Once the most important port in Etruria (Central Italy in 650 BC), modern Orbetello is a picturesque and bustling city that stretches across the shores of the Orbetello Lagoon.

With breathtaking views of the Monte Argentario coast and palm trees everywhere you look, Orbetello is unlike anywhere else in the Maremma.

The locals are relaxed, convinced that the lagoon air does them wonders, and the pace is dictated by afternoon walks down Via del Corso, the main strip.

Living next to the Orbetello Lagoon is, by the locals, likened to living next to a nature park. It’s a bird-watcher’s dream and home for between 200 and 450 different rare and local bird species, who fill the town with their songs almost 24 hours a day.

If you’re looking to admire the Orbetello Lagoon, the best time to visit is in the evening, when the rather shy noctural animals make an appearance and the incredibly suggestive sunset makes its way over the water and behind Monte Argentario.

Beyond the lagoon, Orbetello is a city defined by Etruscan origins and refined by centuries of wealth and prestige. When the Romans left, Orbetello remained an important docking station for those bringing the wonders of Egypt and Africa to Italy.

The city received its own fair share of this wealth and put most of it into its impressive monuments and ancient buildings.

Even Via Del Corso has a hint of old luxury about it.

The shops are some of the most glamorous outside of Grosseto and either side of the via brushes against richly painted homes and buildings covered in detailed stonework and marble.

SIGHTS:

Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta Built in the second half of the 14th century, this Cathedral sits on top of the ruins of a pre-existing Etruscan temple.

Palazzo dei Governanti A beautiful building built under the Stato Spagnolo dei Presidi with all the flair and emotion that defined the Spanish invaders in the Maremma.

Polveriera Guzmán A military building built in 1962 to house explosives. It might seem young, but the building is renowned for its unique, almost cathedral-like design.

Porta a Terra This Baroque archway is joined to the Ciclopiche Wall that encircles the city and is the most important monument in Orbetello.

	Mulino Spagnolo Erected on the waters of the magnificent lagoon, this windmill is the last of what used to be nine rustic mills built in the 1500s by the Spanish.
	Cosa An almost entirely intact, very old and very beautiful Roman city, which has been transformed into a large open-air museum.

MUSEUMS:

Mostra Permanente del Frontone di Talamone A museum renowned for one thing – its incredible and one-of-a-kind Etruscan pediment, which was recovered in nearby Talamone.

	Aquario Lagunare di Orbetello Opened in 2009, this aquarium offers visitors a sneak peek into lagoon life with all its vibrant colours and many varied plants and creatures.
	Museo Archeologico di Orbetello A large exhibition on military relics, weapons and instruments, with a few Etruscan and Roman relics thrown in for good measure.
	Museo della Cultura Contadina This museum is dedicated to the rural life of the Maremma of the 20th century. It showcases the social history of a rather tumultuous period.

EVENTS:

	Gustatus- 28 October- 1 November In its 6th year, Gustatus is one of, if not the biggest gastronomic festival in all of the Maremma. In Latin Gustatus means ‘The Sense of Taste’ .
	Castagnata – November If you just arrived in the Maremma in November, you’ll be happy to know that it’s not too late to catch one of the region’s best chestnut festival.