Porto Santo Stefano

Porto Santo Stefano is the larger of the two places ( capital ) of the Italian municipality of Monte Argentario. The seaport located on the north side of the Monte Argentario peninsula on the Tyrrhenian Sea.

History

In Roman maps appear at Monte Argentario ports with the names Portus Traianus, Portus ad Cetarias and Portus Incitaria. However, a continuity to the present Porto Santo Stefano is undetectable, because, as the harbor naval base of Siena was only since the 14th century, present documents.

To protect against pirate attacks in 1442 the Torre Argentiera and some other coastal watchtowers were built.

Only after the fall of Siena 1555 and collection of the territory by the Spanish Habsburgs under King Philip II, the medieval town developed under the Governor Orejon Nunez de Avila in the Stato dei Presidia. The Spaniards used the site both as a military base as well as the merchant fleet.

On May 9, 1646 in Porto Santo Stefano was first conquered by French troops, who, however, had it two months later again publish the Habsburgs. In addition, Porto Santo Stefano told the story of the Spanish garrison State: 1707 it fell to Austria, in 1737 the Bourbons. 1801 club imitated Napoleon him in his Etruscan Republic; after its demise in the Vienna Congress in 1815 came the territory of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and 1860 to the Italian nation-state.

Attractions

  • The massive Fortezza Spagnola above the village was constructed in the early 17th century by the Spanish Habsburgs (Vice Regent Don Parafan de Ribera ). The access from the land side to the two-story building on a square plan (35 mx 35 m ) occurs via a staircase with a drawbridge. In the courtyard there is a cistern, flanked by six rooms for the garrison. It has access to a terrace overlooking the harbor. Upstairs you can enter a second terrace. Relics of the Spanish defenses and loopholes are still visible.
  • The Old Town with colorful houses ( dominant beige and rose ) was rebuilt after the Second World War in the medieval borgo- style again.
  • At Porto Vecchio Italians have their yachts.
  • At the fishing port of Porto del Valle held daily fish market, from where boats depart to the neighboring islands of Giglio and Giannutri.

Economy

The steadily grown since the 60s, tourism has replaced fishing as the main source of income end of the 20th century.

The importance of the place as the residence and marina upmarket is the sister of Fiat patriarch Giovanni Agnelli, who built their villa there, almost succeeded. Susanna Agnelli, who was a long -time mayor of the Comune of Monte Argentario, was also involved in environmental protection and halt the building speculation.

Personalities of the city

  • Susanna Agnelli (1922-2009), politician, mayor
  • Benedetta Barzini (* 1943), Photo Model
  • Francesco Fanciulli (1853-1915), composer
  • Maria Maddalena dell'Incarnazione (1770-1824), nun, foundress and mystic
  • Giorgio Giugiaro ( born 1938 ), industrial designer
  • Olin Stephens (1908-2008), yacht designer
  • Luca Coscioni (1967-2006), politician
  • Brando Giordani (1931-2012), television director
  • Angelo Comastri ( born 1943 ), cardinal, 1979-1990 Pastor of Santo Stefano Protomartire in Porto Santo Stefano
  • Raffaella Carrà ( born 1943 ), actress, singer and television presenter
Italy State of Presidi Isola del Giglio
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