Capalbio is an unspoilt Tuscan hill-town, 2 hours north of Rome. It is ideally situated for the coast, day trips to Pisa, Siena and Florence and also for visiting some of the most beautiful and important Italian Renaissance Gardens such as Villa Lante and Bomarzo.
Travelling to Capalbio, Southern Tuscany
Flights to Rome or Pisa are easily available. Hiring a car is the best option and made all the easier with sat-nav, although map-reading is always a good back-up ... The E80 runs along the coast, past many hill-top towns typical of the Maremma area of Tuscany.
Self-catering in Southern Tuscany
There are several villas on offer across the region, each with their own charm. Many are on farms or small holdings. It is straightforward to book directly with the owners online or through one of the many companies offering villa or apartment holidays. An advantage of this area is the proximity of the hills and the sea – cooling breezes mean that the temperature stays bearable in the summer, or if it does become too hot, the coast is a short drive downhill so having a swimming pool is not essential.
Tourist Attractions and Places of Interest near Capalbio, Tuscany
If staying in and around Capalbio, head for Capalbio Scala. There is a road running along the back of the dunes and intermittently, shade netting amongst the pine trees denotes car parking. Paths wind off through the dunes and the sea breezes lure you towards the coast. There, an expanse of sandy beach awaits. It is an excellent beach for swimming, bathing and kite surfing. Capalbio Scala, like many of the small beach villages, has a cafe with an excellent reputation for fine seafood.
Lago Di Burano is superb for bird watching. Designated a Ramsar site for the internationally important species found there, it has a visitor centre run by the WWF. Guided walks are available and the scenery around the lake is beautiful. Reed beds and marshes lead into the dunes. The lake is one of the few remaining examples of this type of wetland habitat. Most of the other marshes/lagoons have been drained for agriculture.
Further along the coast to the north-west, lies Ansedonia. It is a small town on a rocky promontory above a sheltered, attractive beach. Here it is possible to stumble across an entire Roman city and be the only tourists. Follow the small, brown signs and eventually you will find a museum and the entrance to the city which was the original Roman settlement. There are intact pavements, baths and impressive city walls. In late spring, the whole site is covered in wildflowers.
Capalbio has one other claim to fame - the sculpture garden created by the artist, Niki de Saint Phalle. This alone would make Capalbio a worthwhile destination. The garden is based around tarot symbols and contains grottoes, statues and buildings created from wireframes covered by mosaic tiles. The colours and textures, the weird and wonderful creatures and the sheer amount of labour involved to create this place is staggering.
Tuscan Food and Regional Specialities
No visit to Italy would be complete without mentioning the food. The local specialities are freshly caught seafood and wild boar. Pizzerias are relatively rare and for vegetarians the choice is limited, although the local soup is hearty tomato and bean stew with poached eggs that is both tasty and filling. Local markets and supermarkets stock a beautiful range of fresh vegetables, particularly artichokes in Spring and by self-catering, it is possible to take advantage of the abundant produce available. Didn’t mention the ice cream yet either...Take at least one-a- day for that holiday feeling.
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