Porto Ercole ( Italian: [ˈpɔrto ˈɛrkole] ) is an Italian town located in the municipality of Monte Argentario , in the Province of Grosseto , Tuscany . It is one of the two major towns that form the township, along with Porto Santo Stefano . Its name means "Port Hercules ". It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").
6-541: The resort is located on the eastern side of Monte Argentario promontory , and is 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Grosseto , 7 km (4.3 mi) from Orbetello and about 12 km (7.5 mi) from Porto Santo Stefano. To the north of Porto Ercole are located the Laguna di Orbetello and the Tombolo della Feniglia. Porto Ercole was first mentioned in 1296, when Margherita Aldobrandeschi , countess of Sovana , ordered
12-828: The American Revolution on the site of the former Fort Duquesne , which belonged to the French during the French and Indian War. The fort was located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, providing an additional layer of defense. The surrounding area eventually became the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . In Ireland , many promontory forts were built by the ancient Celts for defense against invaders. These forts were often located on isolated peninsulas or headlands and were difficult to access, making them ideal for defending against enemy attacks. The ancient town of Ras Bar Balla in southern Somalia
18-479: The erosive forces that have removed the softer rock to the sides of it, or are the high ground that remains between two river valleys where they form a confluence . One type of promontory is a headland , or head. Located at the edge of a landmass , promontories offer a natural defense against enemies, as they are often surrounded by water and difficult to access. Many ancient and modern forts and castles have been built on promontories for this reason. One of
24-684: The construction of a tower named Torre di Terra , the oldest core of the town. In 1610, the Italian Baroque painter Caravaggio , exiled by the Pope, died in Porto Ercole on his way back to Rome and was buried in a local church. The Dutch royal family maintained a summer residence here in the latter half of the twentieth century. Porto Ercole was once connected by rail to Orbetello via a small rail line to Porto Santo Stefano, closed in 1944. The former station, named Porto Ercole-Terrarossa,
30-626: The most famous examples of promontory forts is the Citadel of Namur in Belgium. Located at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, the citadel has been a prime fortified location since the 10th century . The surrounding rivers act as a natural moat, making it difficult for enemies to access the fort. Another example of a promontory fort is Fort Pitt , which was built by the English during
36-405: Was located 4 km from the town, in the hamlet of Terrarossa. It counts two harbours: Porto Vecchio, the old town's port, and Cala Galera, located in a northern bay. Promontory A promontory is a raised mass of land that projects into a lowland or a body of water (in which case it is a peninsula ). Most promontories either are formed from a hard ridge of rock that has resisted
#794205