Good food, good fish, boats, a fascinating history, and, above all, some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Holidaying in one of our houses in this area allows you to combine the charm of village life with the heady freshness of the sea. Show me properties on The Coast
Lerici, one of the prettiest towns on the Italian Riviera, is located 11 Kms south of La Spezia and although now dependent on tourism, has a thriving cultural life of its own and visits off season are particularly recommended when the beaches and both Lerici and San Terenzio are quieter. The town a perfect base for visiting the famous world heritage sites of the Cinque Terre and Portovenere, there are boats leaving the main square several times a day depending on the season. One of the main sights is the notorious Castle, now a museum of paleontology and within a 10 minutes walk from the central square Pizza Garibaldi. Visit their website to see what is on. Children will love it!
For more information please visit the following website: Museum of palaeontology
Hidden for many years, the fortified town of Montemarcello stands on the promontory guarding the entrance to the bay. From here one has glorious views of the Bay of Poets on one side and the Apuan Alps and the valley of the Magra river on the other. In the late 1950′s the English wife of an Italian ambassador living in this area was determined to find the village. Invisible, it was fabled as full of brigands and scary. There was no road, so she made her way through the undergrowth and discovered a village inhabited only by women. The men folk were all away at sea. These women had incredible deportment through carrying the olives on their heads up and the oil down the steep lanes. This tale is from the late fifties, and so Montemarcello escaped the mass tourism speculation of the 60′s. The woman who uncovered the town was full of altruistic zest for conserving treasures for future generations. By the time of her death much of her vision had been realised and now the area is protected under the Regional Park of Montemarcello. Wandering through the little town brings sudden vistas of the bay and leads to unexpected squares with lazy fountains. Beautiful at any time of the year, with its soft climate and wonderful colours of sea and flowers, Montemarcello is probably at its best in the sweet days of early spring. Although the whole of the Riviera attracts crowds in July and August, these villages are too small and protected to become unpleasantly crowded or rough, and you will find the people lively and fun.
More information can be found on the following website: Cinque Terre
The attractive town of Orbetello was an Etruscan colony until taken by Rome. Important in the middle ages it became the capital of the Stato dei Presidi of Spanish domination after Spain helped Cosimo di Medici defeat Siena in 1557. The name Argentario probably refers to the well known Roman banking family (silver dealers) who once owned it, or perhaps from the silver mines not far away at Massa Marittima, or, some say, because of the silver look of the olive trees and the precious sparkling sea. Incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1808, in 1842 Leopoldo II built the dyke connecting Orbetello with the promontory. Crossing the lagoon by the road from Orbetello one reaches Porto Santo Stefano, a lively, very attractive harbour and yachting marina. Very busy during July and August, there are excellent restaurants and an active night life as well as smart shops, regular ferries, and cruises to Giglio, Giannutri, MonteCristo and other lovely spots in the Mediterranean. A panoramic road, 39 kms long encircles the promontory from Porto Santo Stefano to the smaller Porto Ercole, above cliffs planted with olive groves, vineyards and orange and lemon trees. In between the ports are areas of quiet, peaceful beauty. The promontory reaches over 600m at Punto Telegrafo in the middle, affording wonderful views of the sea and the wooded landscape. There are vast uncultivated areas with watch towers bearing testimony to pirates and past dominions, and the mild climate shelters numerous species of wild flowers and herbs. The combination of smart, busy ports and quiet, protected havens in a gentle climate, with the vicinity of Etruscan remains and historical treasures make the Argentario a wonderful choice for a holiday.
Castiglione della Pescaia is an ancient seaside town located in the South-Western portion of Tuscany, with a gorgeous view of the islands of Elba and Giglio, and of the promontory of Argentario. The modern city was built around a medieval fortress (Castello) and a large fishery (Pescaia) from which it got its name. Castiglione is now known for its beautiful beaches that front the town in its entirety. Worth seeing in the area are the ancient remains of Vetulonia once one of the most important Etruscan cities.
