Talamone

What is today a lovely coastal resort town actually has a very long history. Situated off the ancient Roman road, the Via Aurelia, Talamone dates back to the Etruscan era, who called it Tlamun. In Latin, Talamo, and Greek Telamon, and the Greek mythology says that Telamone, the son of Eaco, was buried here. Talamone was mentioned in ancient Roman maritime itineraries along the route between Rome and Provence.

In the medieval period, it was the domain of the powerful Aldobrandeschi family, who built the fortress that still stands on top of the promontory. In the 1300s it was taken over by Siena, in 1559 it was ceded to the Spanish ruling dynasty and then occupied by the French in the middle 1600s. That's quite a lot for a small town! ;)

Today the area is known as the Costa d'Argento (the Silver Coast) and it is at the doorstep of not only the Maremma Natural Park but the Monte Argentario, and is just 25 kilometers from the provincial capital city of Grosseto. Nearby are hot springs at Saturnia, the beautiful town of Pitigliano (known as "little Jerusalem"), the wine town of Scansano, many beautiful coastal towns, and of course Siena and other heavy-hitting Tuscan towns.

But right here in Talamone you won't want to miss seeing the Rocca Aldobrandeschi fortress, both for its architecture and views. There are coastal towers and coves, and abundant hiking trails here. Of course, a stroll along the marina and waterfront, a gelato, and seafood meal are also in order. The beaches are mainly reef and rock but have services, though there are a few sandy beaches like Spiaggia della Fertilia and Spiaggia della Puntata.

Photo: Alessio Damato, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons