Castiglione della Pescaia

Castiglione della Pescaia is one of the most popular seaside resorts in the Maremma: a fishing village with a canal harbor, above which lies a medieval old town with a Pisan castle, and in front of it, wide sandy beaches with a pine forest. The town is located about 20 km west of Grosseto in the province of Grosseto . A weekly market is held every Saturday from 8 am to 13 pm at Piazza Ponte Giorgini by the harbor canal.

Weekly market and shopping

Market in Castiglione della Pescaia: Saturday

The weekly market takes place every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 13 p.m. at Piazza Ponte Giorgini, the canal harbor between the old town and the new town. You'll find clothing, shoes, household goods, fruit, vegetables, and cheese. If a Saturday falls on a public holiday, the town sometimes reschedules the market – if in doubt, check locally. Arrive early: in summer, parking spaces fill up quickly in the morning.

Other markets in the area: Grosseto on Thursdays, Follonica on Fridays, Orbetello on Saturdays. For an overview by day of the week, see Markets in Tuscany.

Fish, shops and opening hours

Castiglione remains a fishing port to this day; fresh fish can be found in the fish shops around the harbor and in many restaurants along the canal. Shops in the old town and along the Corso are generally open in the morning and from late afternoon onwards, closing for lunch; during peak season, many shops stay open until late in the evening.

Beaches of Castiglione della Pescaia

Directly adjacent to the town, to the left and right of the harbor, lie the beaches of Levante and Ponente, offering both private bathing areas and public sections. In 2026, the municipality was once again awarded the FEE Blue Flag for water quality and beach management. To the north are the beaches of Riva del Sole and Le Rocchette – here the coastline becomes rockier, with small coves nestled in the pine forest – and finally the marina town of Punta Ala. Southward, towards Marina di Grosseto, the long sandy beach of Le Marze stretches before the pine forest. The water is generally gently sloping, and on a clear day, you can see as far as Elba.

Windsurfing and kitesurfing are popular when it's windy. We present more secluded bathing spots in the area – for example, in the Maremma Natural Park – under " Quiet Beaches of Tuscany ," and an overview of the entire coastline can be found under "Tuscany: Sea and Beach" and "Sandy Beaches of the Maremma . "

Sights and excursions

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Old Town and Castle

Die ummauerte Altstadt auf dem Hügel erreichen Sie über steile Gassen und Treppen. Die Burg (Rocca) geht auf die Zeit zurück, als Pisa den Hafen kontrollierte; ihr Turm stammt aus dem 12. Jahrhundert, die Mauern wurden später erweitert. Die Burg ist in Privatbesitz und nicht zu besichtigen, der Rundgang entlang der Mauern bietet aber schöne Ausblicke über Hafen und Küste. Die Pfarrkirche San Giovanni Battista geht auf das Jahr 1051 zurück.

Harbor and boat trips

Fishing boats and excursion boats are moored at the canal harbor. During the season, day trips to the island of Giglio (with an option to Giannutri ) and to Elba are offered from Castiglione; timetables and prices change annually. Further ideas can be found under Boat Tours in Tuscany.

Diaccia Botrona Nature Reserve

Zwischen Castiglione und Grosseto liegt das Feuchtgebiet Diaccia Botrona, mit rund 1.270 Hektar eines der wichtigsten Feuchtgebiete Italiens und Überrest des antiken Lago Prile. Hier lassen sich Flamingos, Löffler, Säbelschnäbler und Kormorane beobachten. In der Casa Rossa Ximenes, einem Bau aus der Zeit der Lothringer Trockenlegungen im 18. Jahrhundert, ist ein Multimedia-Museum untergebracht; von dort starten auch geführte Touren mit kleinen Booten.

Vetulonia and Hinterland

On a hill in the hinterland lies the district of Vetulonia, once one of the important Etruscan cities, with its archaeological museum and burial sites. The mountain village of Tirli is situated in the middle of the forest. The Maremma Natural Park near Alberese and the provincial capital of Grosseto are also easily accessible.

History

In etruskischer Zeit lag hinter der Küste ein großer Salzsee, der Lago Prile. Als „Castellione della Piscaria“ wird der Ort im 9. Jahrhundert erstmals urkundlich erwähnt. Vom 10. bis ins frühe 15. Jahrhundert kontrollierte Pisa den Hafen; aus dieser Zeit stammt die Burg. Danach kam der Ort unter Florenz, gehörte später zum Großherzogtum Toskana und ab 1737 zu den Habsburg-Lothringern, die die Sümpfe trockenlegen ließen. Ab 1860 Teil Italiens, entwickelte sich Castiglione nach Ende der Malaria im 20. Jahrhundert vom Fischerort zu einem der meistbesuchten Badeorte der Toskana. Schutzpatron ist der heilige Wilhelm von Malavalle, der als Einsiedler in der Gegend gelebt haben soll.

Arrival and accommodation

You can reach Castiglione by car via the SS1 Aurelia (Grosseto exit) and then drive approximately 20 km towards the coast. The nearest train stations are Grosseto and Follonica, from where buses run. There are numerous campsites in the pine forest around the town – see our selection and tips under Campsites by the Sea and Motorhome Pitches in Tuscany.

Frequently asked questions about Castiglione della Pescaia