In June we're picking up a rental car in Civittavechia and driving to Tarquinia to see the Etruscan tombs & museum and then will be driving to Sienna the next day. We currently have plans to overnight at a rennovated farmhouse on Argentario, close to Porto Ercule. I assumed we'd walk on the famous beach near there and ramble around Porto Ercule. I started reading about the Baratti area and Populonia and wondered which would be better for us. We prefer undeveloped locations to high rise development. We're not into sunbathing or swimming so a rocky beach is fine, perhaps even better for the atmospheric cragginess. We're interested in walking on the beach and beautiful views and just relaxing by the sea at a restaurant. Any opinions? Thanks in advance for any help.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16243 posts
I haven't been to Baratti since the mid 1980's, but I'm sure there are no high rise developments in either place. i would stay at the Argentario, near Porto Ercole (with an "o" not "u") or Porto Santo Stefano. There are more things to do and lots of nice restaurants in those two villages. It's very beautiful and pristine and there are plenty of secluded beaches too (see the link below). If you have a car you can still visit Baratti and Populonia on a day trip, they are close enough (1.5 hrs). From Argentario you can also visit, in the interior, Capalbio, Pitigliano, Saturnia, and on the coast: Talamone, Giglio Island, Castiglion Della Pescaia, and, if you like nature, the Uccellina Park (I think now it's called Parco Della Maremma) next to Talamone.
http://www.prolocomonteargentario.com/spiagge.php
Posted by
OP
Columbus, USA
404 posts
Thanks very much for your reply. There is no substitute for the advice of someone who has actually been there.