Porto Ercole
Porto Ercole | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region |  Tuscany |
| Province | Grosseto (GR) |
| Comune | Monte Argentario |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
• Total | 2,810 |
| Demonym | Portercolesi |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 58018 |
| Dialing code | 0564 |
| Website | Official website |
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Porto Ercole is an Italian town located in the municipality of Monte Argentario, in the Province of Grosseto, Tuscany. It is one the two major towns that form the township, along with Porto Santo Stefano. Its name means "Port Hercules".
Geography
The resort is located on the eastern side of Monte Argentario promontory, and is 40 kilometres (25 miles) far from Grosseto, 7 km (4.3 mi) from Orbetello and about 12 km (7.5 mi) from Porto Santo Stefano. In norht of Porto Ercole is located the Laguna di Orbetello, and the Tombolo della Feniglia.
History
Porto Ercole was first mentioned in 1296, when Margherita Aldobrandeschi, countess of Savona, ordered the construction of a tower named Torre di Terra, the oldest core of the town.[1]
In 1610, the Italian Baroque painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio|Caravaggio, exiled by the Pope, died in Porto Ercole on his way back to Rome and was buried in a local church.[1][2][3]
Transportation
Porto Ercole was once connected by rail to Orbetello via a small rail line to Porto Santo Stefano, closed in 1944. The former station, named Porto Ercole-Terrarossa, was located 4 km far from the town, in the hamlet of Terrarossa.[4][5]
It counts two harbours: Porto Vecchio, the old town's port, and Cala Galera, located in a northern bay.[6]
Twin towns
Caravaggio (Lombardy, Italy; since 1973)[7]
Photogallery
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View of the town and, upon the hill, the fortress named Forte Stella -
Forte Stella -
Porta della Rocca
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See also
References
- ^ a b Template:It icon Municipal history of Monte Argentario
- ^ Church bones 'belong to Caravaggio', researchers say (BBC website)
- ^ Vatican reveals Caravaggio painting 'found' in Rome (BBC website)
- ^ Template:It icon Infos at ferrovieabbandonate.it
- ^ it:Ferrovia Orbetello-Porto Santo Stefano
- ^ Template:It icon Port of Cala Galera website
- ^ Template:It icon Infos at tuscanytravels.info
External links
