Argentario

Monte Argentario is a comune (municipality) and a peninsula in the Province of Grosseto in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 150 km south of Florence and about 35 km south of Grosseto. The peninsula is connected with the mainland by three dams which form two lagoons, the Laguna di Ponente on the west side and the Laguna di Levante on the east side of the middle dam. The two main villages on Monte Argentario are Porto Santo Stefano, at north, and Porto Ercole.

The panoramic road Strada panoramica starting at Porto Santo Stefano allows splendid views on the steep coast and the Tuscan Archipelago. Monte Argentario borders the comune of Orbetello, which is located on the middle dam between the two lagoons.

Monte Argentario is a promontory stretching towards the Tyrrhenian Sea in correspondence of the two southernmost islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, Giglio and Giannutri. The promontory was also an island in past times,, but the sea currents and the Albegna river joined it with the mainland through two so-called tomboli (stretches of land), The Tombolo of Giannella and the Tombolo of the Feniglia.

The highest peak of Monte Argentario is the Punta Telegrafo (635 m). The landscape and the coast are mainly rocky; numerous harbors, usually with rock beaches, are present. The municipal seat is in the northern settlement, Porto Santo Stefano.

Monte Argentario is among the most famous spots in the Maremma and all of Tuscany. Its natural beauty and the facilities provided have made it a major tourist attraction. The Promontory’s coast has rocky cliffs covered by Mediterranean scrub altenating with olive groves and vineyards which produce excellent wine such as Ansonica and Riminese. It was originally an island called Insula Matidiae because it belonged to Trajan’s niece, Matidia. As a result of sand drift, it eventually became connected to the Tyrrenian coast by two sand bars, the Tombolo della Feniglia to the south and the Tombolo della Giannella to the north. It was called Promontorio Cosano for the Roman colony of 273 B.C., Cosa. The name Argentario was first mentioned with the name in a poem “De reditu” by Rutilio Namaziano (5th century A.D.). The name may derive from the lustre of the micaceous rock or from the position as bankers held by the Roman family of the Domizi Enobardi who owned the promontory. After a long period of abandon, both the Pisans and the Sienese fortified it to defend the coast from Saracen raids. Later Spain incorporated both Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano into its fortification plan, creating the Stato dei Presidi (Garrison State).