What to visit in Porto Ercole?

À Porto Ercole, start with the old village: go through the Porta Pisana, follow the alleys up to the Clock Tower, then head to the piazza Santa Barbara and the Governors' Palace, facing the harbour. The church Sant’Erasmo holds the tombstones of Spanish governors. Allow about 1 h 30 to 2 h for this walk with breaks; it's uphill and the cobblestones can be uneven. Caravaggio's name is linked to his final days in the village, but it's best not to present his burial as an established fact: the identification of his remains remains uncertain.

To understand the strategic role of the place, look at the three Spanish fortifications of the XVI^e siècle : la Rocca, the Forte Filippo and the Forte Stella. Access to them is not always free or guaranteed: opening times may vary by season, so check with the tourist office of the piazza Roma before heading up, especially outside summer. The Forte Stella is reached on foot from the piazza del Mercato; allow about 1.8 km to the marked trail, then continue on steep terrain. If you're short on time, favour the old centre and a single accessible fort rather than trying to visit all three.