The lagoon
of Orbetello , located along the
southern coast of Tuscany is of main ecological interest
, for its peculiar characters, among the brackish wetland
still preserved in Italy.
Orbetello is situated
on a tongue of land projecting westward into a lagoon which
is enclosed on the W. and S. by two long narrow sandy spits,
and on the seaward (S.W.) side by the peninsula of Monte
Argentario. A causeway connecting the
town with this peninsula was built across the lagoon in 1842.
On every side except the landward (E.) side the town is enclosed
by an ancient terrace wall of polygonal work, and tombs have
been discovered in the vicinity and even within the town
itself. On the N. side of the promontory are the remains
of a Roman,- villa partly below sea-level.
The town still has the bastions which the Spaniards built
during the period (1557-1713) when they were masters of
this corner of Italy. There is a large convict prison with
which is connected another at Porto Ercole, on the east side
of the peninsula.
The mother house of the Passionist
order crowns an eminence of Monte Argentario, now strongly
fortified. The salt-water lagoon (II sq. m. in extent), in
the middle of which the town stands, abounds in white fish,
soles and eels.
On the eastern edge of the
Monte Argentario is an active manganese iron ore mine, yielding
some 30,000 tons per annum.
After the fall of the Republic of Siena, when the territory
of Siena passed to Tuscany, Philip II, of Spain retained
Orbetello, Talamone, Monte Argentario and the island of Giannutri
until 1713, under the name of the Reali Stati dei Presidii.
There are still many Spanish names among the inhabitants
of Orbetello. In 1713 this district passed by treaty to the
emperor, ifl 1736 to the king of the two Sicilies, in 1801
to the kingdom of Etruria, and in 1814 to the grand-duchy
of Tuscany.
The cathedral of Orbetello
is small, but the late 14c stonecarving is excellent.
In the past, Orbetello became in fact
a big commercial and trading centre of the Thyrrenian and
Mediterranean Sea Of interest: the Cathedral ,built upon
the ruins of an Etruscan temple and renovated in 1375
Lungomare
delle Crociere is a romantic promenade reminding the flights
across the Atlantic in the thirties; La Rocca ,
built in the XII century.
The core of Orbetello historic centre is Corso Italia, the main road and meeting
point of its inhabitants.
Natural Reserve of the Orbetello Lagoon
The Natural Reserve of the Orbetello Lagoon
is situated about twenty kilometres north of the Lake of
Burano and it surrounds completely the town of Orbetello.
This Lagoon is again marshy but fresh water flows in it and all around you will
see small islands made of lime.
Natural Reserve of the
lake of Burano
The Natural Reserve of the Lake of
Burano is situated at the far south of the Grosseto
Province. In the Reserve there is a marshy salted lake
of only 1 meter in depth and a narrow causeway with sand
dunes which divide the lake from the sea
FOOD: bottarga from Orbetello
Orbetello is one of the few remaining
areas in Italy where bottarga -
salted mullet roe - is produced. Bottarga, one of the country's
best-kept culinary secrets, is removed from the fish and then
salted and air-dried into tongue-like shapes. It's a skilful
process as the sacs containing the eggs must remain intact
in order to keep the bottarga's distinctive briny yet spicy
flavour. It is excellent grated over spaghetti, vegetable dishes
and salads or served in thin flakes with olive oil on warm
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