Hotel L'Approdo
Castiglione della Pescaia - Via Ponte Giorgini 29
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Castiglione della Pescaia is the location in the Maremma Grossetana that brings together lovers of ancient villages and avid fans of seaside holidays. Here you do not have to choose: you can have both.
The historic core of Castiglione della Pescaia is a charming medieval village perched on Monte Petriccio, with walls, towers, a castle, characteristic corners and panoramic views. Getting lost in its narrow streets in search of the most beautiful views is a real enchantment, just like in all the most beautiful villages in Tuscany.
At the foot of the hill stretches the coastal area, and here we find everything we can expect from a lively seaside resort: a seafront promenade, beaches, a canal-harbour from which fishing boats depart, and a marina where it is possible to hire private boats to reach the most beautiful beaches of Argentario and the islands of Elba, Capraia and Giglio. It is also the nightlife area.
The romance of the village and the carefree seaside holidays are the two best known faces of Castiglione della Pescaia, but this location is also suitable for those who love nature and culture.
To the former, Castiglione offers a pine forest, a lagoon and countryside perfect as a pleasant diversion from city life and seaside relaxation; to the latter, historic palazzos, a contemporary art park and the tomb of one of the most important writers of the 20th century.
Castiglione della Pescaia’s attractions are scattered throughout the town, from the historic village perched on the hill to the seafront and immediate surroundings.
The landmark building of Castiglione della Pescaia is the magnificent castle perched atop the hill on which the old town stands. Unfortunately, it is privately owned and can only be visited inside during special events. However, if you have the opportunity, we recommend going inside because from the castle you can enjoy splendid panoramic views of the sea and the countryside behind the village.
The original core is very old, dating back to the 10th century, and consisted solely of a square-based watchtower. Its current appearance is more recent and is due to the Aragonese in the 15th century, with some modifications made by Cosimo I de Medici a century later.
The walls connect 11 medieval and Renaissance towers and 3 gates.
Another attraction in the upper part of Castiglione della Pescaia is the Church of San Giovanni Battista, a religious building leaning against the walls. The locals affectionately call it the Chiesona.
It was built in the 16th century out of a former arms depot; the bell tower, carved out of one of the castle towers, was built in the early 20th century to a design by Lorenzo Porciatti.
The interior retains the simple and austere appearance of the exterior and is rather dark, but contains an important 17th-century silver reliquary and, above all, the relics of Saint William of Aquitaine known as Malavalle, the patron saint of the city.
Among the historical palaces that can be admired in the historic village of Castiglione della Pescaia, the best known is Palazzo Centurioni . Built during the Renaissance, it was the centre of administrative life for centuries; today it is an active cultural centre.
Moving to the lower part of Castiglione della Pescaia, the modern part, the top attraction is the Lungomare, the nerve centre of town life and nightlife. During your walk along the promenade, look up towards the upper town to admire the castle and the Church of San Giovanni from below.
In the evening, if you want clubs, entertainment and lots of people, stay on the seafront; if you want a more relaxed drink, move to the Corso della Libertà area.
The Diaccia Botrona Nature Reserve is a large wetland area that extends behind the Pineta del Tombolo between Castiglione della Pescaia and Grosseto and represents what remains of an ancient lake reclaimed in the 18th century.
The landscape is typically lacustrine, characterised by rushes and reeds among which numerous birds hide.
Inside the reserve it is possible to follow itineraries on foot or by bicycle and participate in birdwatching activities with ornithologists or in photographic workshops. The experience not to be missed, however, is the guided tour of the reserve by boat.
The Casa Rossa Ximenes Museum is an ideal gateway to the Diaccia Botrona Nature Reserve. It is a building constructed in the second half of the 18th century that served as a lock and regulated the flow of water between the marsh and the sea. It takes its name from the architect who signed the project, commissioned by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo Lorena.
Today it houses the nature reserve visitor centre and an interactive multimedia museum.
It may not be a must-see attraction for everyone, but if you love literature during your holiday in Castiglione, take a moment to pay homage to Italo Calvino, one of the greatest Italian writers of our time, who spent long periods of time here and wrote many of his works.
Italo Calvino’s grave is located in the municipal cemetery: in accordance with the writer’s wishes, it is humble, a simple marble slab surrounded by hedges of aromatic plants.
The Return Journey Garden is an Environmental and Contemporary Art Park designed by bio-architect and artist Rodolfo Lacquaniti. It is an open space where the languages of contemporary art (installations, video art, sculptures, photography, live arts…) are used to reflect on consumer society. Many of the works are in fact made from reused materials, waste and refuse.
The park can only be visited by appointment.
The beaches of Castiglione della Pescaia are able to satisfy all tastes, whether you are looking for comfortable beaches with all services or for total immersion in nature.
The two town beaches, closest to the historic town, are the Spiaggia di Ponente (Western Beach) and the Spiaggia di Levante (Eastern Beach): both are long, sandy beaches with shallow waters. The former can be reached on foot, while the latter can be easily reached by city bus.
Both are equipped beaches with numerous bathing establishments and services. Ponente is the busiest and is recommended for those who want entertainment and opportunities for meetings; Levante is quieter, suitable for families and in general for those who want comfort but do not like confusion.
Completely different scenery and atmospheres await those who move a few kilometres from the centre of Castiglione to lay their towel on the Rocchette Beach, in Roccamare.
It is a wild-looking beach nestled between high rocky walls covered in dense vegetation; most of it is sandy, but there is also a small area of pebbles and rocks. It can be reached on foot along a path of about 400 metres; the entrance to the path can be reached by bus.
Further north of Spiaggia Rocchette is the seaside village of Punta Ala, located on a promontory at the southern end of the Gulf of Follonica. Here there are two beaches, both sandy, with free areas and others equipped.
Even further away, reachable only by car, is Cala Violina, a beach known for a very unusual feature: the presence of a particular quartz makes it possible to hear a soft sound, comparable to the melody of a violin, when stepping on the sand.
There are two main choices for those wishing to book accommodation in Castiglione della Pescaia: sleeping in the historic village or near the beach. The accommodation facilities in the village are mostly b&b, guesthouses and flats; on the seafront, the offer consists mainly of hotels, studios, holiday homes, campsites and holiday villages.
Sleeping in the village is recommended for a romantic weekend, while for a beach holiday it is more comfortable to stay near the beaches. Sea view rooms are always the most popular, so if you want to grab one, book well in advance.
Then there is a third option, sleeping in the surrounding countryside: this is the ideal choice for those who want to immerse themselves in nature, far from the hustle and bustle. Be careful, though: the agritourisms and rural houses a few kilometres from Castiglione tend to be medium-high-end.
If you want to treat yourself to something special, they are perfect, but if you want something inexpensive, it is better to look elsewhere.
Reaching Castiglione della Pescaia by car is very easy. If arriving from the north, take the Livorno-Grosseto highway, exit at Follonica nord, and follow the signs for Castiglione.
If instead you are arriving from the south, the recommended exit is Grosseto Sud. Follow the signs for Marina di Grosseto and take the SS322, from there you will find signs for Castiglione della Pescaia.
Getting to Castiglione della Pescaia by public transport almost always requires at least one change. The town does not have a railway station: the nearest is Grosseto, served by regional trains on the Rome-Pisa line; from Florence you almost always need a change in Livorno. From the Grosseto train station you can reach Castiglione della Pescaia by local bus.
If you are already in Tuscany, thebus is perhaps a more convenient solution than the train. Regional buses connect Castiglione della Pescaia with the main towns in the provinces of Grosseto, Arezzo and Siena.
The nearest airport to Castiglione della Pescaia is Pisa.
What's the weather at Castiglione della Pescaia? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Castiglione della Pescaia for the next few days.
Castiglione della Pescaia is a municipality in the province of Grosseto located along the coast of northern Tuscany. It is about 20 kilometres from the provincial capital, 170 km from Florence, 135 km from Pisa and 95 km from Siena.
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