Castiglione della Pescaia
Distance: 25 minutes
Castiglione della Pescaia is a delightful seaside town of Etruscan origin perched on a promontory of the Maremma coastline, at the top of which we find the enchanting Aragonese castle and the ancient medieval village surrounded by imposing walls and towers, which give this place a panorama of disarming beauty.
For years now Castiglione has been an exclusive and renowned tourist destination, particularly appreciated and chosen for the quality of its climate and sea. It stands out for the variety of its beautiful beaches, all immersed in unspoilt and wild natural areas.
Castiglione also enjoys a lively nightlife, with numerous opportunities for recreation and entertainment.
In ancient times, part of the current plain to the east of the town was occupied by the waters of Lake Prile (Lacus Prelius), which dried up over the centuries. The most important evidence of the Etruscan period comes from nearby Vetulonia, an ancient city of the Etruscan dodecapolis. The Etruscans were succeeded by the Romans, whose expansion began around the 4th century B.C. Traces of urban works such as aqueducts, viaducts and paved roads have survived from this period. From the time of the Empire, the progressive worsening of environmental conditions and frequent invasions led to a sharp decrease in the population. Later, around the 10th-12th centuries A.D., the territory came under the protection of Pisa and three towers and walls were built. In 1404 Castiglione della Pescaia came under the protection of Florence and the Medici family carried out numerous reclamation works to repopulate the area.