ITALY | PORTO SANTO STEFANO AND PORTO ERCOLE IN MONTE ARGENTARIO, TUSCANY.

ARGENTARIO OSA VILLAGE

This summer, the boys and I spent a splendid week at Argentario Osa Village in Talamone. We couldn’t have chosen a better base from where to explore Monte Argentario and its neighboring towns.

Argentario Osa Village exceeded our expectations. We enjoyed every bit of our one week stay there. It’s a paradise especially for families traveling with kids. The resort has many activities and games lined up for the little ones throughout the day, which gives parents some ample time to kick back and relax.

Our family apartment had two bedrooms, a spacious living room, and a fully equipped kitchen which turned out to be a blessing for the days we didn’t feel like going out for a meal. Just across the village was a field of hay rolls. On our last evening, we caught a glimpse of the most flawless sunset over the field. The combination is almost magical.

MONTE ARGENTARIO
Apart from beach-bumming and wasting a few days by the sea, we also explored Monte Argentario, a municipality and a peninsula in the province of Grosetto in Tuscany. Monte Argentario is connected with the mainland by three spits of land which form two lagoons, Ponente on the west and Levante on the east. The two main villages on Monte Argentario are Porto Santo Stefano, facing north; and Porto Ercole, facing south.

PORTO SANTO STEFANO

Porto Santo Stefano is a chic seaport town. It was blissful strolling along its seaside promenade especially at sunset basking in the alluring colors of the changing sky over the turquoise sea.

PORTO ERCOLE

Compared to Porto Santo Stefano, Porto Ercole is smaller, but more alive and just as beautiful as its sister seaside town.

After enjoying an afternoon stroll along its busy harbor, we took a trip uphill and got lost in the narrow passages of this ancient walled town. If you’re familiar with famous Italian painters, then it might interest you to note that Porto Ercole is where Caravaggio died on July 18, 1610 and where he is buried in an unmarked grave.

The walled town of Porto Ercole is practically dripping with character. As we meandered down its steep, stone stairways toward the harbor, we found ourselves stopping every few steps to admire the charming pastel houses tucked into every narrow corner.

Monte Argentario is a side of Tuscany that feels refreshingly distinct. Between the fresh, savory seafood, the warm Mediterranean breeze, the rugged coastline, and the shimmering outline of nearby islands like Giglio floating on the horizon, it’s easy to see why this corner of Italy captures the hearts of those who wander here.

We may have left with unfinished itineraries, but we also left with a promise to return. Monte Argentario isn’t just a place you visit, it’s a destination that stays with you, beckoning you back to uncover the rest of its secrets.