The Maremma National Park is a short drive north of Orbetello. It’s an extraordinarily beautiful area with a wide and varied range of ecosystems including forests, pine woods, wetlands, and untouched coastland and beaches. Start at the visitors center at Alberese, from here it’s possible to drive straight through to the beautiful pristine beach at Collelungo.

The park has miles of walking trails and itineraries that explore the park, visiting the old watchtowers, caves, and religious sites, including the striking Bella Marsilia tower. In 1500, the beautiful daughter of the rich Marsili family was kidnapped from the castle here by the pirate Barbarossa and sold to Sultan Suleiman in Costantinopole. She became renown as the most beautiful and intelligent of his harem wives, bore him children, but never returned. Legend says you can see her striking red hair in the sunset from at the top of the tower.