Castiglione della Pescaia

The municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia is located in Tuscany, directly on the Maremma Coast on the Tyrrhenian Sea and belongs to Grosseto Province. The community has around 7.200 inhabitants and a size of 209 km². It is approximately 125 km south of Florence. The image of the popular seaside resort is characterized by the medieval castle that towers over the entire town. The immediate neighboring communities include the towns of Scarlino, Gavorrano and Grosseto.

Where is Castiglione della Pescaia?

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points of interest & sights

The Rocca, the castle looming over the town, dates from the 12th and 14th centuries. The tower is privately owned and is therefore not open to the public. Some of the fortifications still preserved today were only built in the 15th century by the Florentines. The church and the Palazzo Comunale are located within the wall ring of the fortress.

The parish church is also one of the outstanding sights of the place and dates from the 11th century. One of the outstanding buildings in Castiglione della Pescaia is also the Palazzo Pretorio, which dates from the Middle Ages and was extensively renovated in the 18th century. The Palazzo Camaiori dates from the 15th century, the Palazzo Centurioni also from the Middle Ages, which was renovated in the 20th century.

Another building, the Palazzo dello Spedale, dates from the 16th century. Other sights of the place include the two sacred buildings, the church of Santa Maria Assunta, which is decorated with a fresco by the painter Giuseppe Nicola Nasini. The Church of Sant'Andrea Apostolo is not just a place of worship either. It has stucco work by the famous Andrea Ferrari from Lugano and keeps the relics of Saint Guglielmo di Malavalle.

Beach and harbor

Castiglione della Pescaia is famous above all for its wonderful beach. Surrounded by historical sights, vineyards and rolling hills, the Spiaggia di Punta Ala beach offers families an ideal setting for an excursion. The beach slopes gently towards the sea.

The other sandy beaches in the vicinity of the municipality, the Spiaggia delle Marze and the Spiaggia delle Rocchette, also have ideal conditions for rest and relaxation. The beaches are wide and modern. There are many services there.

The view on the beaches does not only fall on the sea. Opposite is the Elba-Island. Despite the numerous tourists who populate the beaches every year, Castiglione della Pescaia has retained the charm of the fishing village. The old town is characterized by narrow streets and staircases that lead to the next higher street.

The beaches are equipped with sun beds and umbrellas. It is possible to take part in water sports activities here. These include kite surfing and windsurfing.

Castiglione della Pescaia harbor

From the port of Castiglione della Pescaia you can take excursion boats for more than just one person Day trip to the island of Elba. The Giglio Island and Giannutri. Fresh fish can also be bought right at the port.

Apart from the beach life, this place also offers the opportunity to go hiking in the surrounding area. The place is surrounded by extensive pine forests. These forests date from the time when the region was ruled by the noble Habsburg-Lorraine family.

A popular excursion destination at the gates of Castiglione della Pescaia is also the nearby marshland. This stretches between the river Bruna and the river Ombrone and has a size of approx. 1000 hectares. This marshland is the largest in all of Italy. The area is also designated as
Bird sanctuary. This in turn borders on the only accessible under strict conditions Maremma Natural Park.

History and economic development

The area south of the mouth of the Bruna was still covered by a huge salt lake in the Etruscan era. The place where the community is today was already mentioned by the Romans. However, the exact location of the settlement can no longer be traced.

A Castellione della Piscaria was mentioned in a document from Louis the Pious in the 9th century. The patron saint of the place, Wilhelm von Malavalle, is said to have lived in the area as a hermit. The medieval castle dates from the time when the Pisans ruled the region.

After the capture of Pisa Florence the place was under the rule of the Medici Republic. From 1569 the place belonged to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and from 1737 to 1860 to Habsburg-Lorraine.

Economically, the region around Castiglione della Pescaia has always been of interest to the various rulers. During the rule of the Pisans, the port of the settlement was of strategic and, above all, military importance. It was not until the 19th century that fishermen settled in the region. Even today the place is characterized by fishing.

At the end of the 20th century, the first hotels, campsites and apartment complexes were built in the region. And with that, its importance as a tourist destination grew. The place is heavily populated by tourists, especially in the summer months. In midsummer, the local restaurants and cafés reach their capacity limits.

Nightlife

Castiglione della Pescaia is also known for its night life. In this region of Tuscany the place is the most important center of the nightlife. There are numerous restaurants and bars in the village.