Did you know that pirates were a thing in Tuscany? It’s not quite a Pirates-of-the-Caribbean type of story, but the coast of the Maremma has its fair share of gory stories to tell…
The serene beauty of the Tuscan Maremma coastline, with its wild beaches, ancient villages, and sun-drenched hills, may seem far removed from tales of danger and invasion. Yet, this very landscape was once a frontline in the fight against pirates. From the Middle Ages through the Renaissance, the shores of the Maremma were frequently raided by Saracens and Barbary corsairs.
Good things can come out of bad situations, though. These events led to the construction of a vast network of coastal watchtowers that still dot the landscape today. They have also left behind a fair number of cool legends and folklore events!
Let’s start from the watchtowers! Many of those built between the 13th and 17th centuries still stand intact. The Medici family was very keen to protect their maritime interests, so they invested a fair amount of their Florins to expand this network in the 15th and 16th centuries. You can see the watchtowers strategically perched on top of cliffs and promontories, where they served as early warning systems. Guards used smoke by day and fire by night to signal danger from one point to the next. This way, they could alert people in the villages inland of the approaching ships. Some of the most interesting examples include the Torre di Collelungo, Torre delle Cannelle, and the evocatively named Torre della Bella Marsilia (literally, pretty Marsilia’s Tower), located within the Maremma Regional Park (a really cool place to visit, and an easy day trip from our village).
Torre della Bella Marsilia comes with a legend: the tale of Margherita Marsili, a young noblewoman kidnapped by the Ottoman corsair Barbarossa in 1543. Known as the “Bella Marsilia,” she was taken to Constantinople, where, according to the legend, she caught the eye of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and became the mother of Selim II. Many claim to have seen her ghost near the tower at dusk! It must have certainly been a chilly experience! For those who don’t believe in ghosts, legends like this are still a reminder of the region’s goriest past!
Another good side of this piracy past is the events commemorating it in local culture. A cool one is held every year in May in Porto Ercole called La Notte dei Pirati. The harbour becomes a stage for reenactments, treasure hunts, and fireworks. A fun way to experience Maremma’s history and learn about its connection to the sea while sipping a glass of Ansonica, the local wine. Porto Ercole is a lovely town about 1 hour from Casina di Rosa. It is a great day trip!
We always recommend that our guests visit these spots as well as more famous places because they offer more than scenic views: they allow you to take a journey into a lesser-known side of Tuscany, whether you decide to go hiking through the national park or sip wine in a bar by the coast. But careful! If you spend time on the beach at night, you might have spine-tingling encounters!
Planning a visit to Tuscany and looking for a place to stay? Check our holiday home in the Upper Maremma Casina di Rosa!
