here for guided tours of the lagoon and its lavorieri two canals that allow seawater to run in and where the mullet congregate oregano – it’s populated by foxes found only here and in the Camargue in France spoonbill and great white heron stop off in the reserve also a popular breeding for the Arctic and little terns A provincial road runs down the middle of the Tombolo della Giannella to Monte Argentario past pine woods An osteria of note is Ristorante Villa Ambra L’Oste Dispensa where Stefano Sorci and his wife Francesca serve local recipes with fish supplied by the Orbetello cooperative’s fishermen “Sometimes they tell me about the dishes cooked on boats in days gone by,” Sorci says “I collect these forgotten recipes and then recreate them in my kitchen.” “The recipe was given to me by a dear friend whose grandfather had handed it down to him,” says Sorci The Tombolo della Giannella road leads on to Porto Santo Stefano and two harbours – the first is the main boarding point for ferries to the islands of Giglio and Giannutri the second is for private yachts and racing boats The late American yacht designer Olin James Stephens II designer of six America’s Cup race-winners loved the place and local craftsmen often repaired his boats He was made an honorary citizen of Monte Argentario at Porto Santo Stefano in 2004 Other recipients of the honour have been Queen Juliana of the Netherlands who owned the 24-room Villa Elefante Felice nearby Nobel Prize-winning Russian nuclear physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov and Mother Teresa who came to deliver her acceptance speech in 1988 the scenic road that encircles Monte Argentario the hills dense with the villas of moneyed Romans and Florentines I was once invited to dinner on the lawn of one We dined suspended between the sea and the stars I was the guest of the son of a Roman banker the fiancé of a friend of a friend in Turin I was asked to pay for my share of the meal Penny-pinching is sometimes the way of the wealthy is why they’re wealthy in the first place Past coves of white sand and turquoise water is the legendary five-star resort hotel Il Pellicano: a cluster of cottages on a woodland cliff that plunges It was opened by the British aviator Michael Graham and his wife Patricia in 1965 from Hollywood to Carnaby Street to Cinecittà Ted Kennedy – they and many more are immortalised in the period photos that plaster the walls of the hotel bar and corridors “If Thoreau could have stayed at one of the cottages in the grounds of Il Pellicano,” writes British novelist Will Self “the one at Walden would have remained without a tenant forever.” This is a quote from his introduction to a coffee-table book published last year Eating at Hotel Il Pellicano (Violette Editions) the executive chef at the hotel’s two-star restaurant each dedicated – more name-dropping here – to an illustrious guest: Missoni but the cooking style and influences of Guida a native of Puglia who has worked in the kitchens of Pierre Gagnaire in Paris and Annie Féolde at the Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence His spring menu last year offered sautéed vegetables served with Il Pellicano’s garden herbs and flowers karkadé-marinated onion and Venus clams; hake with oysters and shiso sauce; roasted blue lobster with Marsala barberry and smoked potatoes; tempura of scampi and monkfish; tartare of anchovies with sweet and sour sauce; sweetbread and cinnamon with marinated mashed carrots in citrus juices – and those were only the antipasti At the end of this anticlockwise tour round the Via Panoramica after more beaches below and old watchtowers above smaller and more historical than Porto Santo Stefano but otherwise it’s a laid-back place the former Spanish presence takes the form of two 16th-century quayside fortresses In between them are fish restaurants with the usual names: La Lampara Frequent visitors in the early postwar years were the Italian novelist Alberto Moravia and Americans such as composer Samuel Barber In 1960 he built a villa and planted eucalyptus his friend the American author Irwin Shaw paid him a visit: “I had met Alan Moorehead during the Blitz in London in the winter of 1944… As we sat on the terrace… we ate the good meal looked at the trail of the moon on the sea below and secretly congratulated ourselves that we were together in such a place so many years after the bombs Moorehead was also friend and mentor to another Australian In 1964 Moorehead persuaded the penniless young art critic to seek his fortune in Europe; it was Moorehead who put him up in his Porto Ercole villa later the same year “A huge living postcard” is how Hughes described the town which became his base for forays around Tuscany on a Vespa At last he was seeing all the art he had only ever known through photographs One painter he fell in love with was Caravaggio who died near Porto Ercole in the summer of 1610 He’s believed to have been struck down by malarial fever on the beach south of the town “There was art before him and art after him,” wrote Hughes Porto Ercole has a long connection with cinema while shooting Cleopatra at Cinecittà in Rome Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor slipped away here for what Burton describes in his diaries as “a clandestine weekend” “We gambolled like children,” he wrote “scrambling down the rocks to the sea and enjoying ourselves as if it was the last holiday.” The town itself has also been a popular location for films as American author John Cheever discovered to his dismay in the 1950s the 16th-century fortress that overlooks the town “When we arrived we found that the signorina had rented the place out as a movie set There were two light generators in our yard and a company of about 45 people wandering around eating sandwiches and relieving themselves.” In 1954 Mario Camerini shot Ulysses starring Kirk Douglas on the beaches and cliffs of Monte Argentario and in 1999 Anthony Minghella set many scenes of The Talented Mr Ripley here The Tombolo della Feniglia is less developed than Giannella It’s a place of sand dunes and pine woods Ansedonia is a beach resort with a distinguished past said to have been abandoned by its population following an invasion by rats defence towers and some buildings with mosaics and wall paintings are still visible and visitable The beaches to the south are popular among left-wing politicians nicknamed the “Little Athens” for its historical and artistic importance during the Italian Renaissance used to spend his summer holidays at the establishment called L’Ultima Spiaggia After which all roads really do lead to Rome The ANPI of Grosseto contested for an event despite the ban of the Municipality A commemorative event on April 25 turned into a legal dispute for the ANPI (National Association of Italian Partisans) of Grosseto The association was fined 566 euros by the Orbetello municipal police for occupying public land after it organized an initiative despite a ban from the municipal administration had revoked the authorization for the occupation of the Parco delle Crociere but the Anpi decided to proceed with the event anyway The decision by Anpi to continue with the initiative has sparked a heated debate among the association's supporters and local authorities Anpi members argue that April 25 represents a fundamental date in Italian history commemorating the liberation from Nazi-fascism the Municipality of Orbetello has justified the revocation of the authorization as a necessary measure to guarantee safety and compliance with regulations on public land but a symbol of a broader tension between institutions and historical associations announced that the association is considering filing an appeal with the TAR (Regional Administrative Court) This step could lead to a further escalation of the controversy with the ANPI trying to defend its right to commemorate significant historical events The issue raises questions about freedom of association and the management of public spaces issues that could have repercussions in other Italian locations Notizie.it is a newspaper registered with the Court of Milan n.68 on 01/03/2018 Impara come descrivere lo scopo dell'immagine (si apre in una nuova scheda) Lascia vuoto se l'immagine è puramente decorativa Heavy rains have caused extensive damage and isolated many people in the Grosseto area The recent heavy rainfall has brought the territory of Orbetello Last night's storms caused extensive flooding making many roads impassable and isolating many people in their homes with the help of amphibious vehicles of the firefighters The consequences of the bad weather are not limited to homes Hundreds of hectares of farmland have been flooded seriously compromising the production of cereals and vegetables dragging water and mud onto cultivated fields The images of flooded warehouses and lower floors of houses tell of a dramatic situation for local farmers The city council has approved an allocation of 80.000 euros for emergency works Deputy Mayor Chiara Piccini and Civil Protection delegate Roberto Berardi are coordinating the rescue operations Law enforcement and volunteers have been mobilized to monitor the situation of rivers and streams The situation is further complicated by landslides and mudslides The Panoramica dell'Argentario has been blocked in the Cala Grande area while the Lago San Floriano foothill road has been flooded teams of volunteers are monitoring the Strada Regionale 74 Local authorities are on alert and continue to work to ensure the safety of citizens and restore normality