The ancient Etruscan town of Cosa and the ruins of the temples at the Arx sit high on the narrow rocky promontory above Ansedonia on the coast just south of Feneglia and Orbetello. It was taken by the Romans in 273 BC and fortified as an important lookout position over Orbetello and the coast to the south, but never really prospered and was abandoned by the 5th century, in part because of being repeatedly sacked by pirates, an earthquake, and a plague of mice!

Modern Ansedonia is interesting because it’s not really a “town” and doesn’t have the usual town square of main street. Before the 1950’s it was only the ruins of Cosa and the towers of Pancrazio, Biagio and Puccini overlooking the sea, but today it is an exclusive community of secluded villas hidden behind gates and lush Mediterranean vegetation, owned by celebrities, politicians, businessmen, and wealthy intellectuals.