Orbetello
Encyclopedia
Orbetello is a town and comune
in the province of Grosseto
(Tuscany
), Italy
. It is located c. 35 km south of Grosseto
, on the eponymous lagoon, which is home to an important Natural Reserve.
settlement, which in 280 BC passed under the control of the Romans
, who had founded their colony of Cosa
(near the modern Ansedonia
).
In the Middle Ages it was a possession of the Aldobrandeschi family, who held it until the 14th century, when it was acquired by the city of Orvieto
. After several struggles with the Orsini of Pitigliano
and Orvieto, in the following centuries Orbetello was captured by the Sienese Republic
. In the mid-16th century it was part of the Spanish
puppet State of Presides, becoming its capital. Later it was under the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
and, from the late 19th century, the newly unified Kingdom of Italy.
In 1927-1933, Italo Balbo
's "air cruises" started from Orbetello's lagoon.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the province of Grosseto
Province of Grosseto
The Province of Grosseto is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Grosseto.-Geography:It has an area of 4,504 km², and a total population of 227.498...
(Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
), Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is located c. 35 km south of Grosseto
Grosseto
Grosseto is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of the Province of Grosseto. The city lies 14 km from the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the Maremma, at the centre of an alluvial plain, on the Ombrone river....
, on the eponymous lagoon, which is home to an important Natural Reserve.
History
Orbetello was an ancient EtruscanEtruscan civilization
Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to a civilization of ancient Italy in the area corresponding roughly to Tuscany. The ancient Romans called its creators the Tusci or Etrusci...
settlement, which in 280 BC passed under the control of the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, who had founded their colony of Cosa
Cosa
Cosa was a Latin colonia founded under Roman influence in southwestern Tuscany in 273 BC, perhaps on land confiscated from the Etruscans...
(near the modern Ansedonia
Ansedonia
Ansedonia is a frazione of the comune of Orbetello, in the province of Grosseto, southern Tuscany .It is a renowned tourist resort. The village lies near the ruins of the ancient Roman town of Cosa.-External links:*...
).
In the Middle Ages it was a possession of the Aldobrandeschi family, who held it until the 14th century, when it was acquired by the city of Orvieto
Orvieto
Orvieto is a city and comune in Province of Terni, southwestern Umbria, Italy situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff...
. After several struggles with the Orsini of Pitigliano
Pitigliano
Pitigliano is an Italian town and comune of province of Grosseto in the Maremma area of Tuscany. The town stands on an abrupt tuff butte high above the Olpeta, the Fiora and the Lente rivers.-History:...
and Orvieto, in the following centuries Orbetello was captured by the Sienese Republic
Republic of Siena
The Republic of Siena , was a state originating from the city of Siena in Tuscany, Central Italy.It existed for over four hundreds years, from the late 11th century until the year 1555, when was defeated by the rival Duchy of Florence in alliance with the Spanish crown...
. In the mid-16th century it was part of the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
puppet State of Presides, becoming its capital. Later it was under the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Grand Duchy of Tuscany
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence...
and, from the late 19th century, the newly unified Kingdom of Italy.
In 1927-1933, Italo Balbo
Italo Balbo
Italo Balbo was an Italian Blackshirt leader who served as Italy's Marshal of the Air Force , Governor-General of Libya, Commander-in-Chief of Italian North Africa , and the "heir apparent" to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.After serving in...
's "air cruises" started from Orbetello's lagoon.
Main sights
- The city walls (5th century BC).
- Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, built over an Etruscan-Roman temple and restructured in 1375 along Tuscan-GothicGothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
lines. Preceded by a step, it houses some notable 15th century frescoes. - The Spanish Forte delle Saline, in the frazione of Albinia.
- Remains of the Roman city of Cosa in the frazione of AnsedoniaAnsedoniaAnsedonia is a frazione of the comune of Orbetello, in the province of Grosseto, southern Tuscany .It is a renowned tourist resort. The village lies near the ruins of the ancient Roman town of Cosa.-External links:*...
. - Ruins of the Monastery of Sant'Angelo.