Maremma and Monte Argentario

main international gateway for the southern Maremma

low cost carriers and private aviation

good option for the northern Maremma

practical when combining with Florence or Siena

military base used by private and general aviation only, with no scheduled flights

An elegant harbour village guarded by Spanish fortresses, with a lively marina and the long beach of Feniglia nearby.

Argentario's larger port town, with seafood restaurants, the ferry to Giglio and a busy evening passeggiata.

A walled hilltop village with chic summer beaches below, long favoured by Rome's intellectual and political circles.

A medieval hilltop borgo above a fishing harbour, with clear water and beaches backed by pine woods.

Rolling vineyards and olive groves of the Morellino area, peaceful and well placed for both coast and hot springs.

Dramatic villages built on volcanic cliffs, with Etruscan roads cut deep into the rock.

Positions are approximate: the exact address is shared once your stay is confirmed.

A shimmering lagoon between two sandbars, home to a WWF reserve where flamingos and herons gather. The old town of Orbetello sits on a narrow spit in the middle.

A partly unpaved road circles the promontory, revealing coves, watchtowers and views to Giglio and Giannutri. Explore it by car, e bike or from the sea.

Star shaped Spanish fortifications watch over the harbour where Caravaggio died in 1610. The old town climbs steeply above the marina.

A coastal park of pinewoods, wild beaches and the Uccellina hills, entered from Alberese. Maremma cattle with long lyre shaped horns graze beside the butteri, the region's cowboys.

Warm sulphurous water tumbles over travertine terraces at the Cascate del Mulino, open to all. A luxury spa resort nearby uses the same spring.

A town that seems to grow out of its tufa cliff, with a historic Jewish quarter and synagogue that earned it the name Little Jerusalem.

Niki de Saint Phalle's sculpture garden of giant mosaic figures inspired by the tarot. It opens in the afternoon from April to mid October, by online ticket only.

A granite island of clear water, terraced vineyards and a fortified hilltop village. Ferries cross from Porto Santo Stefano in just over an hour.

Swim in coves that can only be reached from the sea and lunch on board before heading to Giglio or Giannutri.

Ride across the Maremma plains with the local cowboys, or watch them herd cattle on horseback.

Walk the deep sunken roads carved by the Etruscans between Pitigliano, Sovana and Sorano.

Arrive at the Cascate del Mulino early to enjoy the warm pools before the crowds.

Visit wineries around Scansano for Sangiovese grown in the warm southern hills.

The protected waters of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park offer some of the clearest diving in the Tyrrhenian.

About six kilometres of sand backed by a protected pine forest, closed to cars and reached on foot or by bicycle.

A pebbly cove below a watchtower on Argentario's western side, reached by a steep path or by boat.

A crescent of fine sand in a protected bay north of Castiglione della Pescaia, named for the sound the sand makes underfoot.

An untouched beach inside the Parco della Maremma, scattered with driftwood sculptures.

The northern sandbar of the lagoon, with long sandy beaches and gentle water for children.

Wide sandy shores below the dunes, with a few relaxed beach clubs and open stretches.

What to eat

What to drink

Beaches, clear water and the hilltop village of Giglio Castello.

Tufa towns, Etruscan tombs and sunken roads.

Natural thermal pools and a world famous spa.

A medieval mining town with one of Tuscany's finest cathedral squares.

Painted Etruscan tombs, a UNESCO site, just across the border in Lazio.

Wildflowers cover the plains and the Parco della Maremma is ideal for walking. The sea is still cool, but the beaches are empty.

Long beach days, boat trips and harbour dinners define June to August. In the hottest weeks some park trails may be restricted to guided visits because of fire risk.

Warm sea well into September, harvest in the Morellino vineyards and wild boar season in the kitchens. October is quiet and golden.

Mild on the coast, with hot springs at their most inviting. Many beach restaurants and some hotels close until spring.