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The windmill on the lagoon of Orbetello
     
   


The lagoon of Orbetello
 
   
Once upon a time, Tuscany's Mount Argentario was an island. Now this rock is joined to the coast by way of three thin strips of land. Two of these, the Tombolo della Feniglia and the Tombolo della Giannella have formed naturally over the centuries, the other, the Orbetello lagoon dam (an artificial embankment serving as bridge) was constructed by man in 1840. Orbetello is a pleasant town of Tuscan Maremma, home to a number of noteworthy historic buildings. One of these is the Polveriera Guzman, edifice which now houses the town's Archaeological Museum. Then there is the renaissance style Palazzo del Podestà, the Gothic cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, built on the ruins of an ancient Etruscan-Roman temple, and the Ciclopiche walls, erected in the 5th century B.C by the Etruscans.

The main attraction of Orbetello is the unique ecosystem created by those three tongues of sand which link the town with Mount Argentario. In the two coastal lagoons that have formed on either side of Orbetello, dozens of fish and bird species have found their natural habitat, including great colonies of pink flamingoes.

Close by, between the slopes of Mount Argentario and the Tyrrhenian coast, lie the famous bathing resorts of Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole. The islands of Giglio and Giannutri are just a short boat ride away. Ideal place where to practice a whole variety of watersports, with its fabulous panoramic coastal pathways the Argentario is also perfect walking and mountain biking terrain, extremely popular with fitness fans and lovers of the great outdoors.

The Molino Spagnolo or Spanish mill is the only wind mill which remained from a series of nine built by the Sienesi and subsequently restored by the Spaniards when the lagoon city became the capital of the little State of Presidi (1557) [1]. The mill has a circular plan and, along with the others, was used to grind the flour destined to the city’s inhabitants. Suggestively rising from the lagoon, the building is sited at the beginning of an artificial dam built by Grand Duke Leopold II in 1842 to connect Orbetello to Argentario.


History

The first certain sign of life in the city of Orbetello dates back to the Etruscan age, when there existed a primitive settlement. Then from 280 the centre became a dominion of the Roman Empire and saw the construction of the nearby location of Ansedonia and the city of Cosa.
With the arrival of the Middle Ages the city found itself under the control of the Aldobrandeschi, than the city of Orvieto, then the Orsini Counts and then the Republic of Siena; who managed to maintain power for another century.
It then became a part of the Stato dei Presidi Spagnolo (State of Spanish Presidi) who governed the Argentario Area from the second half of the 1500’s. Afterwards it was controlled by the Grand Duchy of Tuscany until the end of the 19th century when it became part of the Kingdom of Italy.
 
   
 
   

[1] The Stato dei Presidi (loosely in English, "The State of the Garrisons") was a client state of the Kingdom of Spain situated in central Italy, which included the cities of Orbetello, Porto Ercole, Porto Santo Stefano, Talamone, Ansedonia and Porto Longone, in what is now southern Tuscany. Porto Longone included a fortified area of Elba Island.
The State of Presidi was created by King Philip II of Spain in 1557 out of territories once belonging to the Republic of Siena, after the latter had been annexed to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany by Cosimo I de' Medici.
The State of Presidi was governed directly by Spain, as part of the Kingdom of Naples. It was merged to the land of Ferdinand IV of Naples with the duchy of Sora in 1796. It followed the history of the latter until, in 1800, Napoleon disbanded it and annexed it to the newly-formed Kingdom of Etruria. Later the Congress of Vienna (1815) gave its former territories to Tuscany, to which they belonged until the Unification of Italy.

Tuscany is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Known for its enchanting landscapes, its fantastic and genuine food and beautiful towns as Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Siena.
Podere Santa Pia is an enchanting Tuscan farmhouse, nestled in the vineyards and olive groves of the rolling Maremma hills. This privileged location offers a spectacular vista over the charming medieval town of Cinigiano and the entire Ombrone Valley. It is the perfect place for your relaxing holiday with your friends and family. The property consists of 4 large bedrooms furnished in a classic Tuscan style and 2 bathroom with shower, a big full-equipment kitchen with a fireplace and a big living room and dining room. With its original kitchen and the wood burning pizza oven, Podere Santa Pia offers an upbeat atmosphere. The farmhouse has been renovated and provided with all modern comforts (satellite TV, Wi-Fi Internet access, washing machine, dishwasher, and so on), with an eye to preserve the typical and charming elements of these rural lodgings. There you have, then, cosy and warm rooms with traditional terracotta-tiled floors, stone walls and wood-beamed ceilings. And the kitchen, furnished for pleasant meals with traditional Tuscan dishes (bread soup or "ribollita", tomato soup, "fettunta", Florentine-style steak, stewed wild boar, cinta senese cured meat, and other Tuscan specialities).
The impressive garden (9000 square mt.) allows you to enjoy a relaxing holiday and is perfect for taking time out and lounging about while sipping on a glass of local wines, Montecucco DOC and Brunello DOC.
Sitting in the garden, one can enjoy our dawns and dusks, with their jubilee of colours ranging from dark yellow to pink, orange and red. In this scenario, it is often possible to observe the flight of pheasants, falcons and buzzards, great tits, chaffinches and sparrows.
This is an enchanting place far from noise, ideal to regenerate body and mind, where one has the opportunity enjoy pleasant walks or rides on mountain bike. The summer breeze that caresses Podere Santa Pia guarantees "cool" holidays even in the hottest weather.

Tuscan farmhouses | Podere Santa Pia
 
         


Orbetello
Abbey of Sant 'Antimo
Chiesa di San Pietro, Tuscania



Cala Violina

The Parco Naturale della Maremma

The most famous part of the Maremma is the Parco Naturale della Maremma, otherwise known as the Parco dell'Uccellina

Principina a Mare

The Ombrone River located along the coast of Maremma Grossetana, where it flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea in Principina a Mare.



The Maremma is outstanding for its many protected natural areas that offer the chance to appreciate its wide variety of animals, insects and birds, trees, shrubs and flowers and to enjoy its special light and scenic beauty.The Nature Reserves aren't separate from the rest of the territory, but are symbolic of an integral whole. The Maremma affirms a way of life in harmony with nature and the rhythm of the seasons.
The Parco Naturale della Maremma encompasses the Monti dell'Uccellina, running parallel to the coastline from Principina a Mare to Talamone and was one of the first protected areas instituted in Italy.
Today the Province of Grosseto can boast of 13 Nature Reserves, an additional 8 which include Reserves for Repopulation, Biogenetics, Protection and Comprehensive Protection, plus the various oasis of the WWF. In all, there are almost 40,000 hectares of nature reserves stretching from north to south. They provide a complex and detailed vision of the wealth of the Maremma's natural heritage in all of its diversity from coast to inland, wet zones and mountain crests.
The numerous routes indicated within the parks enable the visitor to perceive the vastness of the preservation project and the botanical, zoological and geological wealth, differentiation, and beauty offered.

Maremma's natural heritage | www.parco-maremma.it

The Maremma coast has many facets: the mystical atmosphere of the Orbetello Lagoon and the golden, groomed beaches of the Feniglia and the Giannella not far from the Capalbio coast with lunar sand and wild, untouched dunes making it unique. The Islands of Giglio and Giannutri are rare jewels with rocky cliffs plummeting to the crystal-clear, emerald green sea and the scent of the Mediterranean scrub and aromatic herbs filling the air.

Fully equipped tourist ports such as Punta Ala, the fishing villages of Talamone, Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole on the slopes of the Argentario, reveal panoramic views over the coast and the islands and offer unforgetable sunsets spread across the sky.
Fortresses, citadels and towers clinging to the rocks create a vision of the time when these ancient ports, like those of Orbetello and Castiglione della Pescaia, were fortified. Today they offer a unique backdrop for those who "take to the sea" along a Mediterranean course.
The most beautiful regions in Tuscany | Parco Naturale della Maremma

Orbetello is a fascinatingly ancient village which looks out onto the Orbetello Lagoon and is immersed in beautiful scenery and the sites of Monte Argentario.
Surrounded by an enchanting countryside and the hills of the Maremma Tuscany, the town is a small but extraordinary jewel of ancient art. The village of Orbetello is located in the province of Grosseto and is seen as one of the most fascinating and beautiful locations in the whole Maremma, thanks to the extraordinary presence of the lagoon’s ecosystem, which gives the town a very unique spirit.Walking down the streets of the historic centre you can find yourself in front of monuments, churches and palazzi of great interest and uniqueness. Orbetello truly is home to an ancient past and precious works of art.

Main sights:
- The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta: the most significant sacred building in the Tuscan town whose construction dates back to the second half of the 14th century, built on the ruins of an already pre-existent Etruscan temple. Today the church is a wonderful example of gothic art with precious works of art, statues and alfresco pieces of great beauty.
- The Church of St. Francesco da Paola: a splendid structure of the 16th century, whose unique architecture is reminiscent of Spanish art.
- The Church of the Madonna delle Grazie: built in the historic part of the city, it dates back to the 13th century and is custodian of frescoes dating back to the 1400’s.
- Church of St. Giuseppe: a typical Renaissance building.
- Palazzo dei Governanti (Palazzo of the Governors): constructed under the dominion of the Stato Spagnolo dei Presidi (The Spanish State of Presidi).
- The clock tower: a splendid 15th century building which is situated in Piazza Eroe dei Due Mondi (Piazza of the Heroes of Two Worlds)
- Polveriera Guzmán (Guzmán Powderhouse): a military building built in 1962 to house explosive materials. Outside it is preceded by two interesting obelisks.
- Porta Medinacoeli del 1697 (Door of Medinacoeli of 1697): which was used as an entrance into the fortified city and is still today, a symbol of the historic centre.
- Porta a Terra (Door of Earth): joined to the Ciclopiche Wall, it was built in the Baroque style and is probably the most famous and important monument in the town. In fact the wall itself dates back to the Etruscan age, built during the 5th century B.C. Today they are both still in great condition and stand as a testament to the presence of Etruscans in Orbetello.
- Molino Spagnolo (Spanish Windmill): erected on the waters of the splendid and beautiful lagoon, the structure is the last of what used to be nine mills built in the 1500 and has a “Spanish” appellation. It begun to turn in only subsequent eras, after the Spanish worked on its reconstruction.
- The Museum of the Pediment of Talamone: inside the museum you can admire a wonderful Etruscan pediment, which was found in the countryside of Talamone and depicts the mythical scene “Sette a Tebe” (Seven against Tebe by Aeschylus).
- The Archaeological Museum: located in the Guzmán Powderhouse, it is an exhibition on military ruins, utensils and instruments, and Etruscan and Roman remains found in the countryside and archaeological sites of the Tuscan city.

The “Corteo Storico” is a historical procession held on the streets of Orbetello in November. It is a display of the civilian and military clothing worn by the inhabitants of the town during the Spanish dominion of the Stati dei Presidi.