From Orbetello to Porto Santo Stefano - A Southern Tuscany Adventure

Hello my friends. We embarked on a three-day adventure in southern Tuscany and I wanted to bring you along with me. Our journey began in the town of Orbetello. Here we got to see the famous mill known as the Spanish Millor Mulino Spagnolo, situated right on the water. We strolled around the town of Orbetello a bit and then set off to explore the peninsula called Monte Argentario. This area marks the southernmost tip of Tuscany.

This town is charming and I find it so inspiring. However, since I’m on vacation, I didn’t read much about Orbetello beforehand. Still I learned that this town has been known since ancient times and is home to about 14000 people. By Italian standards, that’s not such a small town. It’s located on a peninsula connected by a narrow strip of land. Everything here looks so different and intriguing. What struck me most was how the way people speak here is completely different from Central Tuscany. There’s no trace of the Florentine dialect. Instead, they speak with an accent and melody that’s closer to the Roman dialect.

We explored Orbetello and really enjoyed it. You can easily walk around the town and take it all in. Although it was lunchtime, we didn’t eat anywhere because we had big plans for dinner. Afterward we headed to Porto Ercole, another small town on the Monte Argentario peninsula.

When we arrived in Porto Ercole, we made our way to the harbor right by the sea. Our plan was to climb up to the old part of the town. There are two different staircases here and we couldn’t figure out which one to take. If you go to the right, you end up at someone’s house. If you go to the left, it’s unclear where it leads. But we found our way by trial and error. Oh my, this place is breathtaking.

There was a sign here that said, One of the most beautiful Borghi in Italy. You probably know what a Borgo is, but if you don’t, let me briefly explain: A Borgo typically refers to a small village or town built on a hill and surrounded by walls. Since the Middle Ages people in Italy have lived in these types of settlements. There’s also a portrait of a very famous Italian painter here. Who could it be? Of course, it’s Caravaggio. He was a complex character with an interesting life. He also met his end here, on the shores of Porto Ercole.

There was some construction work going on here. But the place still looked amazing. The Renaissance-era facades and the views are enchanting. We climbed up the old stone steps. There’s a warning to be careful, but that didn’t stop me. The view was absolutely breathtaking.

There are a few theories about the name Monte Argentario, which means Silver Mountain. Some believe it’s because silver was once mined here. But a more romantic theory suggests that sailors saw the rocks shimmering like silver. I prefer the romantic version because I’m a very romantic person.

We arrived at a hotel in Porto Santo Stefano. Due to parking issues, the hotel arranged for a private vehicle to pick us up and drop us off. Our room had a sea view and a balcony. It was a three-star hotel, but what mattered most was the time we spent here and the view. After resting for a bit we set out to explore Porto Santo Stefano.

The restaurant we chose for dinner was famous for its seafood. The dishes here are incredibly fresh because the fishermen go out to sea daily and bring back their catch. It wasn’t a crowded place. We finished our meal around 8:30 pm, but the restaurant was still empty. People in Italy generally eat late. After an early dinner we took a stroll along the seaside, enjoying the view. We ended the day with the peaceful and romantic atmosphere of Porto Santo Stefano.

See you on the next adventure, my friends.