# Porto Ercole > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Porto_Ercole > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Porto_Ercole.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porto_Ercole > Source revision: 1240575050 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Frazione in Tuscany, Italy Porto Ercole Frazione Porto Ercole Location of Porto Ercole in Italy Coordinates: 42°23′38″N 11°12′13″E / 42.39389°N 11.20361°E / 42.39389; 11.20361 Country Italy Region Tuscany Province Grosseto (GR) Comune Monte Argentario Elevation 5 m (16 ft) Population (2001) • Total 2,810 Demonym Portercolesi Time zone UTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST) Postal code 58018 Dialing code 0564 Website Official website Governors Palace **Porto Ercole** (Italian: [\[ˈpɔrto ˈɛrkole\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Italian)) is an Italian town located in the [municipality](/source/Municipality) of [Monte Argentario](/source/Monte_Argentario), in the [Province of Grosseto](/source/Province_of_Grosseto), [Tuscany](/source/Tuscany). It is one of the two major towns that form the township, along with [Porto Santo Stefano](/source/Porto_Santo_Stefano). Its name means "Port [Hercules](/source/Hercules)". It is one of [I Borghi più belli d'Italia](/source/I_Borghi_pi%C3%B9_belli_d'Italia) ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").[1] ## Geography The resort is located on the eastern side of Monte Argentario [promontory](/source/Promontory), and is 40 kilometres (25 miles) from [Grosseto](/source/Grosseto), 7 km (4.3 mi) from [Orbetello](/source/Orbetello) and about 12 km (7.5 mi) from Porto Santo Stefano. To the north of Porto Ercole are located the [Laguna di Orbetello](/source/Laguna_di_Orbetello) and the [Tombolo](/source/Tombolo) della Feniglia. ## History Porto Ercole was first mentioned in 1296, when Margherita [Aldobrandeschi](/source/Aldobrandeschi_family), countess of [Sovana](/source/Sovana), ordered the construction of a tower named *Torre di Terra*, the oldest core of the town.[2] In 1610, the Italian Baroque painter [Caravaggio](/source/Caravaggio), exiled by the Pope, died in Porto Ercole on his way back to Rome and was buried in a local church.[2][3][4] The [Dutch royal family](/source/Monarchy_of_the_Netherlands) maintained a summer residence here in the latter half of the twentieth century.[5] ## Transportation Porto Ercole was once connected by rail to [Orbetello](/source/Orbetello) via a small rail line to Porto Santo Stefano, closed in 1944. The former station, named Porto Ercole-Terrarossa, was located 4 km from the town, in the hamlet of Terrarossa.[6][7] It counts two harbours: Porto Vecchio, the old town's port, and Cala Galera, located in a northern bay.[8] ## Twin towns - [Caravaggio](/source/Caravaggio%2C_Lombardy), Italy; since 1973[9] ## Photogallery - View of the town and, upon the hill, the fortress named *Forte Filippo* - *Forte Stella* - *Porta di Porto Ercole* ## See also - [Porto Santo Stefano](/source/Porto_Santo_Stefano) - [Battle of Orbetello](/source/Battle_of_Orbetello) - [Yacht Club Santo Stefano](/source/Yacht_Club_Santo_Stefano) - [Forte La Rocca Lighthouse](/source/Forte_La_Rocca_Lighthouse) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Toscana"](https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/toscana/) (in Italian). Retrieved 1 August 2023. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-a_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-a_2-1) (in Italian) [Municipal history of Monte Argentario](http://www.comunemonteargentario.it/lastoria.htm) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Church bones 'belong to Caravaggio', researchers say](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10333158) ([BBC](/source/BBC) website) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Vatican reveals Caravaggio painting 'found' in Rome](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-10682743) (BBC website) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bonhams_5-0)** "361", *Greenwich Concours d'Elegance Auction* (Auction Catalogue), New York, NY: Bonhams & Butterfields Auctioneers, 2013-06-02, p. 160, Sale Number 21153 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** (in Italian) [Infos at ferrovieabbandonate.it](http://www.ferrovieabbandonate.it/linea_dismessa.php?table=dismessa&type=search&r=Toscana&g=Altro&s=Ordinario&l=orbetello&id=123&start=0) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [it:Ferrovia Orbetello-Porto Santo Stefano](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrovia_Orbetello-Porto_Santo_Stefano) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** (in Italian) [Port of Cala Galera website](http://www.marinacalagalera.com/ita/default.aspx?l=italiano) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120610133220/http://www.marinacalagalera.com/ita/default.aspx?l=italiano) 2012-06-10 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** (in Italian) [Infos at tuscanytravels.info](http://www.tuscanytravels.info/toscana/toscana.asp?name=Porto%20Ercole) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213045/http://www.tuscanytravels.info/toscana/toscana.asp?name=Porto%20Ercole) 2016-03-03 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Porto Ercole](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Porto_Ercole). - (in Italian) [Porto Ercole official website](http://www.portoercole.org/) - (in Italian) [Monte Argentario official website](http://www.comunemonteargentario.it/) v t e Tuscany · Villages of the Province of Grosseto Alberese Albinia Ansedonia Arcille Baccinello Bagno di Gavorrano Bagnoli Bagnolo Bagnore Batignano Boccheggiano Borgo Carige Borgo Santa Rita Braccagni Buriano Caldana Cana Capalbio Scalo Casale di Pari Casone Castellaccia Castell'Ottieri Castiglioncello Bandini Catabbio Cellena Cerreto Chiarone Scalo Civitella Marittima Dogana Elmo Filare Fonteblanda Frassine Gerfalco Ghirlanda Giannella Giannutri Giardino Giglio Campese Giglio Castello Giglio Porto Giuncarico Grilli Istia d'Ombrone La Torba Lago Boracifero Le Macchie Macchiascandona Marina di Grosseto Marroneto Marrucheti Marsiliana Monte Antico Montebamboli Montebuono Montegiovi Montelaterone Montemassi Montemerano Montenero d'Orcia Montepescali Montevitozzo Montiano Monticello Amiata Montorgiali Montorio Montorsaio Murci Niccioleta Nomadelfia Paganico Pancole Pari Pereta Pescia Fiorentina Pescina Petricci Pian d'Alma Pian di Rocca Piloni Poderi di Montemerano Poggi del Sasso Poggio Capanne Poggio Murella Poggioferro Polveraia Pomonte Porrona Porto Ercole Porto Santo Stefano Potassa Prata Preselle Principina a Mare Principina Terra Punta Ala Puntone di Scarlino Ravi Ribolla Rispescia Roccamare Roccatederighi Rocchette Rocchette di Fazio Roselle Salaiola San Donato San Giovanni delle Contee San Lorenzo San Martino sul Fiora San Quirico San Valentino Santa Caterina Sasso d'Ombrone Sassofortino Saturnia Scarlino Scalo Selva Selvena Sovana Sticciano Stribugliano Talamone Tatti Tirli Torniella Travale Triana Vallerona Valpiana Vetulonia Zancona Authority control databases International VIAF GND WorldCat National United States Israel Geographic Pleiades Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Porto Ercole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porto_Ercole) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porto_Ercole?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.