| Page Views: 3,839 Last Visit to Orbetello: September, 2007 | Orbetello - Monte Argentario by breughel - last update: Oct 19, 2007 |
The entry to the peninsula of the Monte Argentario | Argentario peninsula on the Tyrrhenian coast. |
Orbetello is the entry to the peninsula of the Monte Argentario about 160 Km north of Rome on the Tyrrhenian coast. The mountainous promontory is 635 m high and has high and rocky coastlines. Monte Argentario was probably an island which became linked to the main land by strips of sand forming a laguna. The town of Orbetello is located on the middle strip.
Thanks to its position, at the centre of the coast of Tyrrhenian Sea, Monte Argentario was a safe place for the navigators. There are two ports: Porto Santo Stefano of the north side and Porto Ercole on the south side. Because of its strategic position, watch towers were built under the Republic of Siena to help prevent raids by the Saracen pirates. Under the Spanish rule (16th - 17 th c.) the promontory of Argentario became the most important strong hold in all Tuscany. Orbetello, Porto Ercole, Porto Santo Stefano and Talamone were members of the Stato dei Presidi (State of Royal Garrisons of Spain).
The Mediterranean vegetation (dwarf palm, maritime pine, olive trees, vineyards, orchards) of the Monte Argentario is very nice as well as the two ports of Santo Stefano and Ercole. Orbetello is less attractive.
Nowadays Monte Argentario is a place of tourism, essentially Italian tourism. Many Romans have here vacation residences going from luxury villas, apartments to small bungalows. There are many camping's and well developed marinas.
Actually there are not many hotels; international tourism is less developed here than on the Ligurian or Adriatic coasts.
The area is very crowded in summer and on week-ends, I would advise to visit in low season. |
| Map of Orbetello and Argentario peninsula. |
|  | |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
breughel's Orbetello Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 4 - Photos: 5 | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers
Tips: 1 | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 Comments for breughel about Orbetello | | | | |
icunme Tue Aug 4, 2009 09:18 UTC
Sold! I like this roadmap for a trip all the way down to the Amalfi area. Grazie, Carol | Nemorino Fri Jul 4, 2008 08:37 UTC
Good that they only allow pedestrians and bicycles in the Feniglia. This looks like a fascinating area with lots of history, but those zanzaras sound awful. I hadn't realized they still had malaria here up to about 1955. | nicolaitan Wed Mar 5, 2008 18:32 UTC
Nice stuff - friends with whom we would never travel spent a week at a luxe resort in P. Ercole and never left the resort. Stupid. This place looks very interesting indeed. N. | scottishvisitor Sun Nov 4, 2007 12:00 UTC
Lovely old mill & the lagoon looks so peaceful = enjoyed the read |
|
|
email me
add as friend
