History
Red cliffs rising above the sea, secluded little beaches and coves washed by crystal clear waters, and a fresh pine forest.
Castiglioncello is an ancient Etruscan village overlooking the coast from a small promontory. Its magical atmosphere, immersed in nature and rich in fragrances and colours, has inspired artists of all backgrounds, from painters to writers and poets.The history of Castiglioncello dates back to the latter part of the 14th century B.C., when it was a prosperous Etruscan settlement. During the time of the Medici, the area was allowed to flourish: Cosimo I commissioned the building of a tower, integrated into a system of fortifications along the coast to guard against frequent attacks by pirates.
Castiglioncello’s fortune in tourism began in the second half of the 19th century, and since then its beautiful landscape and mild climate have attracted an elite tourism of famous personalities from the world of entertainment, politics and culture, such as Pirandello, Mastroianni, Gassman, Zeffirelli, Sordi, Spadolini and many others.
Diego Martelli, a patron of the arts and critic, took up residence here, frequently hosting a great many painters who would go on to become famous, such as “Macchiaioli”, and who gave rise to the important artistic movement known as the "Scuola di Castiglioncello".
