Ansedonia: Ancient History, Coast and Nature

Ancient traces on the promontory

Ansedonia takes you right into a landscape where Roman history, the coast and Mediterranean nature come together. The ancient Roman city of Cosa was founded in 273 BC and is located on the promontory of Ansedonia. The Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cosa is situated nearby. Its first room houses finds from the acropolis, the forum and private homes. The archaeological site of Cosa e Ansedonia is also nearby. This makes it possible to understand the history of the place not only through individual structures, but also through the connection between the city, harbour and landscape.

Towers, harbour and water engineering

The Chiesa di San Biagio was built on an ancient Roman mausoleum. The Torre di San Pancrazio was constructed by the Spanish in the second half of the 16th century to strengthen the defence system of the Stato dei Presidi. The Torre di San Biagio is a former Sienese watchtower on a cliff by the sea; during Saracen raids, it was used for observation and defence. The Torre Puccini, dating from the 15th century, stands on the shore of Spiaggia della Tagliata.

Portus Cosanus, the harbour of Cosa, was located at the foot of the promontory of Ansedonia. The natural and artificial waterways are also part of this historical context. The Spacco della Regina is a natural cleft in the rock whose water power was initially used to manage the water of Portus Cosanus. The “Etruscan” Tagliata is an artificial channel, approximately 80 metres long, carved entirely into the rock. It was intended to improve the flow of water between the sea and the lagoon and to protect the harbour facilities of Cosa from silting up. Movable barriers were installed at the Spacco della Regina to ensure constant water circulation and counteract the silting of the harbour; the recesses created for this purpose are still visible in the rock.

Maquis, nature reserve and paths

The character of Ansedonia also includes the Promontorio di Ansedonia, surrounded by lush Mediterranean maquis. The Riserva naturale Duna di Feniglia, a state-protected natural area established in 1971, is located nearby. An unpaved path runs through this nature reserve in the area around Ansedonia. It can be used on foot and by bicycle and is closed to urban traffic. This places historical themes and a landscape with protected nature side by side as distinct focal points.

Beaches and destinations in the surrounding area

The La capannuccia beach is located near Ansedonia. Braccio beach is in the surrounding area, as is Riva del Marchese beach. Tantulli Ulisse beach is located in the wider regional area around Ansedonia. The historic site of Tombolo in Mezzogiorno Di Feniglia is also nearby. The Rocca Spagnola fortress is located in the area around Ansedonia. The different spatial indications are important for your planning: not every destination is in the immediate vicinity, and the wider regional area broadens the historical and scenic perspective beyond the actual town.

Which accommodation suits your travel plans

When choosing a hotel or other accommodation in Ansedonia, you can base your decision on the main focus of your trip. Those interested in ancient urban history will find a wealth of historical highlights in Cosa, the museum, Portus Cosanus and the water-engineering structures. Anyone wishing to combine landscapes and activity can focus on the Mediterranean maquis, the Duna di Feniglia nature reserve and the unpaved path. The beaches and the historical destinations farther away in the region complement this selection, without suggesting that all places are at the same distance.

For further orientation, you can also take a look at Giannella, Albinia, San Donato Vecchio, Talamone, Orbetello Scalo and Fonteblanda.

For the higher-level travel overview: Orbetello.