Punta Ala: the planned Maremma pine forest, between golf, sailing and the Sparviero islet

Punta Ala was called Punta Troia until 1931, when aviator Italo Balbo gave it its current name. From a quiet stretch of coast, the promontory turned over the 20th century into a planned tourist destination, especially from the 1970s onward, with the construction of the marina and the accommodation facilities that define it today.

The coast alternates pine forests and beaches, with the Sparviero islet offshore completing the view over the promontory. Among the buildings worth noting are villas designed by architects such as Franco Albini and Ignazio Gardella, alongside historic military structures like Torre Hidalgo and Torre degli Appiani. The modern church of the Madonna della Consolazione dates to 1961.

Punta Ala is today a hub for sport: the Yacht Club, founded in 1976, developed Luna Rossa for America's Cup challenges, while the Golf Club, active since 1964, offers an 18-hole course. It's therefore a more organised, less village-like destination than other corners of the Maremma, with a small resident population that multiplies during the summer months.

Anyone after pine forest and sea without the marina's buzz can head for the stretches of coast just north or south, while staying in the same area.

Getting there

Punta Ala is reached by car via provincial road SP158, which branches off the Via Aurelia near Pian d'Alma, in Grosseto province.