Porto Santo Stefano is located on the slopes of Monte Argentario, in the Province of Grosseto, part of the region of Tuscany. While there is no train station in the town, it is possible to travel by train, from Pisa to Orbetello, where you can either catch a bus to the town of Porto Santo Stefano, or do what we did, and reserve one of the two taxis in the area, to pick you up. When traveling with luggage, the taxi always wins, in my book! We had rented an apartment for our stay here, and while it was in the town proper, it was situated high on the slopes of Monte Argentario, meaning that in order to get to anything in the center, it required taking a very long, steep, and at night, dangerously-overgrown, bug-infested, dark stairway. After our first night, we decided to spend our evenings in! That said, the town itself is really quite nice! I would just recommend staying down near the port, instead of up in the more residential area.
About halfway down, the stairs are intersected by a street. However, from that point on, they are wider and cleaner.
Like most coastal Italian towns, Porto Santo Stefano has a lively waterfront promenade, lined with restaurants, cafés, and shops.
A plaque on a building commemorates the fact that Giuseppe Garibaldi stopped here, to replenish his supply of water and coal, during the Expedition of the Thousand.
Another plaque recalls the time when the area was used as a control station for those attempting to enter the mainland, in an effort to stop disease and illnesses from spreading.
A plaque marks the house where Francesco Fanciulli was born in 1853. Fanciulli was an American Band Director and Composer, and led the United States Marine Band from 1892 through 1897.
The Chiesa di Santo Stefano, the town’s main church, dates from the 17th century.
Next up: More from Porto Santo Stefano, including a visit to the Fortezza Spagnola, or the Spanish Fort!
Note: This blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations which may appear. If you have enjoyed this post, please, check out our archives for more posts from Tuscany, as well as other Italian destinations. Grazie!