Talamone
Talamone is a splendid city in the Maremma which faces the wonderful coast of the Mar del Tirreno.
Situated amongst absolutely wonderful and uneven coasts whose characteristics give this small Southern Tuscan town a unique atmosphere, Talamone is in fact one of the most precious and beautiful tourist locations in the Maremman territory; managing to join the splendor of the sea and the beauty of the country into one magical location.
The town is located in the province of Grosseto, extremely close to the enchanting sites of Monte Argentario, home to lovely villages and many natural attractions.
The beauty of the town comes from the extraordinary scenery and from the richness of its architectonics and art. Amongst its streets and alleys you can admire monuments, churches and ancient palazzi rich in works of art, which act as a real testimony to the centuries old history of Talamone.
The city is custodian of interesting and important constructions, which are undoubtedly splendid and captivating, and definitely deserve to be appreciated in all their beauty.
Walking through its historic centre and admiring every structure and every monument, is the best way to truly appreciate the splendor of this city on the sea.
Not to miss:
The Church of St. Maria Assunta: dating back to a recent age, it was in fact built in the first half of the 20th century on the ruins of a more ancient church. Inside you can admire splendid works of art, including the wooden relic of St. Bernardino, an 18th century baptismal font and some frescoes.
La Rocca (The Fortress): a symbolic building of the village of Talamone. Of the original structure there remain only the ruins of the surrounding wall and part of the fortress. Built during the Middle Ages it was constructed in the high part of the town and served as watch tower.
In the country which surrounds the town there has been discovered, in the last ten years, an important Etruscan ruin, which appears to have been a very ancient pediment. From this site, archaeologists have discovered numerous ruins, which are today housed in a museum in Orbetello, where you can admire the pediment depicting the mythical scene “Sette a Tebe” (Seven against Tebe by Aeschylus).
Museum of the Orbetello Lagoon: a fascinating museum which tells of and describes the history of fishing and the ancient traditions of the lagoon. Inside there a many interesting exhibitions of photos, instruments and tools tied to the past. As well as numerous explicative panels and reproductions which describe the ground and sea aspects of the magical ecosystem of Orbetello.
History:
The origins of the Maremman town of Talamone are lost in the centuries, however we do know about the existence of an ancient town in the Etruscan era. From 225 B.C, the Tuscan town was the scene of a violent war between the Romans and the Celtics before becoming part of the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages Talamone fell under the domination of the Aldobrandeschi family, the Republic of Siena and the powerful De Medici clan of Florence. It then passed under the control of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, before becoming an important centre for the Stato dei Presidi Spagnolo (State of Spanish Presidi), under which it remained for another three centuries. It finally was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy in 1860.