The Rocca Aldobrandesca Castle of Talamone

Talamone, located on the southern coast of Tuscany, has a rich history dating back to Etruscan times. The village was once an important port. The historic buildings in the old town and the ruins of numerous castles and towers bear witness to its past. Particularly impressive is the imposing medieval Rocca Aldobrandesca fortress, which perches high above the village on the headland, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding area.

Thanks to its seaside location, calm waters, and steady winds, Talamone is a popular destination for water sports such as sailing, windsurfing, and diving. Bathers appreciate the sandy beach in the bay or the Bagno delle Donne directly below the cliff with the castle. In the off-season, the rocky bay is almost deserted; during the day and at weekends, it’s mainly locals and regional visitors who come.

I was standing with my tripod in the shallow, still warm sea when I suddenly got a huge fright – something touched my bare foot. In the clear water, the cause was quickly identified: a small octopus was swimming around my legs on the pebbles at the bottom. Just don’t tell the angler on the rock what sea creature can be found here right now.

As the landscape slowly turns from the sun into the earth’s nocturnal shadow side, I enjoy the luminous play of colours at dusk on the rocks and in the sky. In the background, the lights of Porto Santo Stefano on Monte Argentario come on. Later, the castle’s lighting will be switched on, adding another facet to the interplay of light and colours.

Right at the tip of the headland, on the reverse side of the postcard views of the old town or fortress, there is a small beacon guiding ships to the port of Talamone. Not a towering lighthouse, like those I’ve experienced in Hiddensee or Sletterhage, for example, but a low, rather functional building like on Yxlan.

The panorama in this evening atmosphere is fantastic: the tower of Talamonaccio (which was used as a sophisticated filming location in a James Bond film) marks the end of the Bay of Talamone. To the south then follows the Orbetello Lagoon, which leads the eye across to the Monte Argentario peninsula. Far out in the Tyrrhenian Sea, I could still make out the island of Giglio.