Porto Santo Stefano - Porto Santo Stefano

Porto Santo Stefano is a town that is part of the municipality of "Monte Argentario" in Tuscany in the province of Grosseto.

To know

Geographical notes

The locality is located on the northwestern side of the promontory of the Argentario, just over 40 km southeast of Grosseto, about 10 km southwest of Orbetello and about 12 from Porto Ercole.

When to go

Especially during the summer, but it feels good at any time of the year.

Background

Porto Santo Stefano, located in the northern part of Monte Argentario, is the main center of this promontory. Due to its favorable geographical position it was frequented by the ancient peoples who sailed in the Mediterranean. The Romans left notable traces of their presence (including the remains of the baths of Domitian) and in their papers they indicated Porto S. Stefano with various names, including Portus Traianus and Portus ad Cetarias. Under the domination of the Sienese from the early 15th century. in the middle of the 16th Porto S. Stefano became a landing place of little importance subject to frequent pirate raids. In this period the Argentiera tower was built in 1442, and some coastal towers. The development of the center began around 1550 under the Spanish Governor Núñez Orejón de Ávila, and continued with the creation of the Presidi state and the construction of the Spanish fortress.

In 1646 Porto S. Stefano was conquered by the French and then returned to the Spanish domination in the same year, in 1707 it was conquered by the Austrians, together with the whole state of the Presidi, in 1737 there was the dominion of the Bourbons and in this period it was registered the first important demographic development with the presence of many families from Campania, fromElba island, and from the Ligurian Riviera. In 1801 it joined the kingdom of Etruria and in 1815 with the Treaty of Vienna it passed under the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. In 1842 the Grand Duke Leopoldo II of Lorena established the community of Monte Argentario, where Porto Santo Stefano represented the capital and Porto Ercole the fraction. Finally in 1860 together with all of Tuscany it became part of the Kingdom ofItaly. (Historical fact was the stop of Garibaldi and the Thousand on 9 May 1860 during the transfer trip from Fourth to Marsala). The Fortress is the most important building in the country; it was built during the reign of the Spaniards and had maritime sighting functions. To remember the total destruction of the town during the bombings of 1944, when the fortress itself, the church tower and a few other houses remained standing. Until the end of the Second World War, the main sources of the Santostefanese economy were represented by agriculture, fishing and navigation. Since the 1960s, tourism has grown considerably, becoming the main resource in the area's economy.

Today it is a renowned tourist resort, which for several years now boasts the Blue Flag, a prestigious recognition conferred by the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) to the best European coastal resorts.

How to orient yourself

Districts

The town is divided into four historic districts (see The districts of santostefanesi on the site of the Argentario almanac), all with their own banner.

• Fortress, whose family name is fortressmen; in the coat of arms, on the left the golden Spanish fortress on a red background, on the right a rampant golden donkey on an amaranth background.
• Cross, whose family name is crucifers; in the coat of arms, at the top a gray seagull on a red background, at the bottom a red St. Andrew's cross on a white background
• Pilarella, whose family name is pilarellai[1]^{[link not working]}; in the coat of arms, on the left a golden amphora on a red background, on the right a light gray dolphin on a midnight blue background.
• Valley, whose family name is vallaioli; the colors of the Valley are light blue and white, and its heraldic coat of arms includes the ax and the lighthouse.

How to get

By plane

The nearest airport is Rome Fiumicino, about 150 km away. To the north, the closest civil airport to Porto Santo Stefano is that of Pisa.

On the train

Porto Santo Stefano is served by the Orbetello-Monte Argentario station which is located in the Orbetello Scalo area, about 15 km from the center of Porto Santo Stefano.

The station is located on the Rome-Genoa line and is the main stop for almost all trains, including long-distance ones, that cross this route.

By car

Porto Santo Stefano is easily accessible by car, as it is located a few kilometers from the Via Aurelia. Rome it is about 150 kilometers away along the Aurelia towards the south, while Grosseto it is about 30 kilometers away, along the consular towards the north.

To reach the town it is necessary to exit at the Albinia exit.

How to get around

By public transport

In the area there is a bus network that connects Porto Santo Stefano to Orbetello and Porto ErcoleLinee Urbane

The urban lines are currently managed by Rama.

Line 1 - Orbetello Station - Porto Santo Stefano, with intermediate stops at Nenni, Orbtello Centrale, Terre Rosse, Santa Liberata, Porto Santo Stefano. First ride at 5:55 am, last at 9:15 pm.

Line 2 - Orbetello Station - Porto Ercole, with intermediate stops at Nenni, Orbtello Centrale, Terre Rosse, Feniglia Spiaggia, Cala Galera, Porto Ercole (zone 167), Porto Ercole. First ride at 6:10 am, last at 8:00 pm.

Line 5 - Orbetello Station - Hospital.

What see

• Spanish fortress. At the Spanish Fortress of Porto Santo Stefano are hosted the permanent exhibitions of the "Masters of Ax", dedicated to the craftsmen who build ships and fishing boats, and of the "Submerged Memories", based on the finds found in the waters around Monte Argentario. 
• Church of Santo Stefano. 
• Promenade of the Navigators. 
• Landscape from the overview. Scenic road and coastal towers. 
• Mediterranean aquarium of the Argentario. On the seafront of Porto Santo Stefano, the Marine Biology Educational Center with the Mediterranean Aquarium of the Silver Coast has been set up by the Mare Ambiente Academy. The two permanent exhibitions and the Aquarium are part of the "Maremma Museum Network" (Costa d'Argento). 

Events and parties

Many events that take place during the summer season are related to the sea and navigation:

• Easter Sail. One of the historic regattas in the Italian sailing sports scene, born in 1988 and continuously evolving since then. 
• Argentario sailing week. In mid-June. Traditional regatta between vintage boats. 
• Palio marinaro dell'Argentario. In mid-August. It takes place between the crews of the various districts in one of the longest rowing races in the world (400mX10). 

Services

Nautical and tourism service agency.

• www.ldmyachtservice.com^{[link not working]}

What to do

• Underwater. Diving is one of the most practiced sports in Porto Santo Stefano and throughout the Argentario and the surrounding islands.

Given the variety of diving spots, the way to reach them, the natural or artificial curiosities (wrecks) to see, the depths to be reached, the Argentario sea is suitable for both recreational and technical divers.

The Argentario coast has mainly rocky characteristics, with slopes that descend to plateaus of different depths. Simple dive for recreational divers is Punta Finestra, where, already at a depth of 10-15 meters, it is possible to see corals, gorgonians, sea daisies, octopuses, starfish, moray eels, lobsters, hermit crabs and sunfish.

The cleanliness of the sea is confirmed by the presence of large areas of posidonia, the only vegetable element of the Mediterranean Sea which, like terrestrial plants, gives stability to the soil. 

• Mini-cruises. Minicruises between the island of giglio Giannutri and the island of elba are organized daily by various agencies and companies. 

Shopping

How to have fun

Where to eat

Where stay

Average prices

• Argentario Golf Resort & SPA, Via Acquedotto Leopoldino, ☎ 39 05641828400. 
• Villa Domizia, Provincial road 161, 40 (Location Santa Liberata), ☎ 39 0564 812735. 
• Baia D'Argento (Locality Pozzarello), ☎ 39 0564812643. 
• Belvedere, Provincial road 161, 2, ☎ 39 0564812634. 
• La Caletta, Via Civinini, 10, ☎ 39 0564 812939. 
• Vittoria Hotel, Via del Sole, 65, ☎ 39 0564 818580. 
• Alfiero, Via Cuniberti, 12/14, ☎ 39 0564 814067. 
• The Firefly, Via Panoramica, 243, ☎ 39 0564 812976. 
• Week-nd board, Via Martyrs of Hungary, 3, ☎ 39 0564812580. 
• Philip II (Location Poggio Calvello), ☎ 39 0564811611. 
• Sunflower (Location Poggio Calvello), ☎ 39 0564 812647. 
• The Post Office of Pianone, Via del Pianone, 30, ☎ 39 0564 811811. 
• The Grottone (Location Grottone), ☎ 39 0564 825093. Bed & Breakfast. 
• Villino Sabiana (Location Grottone), ☎ 39 0564 825061. Bed & Breakfast. 
• Navarro Resort, Via della Forconata, ☎ 39 3356757758. Bed & Breakfast. 
• Monte Argentario farmhouse (Location Le Piane), ☎ 39 0564 810641. Farmhouse. 
• La Mortella Country Relais, Via dell’Acquedotto Leopoldino, 54 (Terrarossa locality), ☎ 39 0564813004. Relais. 
• Terrarossa Golf, 39 0564813004 (Terrarossa locality). Resort. 

High prices

• Hotel Torre di Calapiccola, Via della Cala (Cala Piccola locality), ☎ 39 0564 825111, @[email protected]. Historic 4-star hotel located on the top of the Argentario, with a 360 degree view of the Argentario, facing the islands of Giglio and Giannutri. The hotel offers 5 room types, many with sea views. Among the services, the panoramic infinity pool, wellness treatments, access to the sea. Free Wi-Fi.

It has a restaurant, called Torre d'Argento, overlooking the sea with a large terrace with panoramic views and a sophisticated menu. 

Safety

How to keep in touch

Around

• the nearby tourist center of Porto Ercole
• Lily island
• Giannutri Island

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Porto Santo Stefano
• Commons contains images or other files on Porto Santo Stefano

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