Castiglione della Pescaia is exactly the sort of tranquil seaside village you’d expect to find on the Tuscan coast.

In winter, Castiglione della Pescaia falls asleep. Few locals remain in town to open the small butcher shop, bakery and supermarket. The atmosphere is comforting, and the peaceful silence broken only by the sounds of farmers working in the far-off countryside.

It’s a beauty that is rarely appreciated by tourists.

But in summer, everything comes alive, literally. You can hardly move in the streets and the roads are always blocked by people strolling down to the port or beach. Tourists flock to soak up the medieval atmosphere in the town centre, where cars are banned. Locals come back home for the summer, and hotels, camp sites and all other types of accommodation are booked out for weeks.

Quite simply, everyone wants to be in Castiglione della Pescaia in the summertime – and they have good reason to. The town has earned the nickname “Svizzera della Maremma” (Switzerland of the Maremma) not for its organisational skills, but for the quaint aspect of its pastel coloured buildings, which stretch to the feet of the port and are often shadowed by the grand oaks and wild grape vines that wind their way through the streets.

But this isn’t the only reason why Castiglione della Pescaia is loved by local and tourists alike. Under the Tuscan sun, this town is a hub of music and activity. People sit out on the walkway enjoying a meal or snack and watching the boats arrive in the port. Afternoons are spent basking in the beauty of the town’s panorama and surroundings, both of which have earned 5 sails from the Legambiente-Italian Touring Club – a much coveted environmental honour.

And then, of course, there are the beaches. Endless stretches of smooth sand and crystal clear water that are always warm and calm, making them some of the best beaches in Tuscany, that is, if you don’t mind sharing them with thousands of others.

SIGHTS:

Isola Clodia On the road that takes you from Grosseto to Castiglione della Pescaia sits Isola Clodia. Once home to a Roman Empire.

Palazzo Centurioni The ancient tribunal house and oldest building in Castiglione della Pescaia. Unsure of its origins, historians think it was built in the 15th century.

Fortezza di Castiglione Unlike much of the Maremma, Castiglione della Pescaia originally belonged to the fuedal families. It was these families that built this incredible castle.

Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista Built in the 16th century, this church houses some extremely valuable relics belonging to the city’s patron saint.

	Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio Built in the 18th century using the best of the Renaissance style, this church is home to some splendid frescoes.
	Return Journey by Rodolfo Lacquaniti Rodolfo takes what we would consider to be rubbish and recycles it into incredible sculptures that are intrinsically linked to the territory they’re found in, Castiglione della Pescaia.

NATURE PARKS:

Diaccia Botrona One of Europe’s most important nature reserves, Diaccia Botrona is renowned for its rare ecosystem.

MUSEUMS:

Museo Multimediale Casa Rossa Ximenese Named after the architect who designed it, Casa Rossa Ximenese was commissioned by Grand Duke Leopoldo of Lorena in 1767.

Museo Archeologico I.Falchi Isidoro Falchi was a 19th century medic and archaeologist who used ruins found in the area of Vetulonia to prove it was once an ancient Roman city.

EVENT:

Festa di Primavera April in Pian di Rocca - a town close to Castiglione della Pescaia The Festa di Primavera is a folk festival that celebrates the rural flavour of this territory, which is captured best by seasonal produce.