Porto Ercole
By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 30 December 2023
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The seaside town of Porto Ercole is situated in the region of Tuscany, on the Ligurian Sea and within the Province of Grosseto.
It has a population of around 3,000 residents while the main highlights include the beach and the old town, the centro storico. The town belongs to the Comune of Monte Argentario, the peninsula which is connected to the Tuscan mainland. |
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Caravaggio's old haunt
Porto Ercole is synonymous with the Italian artist Caravaggio who died in the town on 18th July 1610. The town also included in the list of Borghi Più Belli d'Italia (most beautiful villages in Italy).
Places of interest nearby include the port town of Porto Santo Stefano from where you can catch ferries to the islands of Giglio and Giannutri which both belong to the island group and national park known as the Tuscan Archipelago.
Places of interest nearby include the port town of Porto Santo Stefano from where you can catch ferries to the islands of Giglio and Giannutri which both belong to the island group and national park known as the Tuscan Archipelago.
Monte Argentario
The Monte Argentario peninsula to which Porto Ercole belongs, is attached to the mainland via three narrow strips of land, two of which are roads and the third, a beach.
Occupying that middle section of land is the town of Orbetello, at the centre of the lagoon of the same name: Laguna di Orbetello, which is also a nature reserve. Slightly further afield and on the mainland south of Orbetello is the beach resort of Ansedonia, while inland there's another of the borghi più belli d'Italia, the hill town of Capalbio.
Occupying that middle section of land is the town of Orbetello, at the centre of the lagoon of the same name: Laguna di Orbetello, which is also a nature reserve. Slightly further afield and on the mainland south of Orbetello is the beach resort of Ansedonia, while inland there's another of the borghi più belli d'Italia, the hill town of Capalbio.
The Maremma
The whole area that includes Porto Ercole, Monte Argentario and the mainland within the province of Grosseto is known as the Maremma.
Typically described as a coastal region, the Maremma includes large tracts of hinterland, with a radius of between 75 and 130 kilometres from Monte Argentario, north-east and inland to Monte Amiata, north along the coast to Cecina, and south-east down the coast to the city of Civitavecchia in the Lazio region.
The area to the south of Monte Argentario is particularly well-known for its Etruscan heritage and includes the archaeological site of Vulci (46 km east of Porto Ercole), and the historic town of Tuscania (70 km east of Porto Ercole).
Typically described as a coastal region, the Maremma includes large tracts of hinterland, with a radius of between 75 and 130 kilometres from Monte Argentario, north-east and inland to Monte Amiata, north along the coast to Cecina, and south-east down the coast to the city of Civitavecchia in the Lazio region.
The area to the south of Monte Argentario is particularly well-known for its Etruscan heritage and includes the archaeological site of Vulci (46 km east of Porto Ercole), and the historic town of Tuscania (70 km east of Porto Ercole).
Porto Ercole - frazione di Monte Argentario
Comune: Monte Argentario
Province: Grosseto Region: Tuscany Highlights: port, old town Close by: Porto Santo Stefano, Orbetello, Ansedonia, Capalbio Recommended hotel: Il Pellicano |
One of I Borghi più belli d'Italia (Italy's Most Beautiful Villages)
Listing headline: L'Approdo di Caravaggio (The Berth of Caravaggio)
Listing headline: L'Approdo di Caravaggio (The Berth of Caravaggio)