Always a place to escape the frenzy of everyday life, Argentario is known for its beautiful springs and summers, its secluded location that lends privacy and tranquility, and its microclimate where warm yet breezy days allow tourists to relax while breathing the clean and healthy sea air. We are pleased to be reopening the doors of the Torre di Cala Piccola Boutique Hotel on May 14th: here you can finally find peace, greeted by the sea breeze and cocooning nature. Here there is no crowd, no noise, no stress: the rooms are all arranged on terraces that follow the natural flow of the territory, accessible by narrow streets lined with plants. Keywords: health and beauty. We are ready to welcome you back with lots of news for 2021:   Rooms and Suites We have always been an oasis of well-being: from this year in our Boutique Hotel we sanitise floors and hard surfaces with Anti Covid protocol detergents according to Italian health authority guidelines. All staff on the floors use protective equipment in accordance with the law. We pay particular attention to cleaning buttons, door and window handles, cabinets and showers and remote controls - which we will supply in sanitised containers. Check-in Upon arrival, we will welcome you wearing personal protective equipment and provide you with all the information you need to make your stay enjoyable and safe. You will find stations with hand disinfection products and points where you can download all the information and schedules of services, menus and much more in digital format on your smartphone. We also have a temperature sensor. Beaches We have expanded our beach offer. To ensure that you enjoy the magnificent coves and beaches of the Argentario in total safety and respect for social distancing, at the Torre di Cala Piccola Boutique Hotel we offer you access to several affiliated bathing establishments. From coves with rocky seabeds, to the fine sand of Giannella, we will book for you, and you can choose a different establishment easily accessible by car every day. If you prefer to discover the free beaches you can ask for a tasty lunch box, choosing between different menus including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Restaurant The Torre d'Argento Restaurant is ready to welcome you back with the culinary emotions of always. Safety distances will be guaranteed by the three rooms, which are constantly sanitised and independent from each other. We will avoid paper menus by providing you with a QR code to read all our proposals digitally. We have also redesigned our garden to allow you to admire the spectacular sunset. For room service we will use disposable materials avoiding contact as much as possible. Health Our property makes use of the collaboration of a medical staff available to support those who need it. Our contacted person is Dr Renato Tulino, Dr Romilda Casuscelli, Dr Antonietta Lucignai, Dr Pasquale Gnoni. Activities may be carried out by teleconsultation or medical examination. It will also be possible to have specialist care: Dentist, Dr Tambelli (office in Porto S.Stefano and Grosseto) and Veterinarian, Dr Stefani (vet clinic Costa D'Argento) our staff will take care (h24) by calling the doctor or specialist that you need. Flexible policies At the Torre di Cala Piccola Boutique Hotel you can cancel your reservation up to 7 days in advance: you won't be charged any penalty. Book on our official website to discover the advantages of direct booking. Holidays are desired, anticipated, planned with joy: don't let fear take away the pleasure of living them. Our staff and Tuscany are waiting for you.

Driving along Argentario’s hairpin bends, strolling through its nature or admiring the mainland from the sea of the Tuscan Archipelago, the skyline is pierced with the remnants of towers and fortresses. These pieces of history tell the tales of the promontory, a beautiful area surrounded by the Mediterranean Maquis that, since the Sienese occupation of 1410, took on a fundamental role in control of the sea. It was the subsequent arrival of the Spanish that saw Argentario become a military landmark. Historian Gualtiero Della Monaca reveals the story of the State of the Presidi created by Philip II of Spain in the episode of “Linea Blu” that aired on the Rai 1 television station on 14th November 2020. The defensive system dating back to 1559 included the garrison of the Lagoon of Orbetello, the Porto Ercole maritime stronghold, the Talamone Castle, the Port of Santo Stefano and some twenty coastal towers, including the Torre di Cala Piccola. Our Torre di Cala Piccola was within view of the Torre di Capo d'Uomo ‒ the tallest and most significant, of which only remnants have survived. Originally named Torre della Ficaia, it then became Torre del Bove and subsequently Torre di Cala Piatti. The current name ‒ Torre di Cala Piccola ‒ is linked to the genesis of our Boutique Hotel. Of the many fortresses and towers constructed throughout the centuries, only a few remain intact. Their remnants form the backdrop to incredible views of the sea, walks amongst nature and sunsets after a swim. Those to have been restored and which can be visited on a stroll through the villages, are the Rocca Spagnola and Forte Stella di Porto Ercole, the Spanish Fortress of Porto Santo Stefano. The latter was built in the first decades of the 17th century, representing an example of Spanish military architecture, with breathtaking views to be admired from its terraces. It houses permanent exhibitions and archaeological finds salvaged from the waters of the Tuscan archipelago. Porto Ercole’s Rocca Spagnola is reached by walking through the town centre until coming to the panoramic road. The forecourt offers a superb view of the harbour and the sea. To visit the interior requires authorisation from the Municipality of Monte Argentario. The Forte Stella in Porto Ercole was constructed in 1557 and is ‒ as the name suggests ‒ in the shape of a star. This venue that today hosts exhibitions and events can be reached from the scenic road, heading away from Porto Ercole. Also from this vantage point, the view of the sea is simply magnificent.

Here at the Boutique Hotel Torre di Cala Piccola, we love to welcome guests who talk about their experience in the Argentario. A few weeks ago, Luca Sardella came to visit us for a relaxing cocktail at sunset. In the episode of “Sempre Verde” that aired on the Rete 4 television channel on 24th October, the famous host and agronomist visited the Cala Piccola, reminding the public about the exclusivity of our Boutique Hotel that is much loved by celebrities and those who love the good life. On his journey on a discovery of the Argentario area, Sardella visited the Duna Feniglia Nature Reserve, a 6-7-kilometre dune with an area of 474 hectares connecting the promontory to Orbetello. It is a magnificent place for a stroll through nature, to explore the lush flora and beautiful fauna. Indeed, Sardella closely admired certain plants such as Lentisco, an arboreal species typical of the Mediterranean Scrub, used in the Roman Etruscan era to make oil to burn for illumination. Then there is the Stracciabraghe, another name for the local Salsapariglia plant, a vine with abundant spines and heart-shaped leaves. Not to be missed at lunch was savouring one of the typical dishes of the Argentario area, the Caldaro di Pesce – originally a poor soup made by fishermen, it was prepared when out on the waters to cast nets. How is it prepared? First, fresh fish is essential – a mixture of tub gurnard, red scorpionfish, weever, fresh cuttlefish, baby octopus, slipper lobster and certain mussels. After preparing a base of garlic and fresh tomatoes, baby octopus and white wine is added. In accordance with their cooking time, the other seafood varieties are added. The soup is ready in about twenty minutes. Towards evening, simply head back to Cala Piccola for a nice pre-dinner drink whilst enjoying the majestic sunset, overlooking the Giglio and Giannutri islands. This is the dreamy atmosphere, with a view extending as far as the eye can see, that only our Boutique Hotel surrounded by Mediterranean Scrub can offer. Not only Sardella but every guest feels like a VIP here. Our staff will pamper you to ensure you savour an unforgettable holiday, because relaxation is the true luxury.

Land and sea: a symbiotic relationship that in Argentario, offers beautiful views and authentic flavours. Here, cultivating vineyards has retained its strong identity over the years. Growing on the terraces overlooking the sea is the white grape Ansonica, the fruit to have found home in the microclimate of Monte Argentario and the Tuscan Maremma. The Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario DOC wine that originates from the native vine of the same name, grows in Argentario and on the Isola del Giglio. With a slightly fruity bouquet, this straw-coloured wine has a dry yet soft taste to pair exceptionally well with the seafood delights of the Torre d’Argento Restaurant. The grapes of this variety are extensively worked in the vineyard to reduce the number of bunches per plant and the size of the single bunch. Harvesting occurs in early October when the sugars and aromatic precursors reach their highest concentrations. In the first stages of processing, the must is refrigerated to as low as 10° C to preserve the precious characteristics of the end product. The fermentation at controlled temperature follows a long ageing on noble lees, with daily bâtonnage. Another wine produced in the Monte Argentario cellars is the Maremma Toscana IGT from the Province of Grosseto. The Maremma Toscana IGT denomination represents one of the most important wine-growing areas of the region. It is a fascinating area, able to express excellent wines with a sunny characteristic and Mediterranean profile thanks to the beautiful hilly exposures along with the hot and dry climate, mitigated by proximity to the sea. The cellars of Argentario In Argentario, the farms and wineries produce Ansonica, Parrina DOC and Maremma Toscana IGT. In Porto Santo Stefano, there is the Calagrande Winery, owned by the Osio Brothers that has been producing red and white wines since 1932, with both the Ansonica and Maremma Toscana IGT. Do you want to taste the best Tuscan wines? Trust in our sommeliers. The Ristorante Torre d'Argento wine list offers a broad selection of local labels.