The Costa d’Argento is the marvelous part of the Tuscan coastline south of Grosseto. It is bordered by the Uccellina Hills and Lake Burano, both splendid and unique natural environments. The State Highway Aurelia runs lengthwise, following the route of the original Roman road from the warm, health-giving source of the Osa as far as the foot of the hill with the magical Tarot Garden. Here and there it is crossed by roads leading to the hills or the sea. The ancient towns of Montiano, Magliano and Capalbio, closed within solid city walls, once guarded the coastline and coutryside from their perches on high. Today these towns are the custodians of all those past rituals and traditions that give quality to life. Below, where the Albenga river runs to the sea and near the lone tower to the west of the marina, is Albinia. It is a modern center offering services for a vast area of camping sites, tourist villages and farm holiday establishments at the crossroads between the coast and Saturnia and the Tufo. Orbetello overlooks the flourishing lagoon, teeming with fish and birds. Every corner inside the massive city walls calls forth memories of its past: an Etruscan and Roman city, a rich medieval abbey, and the unconquered capital of the Spanish Presidios. And more recently, as the base for legendary flights that opened the Atlantic skies to man. The Argentario, that gives its name to this section of coast, is a green mountain reaching up from the waves. It was once an island and then became connected to the mainland by way of the tombolos of Feniglia and Giannella. It is now a seaside vacation paradise. Along with Talamone, that faces it to the north, the Argentario is the preferred spot for nautical tourism. It is possible to go to sea in any season from the fishing villages of Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole, taking routes followed by different peoples and civilizaions from time immemorial. In these towns, traditional shipyards and boat-builders still pass down the noble art of building wooden boats. Two small islands stand off the coast. The larger, the Island of Giglio, has a wild granite coast, broken here and there by cultivated terraces. The smaller, the Island of Giannutri, was dedicated the moon in ancient times and an Imperial Roman villa is said to hold the secret of a mysterious love story.
The dense Mediterranean scrub rises from sheer cliffs hiding the charming coves of the Argentario from view and reaches the Hermitage of the Passionists and the very top of the summit where the eye sweeps from the Amiata to the mountains of Lazio and finally to the distant silhouettes of Montecristo, Elba and Corsica.
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| The Towns and Geographical areas of the Maremma |
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Golf
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The Maremma is one of the most beautiful and magical sites in Tuscany. When traversing it the variety of its territory has a strong impact on the traveller; a territory never . . .
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Touring by bicycle
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The Maremma with its wide expanse and astonishing manifold is the ideal goal for the bicycle lovers. From its gentle hilly slopes to the wide cultivated fields of its flats . . .
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Diving
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The Maremma sea has always been one of the most fascinating element of the region, both for its natural beauties and the Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago Toscano . . .
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Sail
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Anyone sailing here between the Gulf of Follonica and the Argentario will fall in love with the area . . .
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