ARGENTARIO OSA VILLAGE
This summer, the boys and I spent a splendid week at Argentario Osa Village in Talamone. We couldn’t have chosen a better base from where to explore Monte Argentario and its neighboring towns.
Argentario Osa Village exceeded our expectations. We enjoyed every bit of our one week stay there. It’s a paradise especially for families traveling with kids. The resort has many activities and games lined up for the little ones throughout the day, which gives parents some ample time to kick back and relax.
Our family apartment had two bedrooms, a spacious living room, and a fully equipped kitchen—which turned out to be a blessing for the days we didn’t feel like going out for a meal. This summer was exceptionally hot so we were grateful for the air conditioning system in our room. It was bliss coming back to some cool air after basking under the scorching heat of the sun all day long.
Argentario Osa Village provides shuttle services to and from the beach for the convenience of its guests, with designated pick-up and drop-off hours. On the days when we were happy to skip the beach, we lazed around the village’s swimming pool, which comes with a visually pleasing backdrop of Tuscany hills and all-day open bar—perfect for when our Aperol Spritz cravings kicked in.
Just across the village was a field of hay rolls. On our last evening, we caught a glimpse of the most flawless sunset over the field. The combination is almost magical. My boys had a good laugh as it took me a while to figure out how to climb on top of one of the hay rolls without breaking any part of my body, but once I was all settled, I captured the most gorgeous shot for the gram and for the memories, thanks to my Instagram husband.
MONTE ARGENTARIO
Apart from beach-bumming and wasting a few days by the sea, we also explored Monte Argentario, a municipality and a peninsula in the province of Grosetto in Tuscany. Monte Argentario is connected with the mainland by three spits of land which form two lagoons, Ponente on the west and Levante on the east. The two main villages on Monte Argentario are Porto Santo Stefano, facing north; and Porto Ercole, facing south.
PORTO SANTO STEFANO
Porto Santo Stefano is a chic seaport town. It was blissful strolling along its seaside promenade especially at the golden hour when the sun is setting and one can bask in the alluring colors of the changing sky over the turquoise sea, luxurious shipyard, and panoramic vistas of colorful houses perched on the hill.
I got carried away by the beauty and general vibe of the town. Strolling here reminded me of Saint Tropez in Côte d’Azur. It was all glamour. The true essence of La Vita Dolce! I almost felt like if I looked around furtively, I just might have spotted Angelina Jolie basking on a luxe yacht.
PORTO ERCOLE
Compared to Porto Santo Stefano, Porto Ercole is smaller, but more alive and just as beautiful as its sister seaside town.
After enjoying an afternoon stroll along its busy harbor, we took a trip uphill and got lost in the narrow passages of this ancient walled town. If you’re familiar with famous Italian painters, then it might interest you to note that Porto Ercole is where Caravaggio died on July 18, 1610 and where he is buried in an unmarked grave.
The walled town of Porto Ercole is imbued with character. As we went down its steep stairways finding our way back to the harbor, we couldn’t help but stop every second to take in its picturesque little houses tucked in every other corner. From here, the harbor played peek-a-boo from a distance.
Unfortunately, we only managed to get a taste of what Monte Argentario had to offer. There’s still so much to see and experience here. Each beautiful fortress perched on top of hill seems alive with stories to tell. But though our visit was short, it was a good opportunity to learn about the long maritime history of Monte Argentario. The culture, natural beauty, scrumptious seafood, perfect weather, ravishing coast, and the paradisal islands like Giglio that we didn’t get a chance to visit makes this part of Tuscany unique and instinctively popular.
ROME
Monte Argentario is two hours away from Rome. On our last day, the boys and I split. They decided to spend one more day by the sea while I took the train to the Eternal City.
Twenty-four hours are not enough to even scratch the surface of Roma and its many gems, but I made the most of it. Here’s the link to my short and sweet Roman holiday: A Delightful 24 Hours In Rome.
Lora By Lora
LORA BY LORA 