Porto Santo Stefano and the Maremma: a perfect microcosm
What makes the Maremma unique is the sheer variety of its landscape. Sea, hills and mountains blend into one another, each lending the scenery its own distinctive colour. Dante himself traced the region’s boundaries in the Divine Comedy, evoking its magnificence and its palette: the deep blue of Argentario’s crystal-clear waters, the black rocks of Talamone, the green of the rolling countryside and, further inland, the earthy brown of Monte Amiata.
Porto Santo Stefano is the main town of the Municipality of Monte Argentario, in the province of Grosseto — a charming seafaring village with a well-equipped marina and commercial harbour. It looks out over a bay watched over by an imposing Spanish fortress, and today it is a renowned holiday destination that has proudly flown the Blue Flag for several years now: a prestigious award given by the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) to Europe’s finest coastal resorts. Porto Santo Stefano sits like a jewel in the area geographically known as the Lower Maremma.
Beyond its tourist attractions and cultural heritage, there is the added bonus of the inland countryside. This is tufa country, where Etruscan roots are still plainly visible in towns such as Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana. This part of the Maremma is also home to the famous thermal springs of Saturnia, celebrated for their healing properties.
Culture and breathtaking scenery are only part of the story: there are also local specialities and wines waiting to be discovered. Maremma cuisine is built on simple, traditional dishes made with seasonal local produce of the highest quality — best enjoyed with a good glass of Morellino di Scansano or Bianco di Pitigliano.
This is a destination perfectly set within a wonderful region, one that offers something for everyone: the sea, hills and open countryside, healing thermal waters, and a wholesome, varied cuisine based almost entirely on top-quality local produce — from wine and olive oil to vegetables, game and the superb fish caught in the crystal-clear waters off Porto Santo Stefano.
And that is before mentioning the sightseeing, cultural and shopping opportunities just a short drive away:
- Siena, only 120 km away — not just the celebrated city of the Palio, but a treasure trove of wonderful sights and food-and-wine experiences waiting to be explored;
- Florence, 180 km away — where to begin? A hundred pages would not be enough to capture the kaleidoscope of art and emotion this city holds;
- Rome, just 150 km away — a capital renowned the world over for its artistic and cultural heritage, its nightlife and its shopping.