Punta Ala
Encyclopedia
Punta Ala is a frazione
of the town of Castiglione della Pescaia
, in the province of Grosseto
, Tuscany
, Italy
. It is a famous seaside resort which lies on the northern slopes of promontory of the same name.
, who had purchased some fortifications and villas in the area which later became his residences.
The modern tourist center developed during the course of the twentieth century, particularly in the'70s.
The town is famous for its sailing regattas which are held by the local "Punta Ala Yacht Club" and the well equipped tourist port, the home of Luna Rossa
.
The place is a tourist destination of elites in every season, thanks to its luxury residences, second homes and boats moored at the port
in the north and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
to the south.
The fear of pirate invasions forced the construction of some fortifications to protect the coast.
The Hidalgo Tower, overlooking the modern town, was built during the sixteenth century to defend the far end of the southern principality of Piombino .
Il Castello di Punta Ala (The Punta Ala castle), also was built in the sixteenth-century by the Medici
on the headland to the south-east of the site for the control of the north coast of Castiglione della Pescaia.
The Appiani Tower was built by its name sake to further enhance the defense system of the principality.
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
of the town of Castiglione della Pescaia
Castiglione della Pescaia
Castiglione della Pescaia is an ancient seaside town in the province of Grosseto , Italy. The modern city grew around a medieval fortress and a large fishery, from which it got its designation...
, in the province of Grosseto
Province of Grosseto
The Province of Grosseto is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Grosseto.-Geography:It has an area of 4,504 km², and a total population of 227.498...
, Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is a famous seaside resort which lies on the northern slopes of promontory of the same name.
History
Previously known as Punta Troia, changed its name to punta ala (from aviation jargon) due to the great Italian aviator Italo BalboItalo Balbo
Italo Balbo was an Italian Blackshirt leader who served as Italy's Marshal of the Air Force , Governor-General of Libya, Commander-in-Chief of Italian North Africa , and the "heir apparent" to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.After serving in...
, who had purchased some fortifications and villas in the area which later became his residences.
The modern tourist center developed during the course of the twentieth century, particularly in the'70s.
The town is famous for its sailing regattas which are held by the local "Punta Ala Yacht Club" and the well equipped tourist port, the home of Luna Rossa
Luna Rossa Challenge
Luna Rossa Challenge is an Italian sailboat racing syndicate, created to compete for the 2000 America's CupSponsored by Prada, and beginning from 2005 also by Telecom Italia.-2000 Louis Vuitton Cup:...
.
The place is a tourist destination of elites in every season, thanks to its luxury residences, second homes and boats moored at the port
Monuments
While presenting itself as a modern, functional and exclusive beach resort, Punta Ala was placed on the border between the Principality of PiombinoPrincipality of Piombino
The Principality of Piombino was a state of Italy, which existed from 1399 to 1805, when Napoleon absorbed it into the Principality of Lucca and Piombino...
in the north and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Grand Duchy of Tuscany
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence...
to the south.
The fear of pirate invasions forced the construction of some fortifications to protect the coast.
The Hidalgo Tower, overlooking the modern town, was built during the sixteenth century to defend the far end of the southern principality of Piombino .
Il Castello di Punta Ala (The Punta Ala castle), also was built in the sixteenth-century by the Medici
Medici
The House of Medici or Famiglia de' Medici was a political dynasty, banking family and later royal house that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici in the Republic of Florence during the late 14th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of the Tuscan countryside,...
on the headland to the south-east of the site for the control of the north coast of Castiglione della Pescaia.
The Appiani Tower was built by its name sake to further enhance the defense system of the principality.