Capalbio, la piccola Atene della costa meridionale toscana

Capalbio, in the province of Grosseto, is the southernmost municipality in the Tuscan region. Its name derives from Caput Album or Campus Albus and it is said to be due to the white alabasters typical of the area. Its history is rich in culture and fervent artistic movements, so much so that it has earned the nickname "Little Athens."

Capalbio, the southernmost municipality in Tuscany

Capalbio, in the province of Grosseto (map) is the southernmost Tuscan municipality of the region. Its name derives from Caput Album or Campus Albus and it would have been due to the alabasters whites typical of the place; in fact, its coat of arms has been made up of a albino headIn the fifteenth century, the Sienese lion was added to this symbol.

In reality, the history of Capalbio dates back to well before the Middle Ages. We know that the area was inhabited by the Etruscans but the first documents on this city tell us that in 805 the castle of Capalbio was donated by Charlemagne to the Abbey of Saints Anastasius and Vincenzo alle Tre Fontane. Capalbio then passed in the 12th century to the Aldobrandeschi and in the following century it became part of the dominions of Orvieto.

Capalbio later lived under the dominion of the Republic of Siena a very flourishing period. The following centuries saw the city pass from hand to hand: first the Spanish, then the Medici, then the Austrians and the Bourbons. In short, a very troubled history, testimony to the strategic importance of this settlement. On the other hand, this succession of dominations favored a notable artistic and cultural development of the city, so much so that it earned the nickname of "The little Athens“.

The double walls of Capalbio

A splendid medieval village, Capalbio is completely surrounded by ancient walls, a true viewpoint over the city and the surrounding hills. double wall circuit It offers the opportunity to walk along much of the ancient patrol paths. The first city walls were built by the Aldobrandeschi family between the 11th and 12th centuries for defense and observation purposes.

Only in the fifteenth century, the Republic of Siena decided to add a further, more external order of walls and the Senese Gate where the 1418 plaque commemorating the event is still visible. From the walls, there is a splendid view of the Aldobrandesca fortress, in the heart of the historic center, and of the entire valley covered in Mediterranean scrub. This is the last stretch of the Maremma Tuscany, of which, it can be said, Capalbio is the true capital.

Capalbio, capital of the Lower Maremma region of Tuscany

There Capalbio Fortress It is located at the highest point of the city and consists of the ancient quadrangular tower to which the noble palace was added in the Renaissance period Collacchioni.

Under Sienese rule, the fortress became one of the southernmost outposts of the Republic. Of particular interest, in the coastal area of the municipality of Capalbio, is the Fort of Macchiatonda, also called Tower or Macchiatonda farmhouseBuilt by the Spanish in the 17th century for defensive purposes, the fort served as a lookout point disguised as a residential building. Decommissioned in the early 19th century, the fort later fell into disuse.

The Churches of Capalbio and the Papal Customs

In the little Athens Even the churches do not disappoint those who love art and architecture: starting from the Church of San NicolaBuilt in the 12th century, it still preserves frescoes from the medieval and Renaissance periods. The church features a splendid blend of Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance elements: a true artistic treasure made in Tuscany.

Also very interesting is theOratory of Providence, which preserves 16th-century frescoes attributed to Pinturicchio. The 20th-century frescoes, however, are Church of the Immaculate Heart, in neo-Romanesque style, the Church of Santa Maria Goretti and the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Another interesting testimony of the history of the little Athens Tuscany is made up of papal customs, located on the southern border of the territory of Capalbio, where in ancient times the border between the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and it State of the ChurchAlong the Via Aurelia, in the Chiarone area, we find the Chiarone Palace, a building with almost one hundred rooms, a papal apartment, stables, and a prison. Near Pescia Fiorentina we find a second customs house, Villa del Fontino, which has now been restored and transformed into a farmhouse.

The Tarot Garden

But when we talk about Capalbio, we cannot help but also talk about the splendid nature that surrounds it, from the lush green of the hinterland to the transparent blue of its sea: the city has been awarded with the five sails from Legambiente – Touring Club Italiano and is the first position in the Legambiente Blue Guide.

The wonderful is also the Tarot Garden, a two-hectare artistic park in the locality Garavicchio, created by the French-American artist Niki de Saint PhalleThe artist, fascinated by Antoni Gaudí's Parc Guell in Barcelona, has populated the park with colourful statues inspired by the Tarot cardsSince 1998, these statues have fascinated and impressed the many visitors who decide to discover this magical place, suspended in time and space.

Cultural events

Those who visit little Athens in summer can also enjoy the events which enrich the cultural offering of the area. First of all, the Capalbio Cinema International Short Film Festival, Inaugurated by Michelangelo Antonioni in 1994 and now in its 20th edition: an overview of the Italian and international short films that liven up Capalbio's July in Piazza Magenta.

Those who love reading, however, cannot miss Capalbio Books, an event dedicated to the pleasure of reading, which allows readers to meet and interact with many writers.

In short, Capalbio is a true pearl of Tuscany: art, history, and natural beauty are truly at home in the capital of the Maremma.

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