All of the Argentario peninsula is lovely, with small sandy beaches in the north around Porto Santo Stefano, the wild scenic coastline and blue water of the west dotted with secluded villas, and the gorgeous little rocky coves in the south around Porto Ercole and its striking medieval fortresses.

One of our favorite places is Le Viste, opposite the tiny islet of Isolotto, just up and out of Porto Ercole on the Strada Panoramico. There’s paid parking places on the road if you don’t find a free place, and a short walk down through the rich Mediterranean vegetation to the cove. There’s a fancy cafe here on the water’s edge, with free showers and bathrooms. The cove itself is rocky but pretty, and the water is fantastic.