Art and culture in Punta Ala and Castiglione della Pescaia: what to do and see

The area of Castiglione della Pescaia and Punta Ala is the quintessence of enchanting places, a crystal clear sea and relaxation These two Tuscan towns have not only preserved castles, ancient walls and towers, religious buildings and spaces for art and archaeology, they also offer cultural events throughout the year. What is more surprising is the high concentration of beautiful attractions of historic, artistic, archaeological and monumental importance that also make them a popular destination for cultural tourism There are many places of Etruscan and Roman origin scattered around, such as Roselle, Vetulonia and Follonica. Or the tiny villages of Buriano, Scarlino and Tirli. Last but not least is the Castello Balbo, the castle, also known as Torre di Troia Nuova, built in the sixteenth century by Cosimo de’ Medici as a defence against Turkish piracy. The history of Punta Ala is linked closely with some major historic characters. Until the 30s, the area was called "Punta Troia": the name was changed by the famous Italian aviator, Italo Balbo, who fell in love with the area as he was flying overhead and decided to purchase these fortifications and restore them together with land, which he proceeded to reclaim. He established his holiday home here, which went on to take his name. Furthermore, when he looked at the promontory from above, Balbo saw it looked like a seagull's wing ("ala" in Italian). Hence the name "Punta Ala". Currently, the Castle is privately owned.   All these beautiful historic and artistic attractions make it worth buying a house today in Castiglione della Pescaia and Punta Ala.

Discovery the events at Castiglione della Pescaia > https://visitcastiglionedellapescaia.it/eventi-news/  

The events in Maremma > https://www.tuttomaremma.com/en/events.htm

The archaeological heritage and the museums

Let's start with the necropolis in Vetulonia, which stands on a hill overlooking the ancient Lake Prile, which has since dried up.  It is one of the largest and most well-known in Tuscany, with burial grounds that extend over countryside of thick vegetation and olive groves. The tombs of special interest are the "Tomba della Pietrera" and the "Tomba del Diavolino", both built with a square chamber and false dome, dating back to the 7th century BC.
We recommend a visit to the Civic Archaeological Museum in Vetulonia to discover the history and life of the ancient Etruscan people. Divided into seven rooms on two floors, it exhibits funerary accoutrements, grave goods from the Circolo dei Leoncini d’Argento and Fibula d’Oro tombs, the famous stone stele of the warrior Auvele Feluske and tombs of aristocrats. Not to be missed is a tour of the Roman villa of the Paduline, just a few steps from the town centre of Castiglione della Pescaia. The villa was a luxurious building with mosaics, frescos and rooms that held the thermal baths. It dates back to a period between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD.
The nature reserve of Diaccia Botrono holds the Multimedia Musuem in Casa Rossa Ximenes, built by Leonardo Ximenes in the 18th century to commence the reclamation work of the entire area. Electronic panels enable you to use the video cameras, whereas an archive gives a detailed explanation of the characteristics of the flora and fauna there.  The Diaccia Botrona Nature Reserve is a protected wetland with a history, nature and landscape of exceptional value.

Lastly, there is a plethora of art and archaeology exhibitions organised throughout the year.

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