“If it belonged to me, I would make it the most beautiful gem in my crown”. This was how Pietro Leopoldo, the “illuminated sovereign” grand duke of Tuscany (1765-1790), defined Argentario from the hills of the Maremma, observing it through his own personal telescope.
The Argentario promontory is a unique place: an island “hooked” onto the coasts of the Maremma Tuscany thanks to two natural sand spits (Giannella and Feniglia) and an artificial dam that connects it to the isthmus on which Orbetello is located in the middle of the lagoon with the same name.
But it is also thanks to the favourable climate and pristine waters that surround it that Argentario is one of the most attractive and most loved places for those wishing to enjoy the sea in its various forms. You can also do some scuba dives to explore the colourful underwater life of the sea beds rich in shells and corals; you may prefer sailing on the crest of the wave and hiring a windsurf board, a sailing boat, motor boat, or simply taking the ferry to make a trip to the island of Giglio and Giannutri or even a cruise through the Archipelago Marine Park.
The region to be discovered is rich in history and wonders: Porto S. Stefano, that is located just 2 km from the hotel, is still a village where you can breathe in the maritime atmosphere of the boats returning in the evening from days out fishing or where you can stroll along the promenade designed by Giugiaro. And then there’s the Spanish fortress, built by the Iberians between the end of the Sixteenth Century and the beginning of the Seventeenth Century: a complex of great historical and artistic interest well worth a visit. This fortress hosts the permanent exhibition of “Shipwrights”, dedicated to craftsmen builders of ships and fishing boats, as well as the exhibition of the “Submerged Memories”, based on the discoveries in the waters around Monte Argentario. On the fishermen’s seafront, instead, is the Marine Biology Educational Centre with the annexed Mediterranean Aquarium of the Costa d’Argento.
Then there is Porto Ercole (8 km away) which is another fishing village of Argentario, dominated by ancient forts (Forte Filippo, La Rocca, Forte Stella), Cala Galera, modern tourist port, and the Panoramic road offering an opportunity to admire the richness and uniqueness of the coastal landscape and where you can enjoy impressive sunsets.
