Orbetello

Orbetello and its Laguna

Where is Orbetello located?

Orbetello is a small town located in the province of Grosseto, in the southern part of Tuscany. Its special feature is that it lies on a thin strip of land in the middle of the Orbetello Lagoon, between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Monte Argentario.

This unique location offers a combination of seascapes and natural that make Orbetello an extremely interesting place to visit. The placid brackish waters of the lagoon have cradled and enveloped this town for centuries.

Orbetello represents the beating heart of a body of water that the passage of centuries has enclosed in the perimeter composed of the Maremma coast, Mount Argentario and the two tombolos, that of the Giannella and that of the Feniglia.

How did the Orbetello Lagoon come about?

The formation of the Orbetello Lagoon dates back thousands of years.

During the last glacial period, as glaciers retreated and sea levels rose, some coastal depressions filled with water, resulting in lagoons and marshes.

The Orbetello Lagoon, with an area of about 26 km², is just one of them.

Over millennia, the sedimentation process, due to the input of fluvial and marine materials, has helped shape the shape and depth of the lagoon. Shifts in sea currents and tidal action have created natural barriers, such as dunes and sandy isthmuses, which have Partially isolated the lagoon from the Tyrrhenian Sea.

This kind of semi-isolation fostered the Formation of a brackish environment, a mix of fresh water from surrounding rivers and salt water from the sea, which has become a valuable habitat for many species of animals.

The biodiversity present in it

The fate of Orbetello is to live immersed in natural, protected and special environments. The western side of the lagoon is a WWF oasis where egrets, black-winged stilts and the beautiful pink flamingos live undisturbed and frequently immortalized by birdwatchers as well as the many tourists passing through.

On the eastern slope, the huge pine forest that covers the Feniglia Tombolo constitutes the Feniglia Dunes Nature Reserve, characterized by a dual environment, lagoon and terrestrial thanks to the many species that inhabit it; foxes, deer, badgers, weasels and, to name a few, green woodpeckers, jays and cuckoos.

Le waters of the lagoon, constantly oxygenated by saltwater inputs, are rich in eels, giltheads, and mullet, the subject of a regulated and sustainable fishery, the pride of the town's economy, from which excellent products such as mullet roe and shaded eel are obtained.

Historical background and beauties of Orbetello

The history of the lagoon town is linked to the mysterious people of the Etruscans who discovered this strip of land and protected it with cyclopean walls that, even today, sink their bases into the lagoon waters. Later they were the Sienese who ruled these lands in the first half of the 1400s., to build the part of the walls that can still be admired and walked on today.

Within them is the town whose historic center is bounded by gates and fortifications dating back to the 16th century when Orbetello was declared capital of the Stato dei Presidi, a Spanish enclave on Tuscan soil that also included the island of Elba and the Promontory of Monte Argentario. Many records remain from this period including the Governor's Palace and the Powder magazine Guzman, built by the Spanish in 1692 as an explosives depot and later used by Garibaldi, during the Expedition of the Thousand, to refuel while stopping at Talamone.

Outside the walls we find the more modern part of Orbetello, which is also rich in history. Just move a few meters, in fact, the architectural fences of the Cruise Park date back to the 1920s.

Inside them there is still much of the buildings that made up the military citadel connected to the seaport, whose hangars were designed by architect Pier Luigi Nervi, and which served to Italo Balbo as a home base for cruises and Atlantic crossings between 1928 and 1933. The remains of the great Italian aviator, along with those of many of his fellow aviators, rest in the town's cemetery.

Where to go to the sea near Orbetello?

Orbetello, thanks to the naturalistic beauty of its lagoon and the vastness of the Tyrrhenian Sea, offers a truly impactful coastal overview.

When we talk about the sea in Orbetello, inevitably, thoughts run to the Argentario Promontory, which stretches along an area between Capalbio, the Orbetello Lagoon and the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The promontory is connected to the mainland by thin tongues of land that were once completely submerged. These formations, now emerging, trace a natural path that seems to lead directly to the heart of Argentario, an irresistible invitation for those who love the beautiful sea and to reach the beautiful beaches of the Argentario.

Not far from here, we can reach the town of Porto Santo Stefano, a strategic destination for all those who wish to discover the beauty of the Tuscan Archipelago island district.

Board Maregiglio ferries and discover the Tuscan Archipelago!

It is precisely from Porto Santo Stefano that the ferries of our shipping company depart., Maregiglio, which is ready to welcome you and take you to your destination, whether you wish to plan a long vacation or aim for a quick day trip, which is possible thanks to our mini-cruises.

To better plan your trip, we recommend:

check departure times for the period of your interest, as well as the rates, always up to date;
visit the pages of online booking for ferries e mini-cruises, so you can buy tickets right away and be completely sure of getting a seat, which is not guaranteed during busy tourist periods:
Consider whether to bring your car with you to Giglio (during the month of August it is necessary to Complete and submit a self-certification specifically for this purpose), or park it conveniently in Porto Santo Stefano (Of course, we can't board it if we are participating in a mini-day cruise);
Report to the boarding gate at least 30 minutes before departure, with ticket. Any late arrivals and having concurrently paid tickets do not guarantee that you will be allowed access to the ferry.

Maregiglio invites you to enjoy the beautiful Tuscan sea and always try new experiences, such as the daily mini-cruises, which qualitatively enrich our offerings.