Castiglione della Pescaia is one of the most beautiful villages in Tuscany and enjoys a privileged position on the coast between large sandy beaches preceded by beautiful pine forests.
The medieval historic centre is located on a hill overlooking the coast, with its ancient fortress that watches over the sea from its height.
Presentation and tour
Castiglione was a fishing village that still keeps an activity, where the picturesque port-canal is animated by the pleasure craft and the fishing.
The historic centre and its steep streets are protected by a wall where culminates the characteristic bell tower of San Giovanni Battista. This 16th century church was built in a former military depot and its bell tower results from the transformation of a tower of the enclosure in 1900. It preserves the remains of Saint Guillaume de Malavalle.
The Castle of Castiglione dates back to the 15th century, located on a promontory west of the town, from where the view embraces the coast up to Mount Argentario with islands of the Tuscan archipelago. The castle is private but you can walk a part of the path.
Among the ancient palaces of the village, we can see the Centurioni Palace which is one of the oldest buildings in the village, or the Camaiori Palace from the 15th century.
The cemetery of Castiglione hosts the tomb of Italo Calvino, famous Italian writer.
Below the old village are the shops and the most modern part of Castiglione, along the canal and the beach.
To the east of Castiglione was Lake Prile, which has dried up over time and now is an important wetland, now the Natural Reserve of Diaccia Botrona, essential for many species of waterfowl, including Flamingos, herons, geese, falcons, ducks, etc. These marshes were developed by the Grand Dukes of Lorraine, who also built the Casa Rossa Ximenes in the 18th century with today its multimedia museum. On the edge of the reserve, the remains of the Benedictine abbey of San Pancrazio al Fango crown a hill, once the island Clodia that emerged from the lake where Publius Clodius Pulcro built a Roman villa in the 1st century BC.
Inland, the lush Mount Petriccio stands at 340 metres above sea level and offers a stunning view of the coast.
To the south, long beaches lined with pine trees follow each other until Marina di Grosseto with the beautiful Pineta del Tombolo.
20 km inland, Vetulonia is an archaeological site of important Etruscan city.
Activities in the region
Gallery
Where is Castiglione della Pescaia, map
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Links and sources
- General informations: en.wikipedia.org
- Official tourist website: visitcastiglionedellapescaia.it
- Tourist portal and blogs : www.tuttomaremma.com, www.visittuscany.com
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