The region

A short guide to the beauty of the maremma.

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Casa Capalbio has been our family summer home for many years, where we spent our vacations as children, where we grew up, and where we now bring our own families. Because of this we are extremely proud of it, its family history, and its importance to us.

We’ve been coming to Capalbio for years, and we want you to love it as much as we do. You obviously have a fairly good idea of why you’re coming, but the following introductory guide is just a few of the things that we personally feel are quite lovely about the region.

If you have any questions before you decide to book, about the region in general or Capalbio itself, please don’t hestitate to contact us.

Orbetello, Argentario, and Grosseto

Orbetello has many restaurants, bars, and shops, and is built on a narrow peninsula in the middle of the lagoon joining the promontory of Argentario with the mainland. Argentario has striking coastlines and the beautiful towns of Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano. Grosseto has many beautiful medieval and renaissance era churches and a number of palaces, monuments, and public squares.

Feneglia, Ansedonia, and Chiarone

The three beaches that we recommend and are closest are the beaches of Chiarone, Ansedonia, and Feniglia. All three have accessible parking, generous free beaches, lovely water, fine sand, and excellent cafes and kiosks with free or paying showers and umbrella and sunbed hire. Chiarone is a left turn on the highway and a few minutes drive down to the Chiarone turnoff. Ansedonia and Feniglia are a right turn towards Orbetello and a short drive. Ansedonia beach is at the first Ansedonia exit, Feniglia is the second.

East to Saturnia and Bolsena

East to Lago di Bolsena are the beautiful ancient towns of Pitigliano and Sorano, both rich in Etruscan, Roman and medieval history. The famous hot water springs of Terme di Saturnia are clean and free, and feature shallow waterfalls, rock pools, and mud baths. Bolsena is a gorgeous medieval village overlooking Lago di Bolsena, and features a beautiful esplanade and beach on the lake shore.

South to Rome

The medieval walled towns of Tarquinia and Tuscania are well worth visiting, as are the ancient Etruscan ruins and subterranean tombs of Vulci, though many of its frescos and treasures are now in museums in Rome and elsewhere. The port town of Civitavecchia is a lively and modern commercial center, though the Etruscan and Roman ruins and Forte Michelangelo are interesting.

North to Siena

The beautiful village of Bagno Vignoni is in the Val d’Orcia valley on the road north to Siena, and is famous for its subterranean thermal springs and spa and 16th Century public bath in the main square. Siena is a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its extraordinary Gothic cathedral, medieval center, museums, art, and the ‘palio’ horse race held twice a year held in the Piazza del Campo.

Up the coast

North of Orbetello is the small port town of Talamone, which is perched on a promontory on the southern tip of the Maremma nature reserve. The rocky coastline has many lovely small inlets and coves for swimming. Further north is Castiglione della Pescaia, which features a beautiful medieval hilltop fortress, the nearby nature reserve of Diaccia Botrona, and the Etruscan ruins of Vetulonia.

National parks and forests

Further inland, north of Bolsena, is the mountain region and national park of Monte Amiata, featuring a rich forest and woodland area, the volcano of Amiata itself, and a number of beautiful villages such as Castel del Piano, Bagnore, Santa Fiora, and Abbadia San Salvatore. Just north of Orbetello is the Maremma Regional Park, which features pine woods, marshlands, ancient olive groves, and pristine beaches. There are numerous walking and trekking routes, and bicycles for hire in the nearby town of Alberese.

For children

There is a water park for children at Acquafelix, north of Civitavecchia, sailing boat hire at the Marina on the lagoon of Orbetello, and horseback riding at a number of facilities and clubs along the road north of Orbetello. On the beach at Chiarone there is kitesurfing, and bike rental in Feniglia at the southern entrance to the nature reserve, and many other activities throughout the region.

Want to learn more?

Read our Guidebook to the Maremma

Browse or search our Guidebook to Capalbio and the Maremma region of southern Tuscany, which is a regular series of posts about things to do and see, the remarkable history, cultural highlights, and fascinating and interesting facts.

Guidebook