{{Infobox frazione | name = Porto Ercole | native_name = | image_skyline = Panorama Porto Ercole.jpg | image_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|42|23|38|N|11|12|13|E|type:city|display=inline,title}} | region = {{flag|Tuscany}} | province = [[Province of Grosseto|Grosseto]] (GR) | comune = [[Monte Argentario]] | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 5 | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | population_footnotes = | population_total = 2810 | population_as_of = 2001 | pop_density_footnotes = | gentilic = Portercolesi | saint = | day = | postal_code = 58018 | area_code = 0564 | website = {{official website|http://www.portoercole.org/}} | footnotes = }} [[File:Palazzo dei Governanti Porto Ercole (GR).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Governors Palace]] '''Porto Ercole''' ({{IPA|it|ˈpɔrto ˈɛrkole|lang}}) 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").<ref>{{cite web|url=https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/toscana/|title=Toscana|access-date=1 August 2023|language=it}}</ref>

== Geography == The resort is located on the eastern side of Monte Argentario [[promontory]], and is {{convert|40|km|abbr=off}} from [[Grosseto]], {{convert|7|km|abbr=on}} from [[Orbetello]] and about {{convert|12|km|abbr=on}} from Porto Santo Stefano. To the north of Porto Ercole are located the [[Laguna di Orbetello]] and the [[Tombolo]] della Feniglia.

== History == Porto Ercole was first mentioned in 1296, when Margherita [[Aldobrandeschi family|Aldobrandeschi]], countess of [[Sovana]], ordered the construction of a tower named ''Torre di Terra'', the oldest core of the town.<ref name=a>{{in lang|it}} [http://www.comunemonteargentario.it/lastoria.htm Municipal history of Monte Argentario]</ref>

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.<ref name=a /><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10333158 Church bones 'belong to Caravaggio', researchers say] ([[BBC]] website)</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-10682743 Vatican reveals Caravaggio painting 'found' in Rome] (BBC website)</ref> The [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|Dutch royal family]] maintained a summer residence here in the latter half of the twentieth century.<ref name=Bonhams>{{ citation | title = Greenwich Concours d'Elegance Auction | publisher = Bonhams & Butterfields Auctioneers | type = Auction Catalogue | id = Sale Number 21153 | publication-place = New York, NY | chapter = 361 | page = 160 | date = 2013-06-02 }}</ref>

== Transportation == 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, was located 4&nbsp;km from the town, in the hamlet of Terrarossa.<ref>{{in lang|it}} [http://www.ferrovieabbandonate.it/linea_dismessa.php?table=dismessa&type=search&r=Toscana&g=Altro&s=Ordinario&l=orbetello&id=123&start=0 Infos at ferrovieabbandonate.it]</ref><ref>[[:it:Ferrovia Orbetello-Porto Santo Stefano]]</ref>

It counts two harbours: Porto Vecchio, the old town's port, and Cala Galera, located in a northern bay.<ref>{{in lang|it}} [http://www.marinacalagalera.com/ita/default.aspx?l=italiano Port of Cala Galera website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610133220/http://www.marinacalagalera.com/ita/default.aspx?l=italiano |date=2012-06-10 }}</ref>

== Twin towns == * {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Caravaggio, Lombardy|Caravaggio]], Italy; since 1973<ref>{{in lang|it}} [http://www.tuscanytravels.info/toscana/toscana.asp?name=Porto%20Ercole Infos at tuscanytravels.info] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213045/http://www.tuscanytravels.info/toscana/toscana.asp?name=Porto%20Ercole |date=2016-03-03 }}</ref>

== Photogallery == <gallery> File:Porto Ercole - Vista fortezza dalla rocca.JPG|View of the town and, upon the hill, the fortress named ''Forte Filippo'' File:Forte Stella Porto Ercole (GR).jpg|''Forte Stella'' File:Porto Ercole - Porta della rocca. Rest.jpg|''Porta di Porto Ercole'' </gallery>

== See also == *[[Porto Santo Stefano]] *[[Battle of Orbetello]] *[[Yacht Club Santo Stefano]] * [[Forte La Rocca Lighthouse]]

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category|Porto Ercole}} *{{in lang|it}} [http://www.portoercole.org/ Porto Ercole official website] *{{in lang|it}} [http://www.comunemonteargentario.it/ Monte Argentario official website]

{{Villages of the Province of Grosseto}} {{Authority control}}

[[Category:Coastal towns in Tuscany]] [[Category:Frazioni of Monte Argentario]] [[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Italy]] [[Category:Borghi più belli d'Italia]]