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17-420: The resort is located on the northwestern promontory of Monte Argentario, a little more than 40 kilometres (25 miles) southeast of Grosseto , about 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Orbetello and about 12 km (7.5 mi) from Porto Ercole. The town is divided into four historical districts, each with its own coat of arms ( gonfalone ) banner: Because of the increased exposure to pirate raids,

34-559: A prime fortified location since the 10th century . The surrounding rivers act as a natural moat, making it difficult for enemies to access the fort. Another example of a promontory fort is Fort Pitt , which was built by the English during the American Revolution on the site of the former Fort Duquesne , which belonged to the French during the French and Indian War. The fort was located at

51-597: A rare example of promontory fort whose occupation continued into the post Roman and from there into later periods. Caesar 's Commentarii de bello Gallico describes the Veneti in southern Armorica – a powerful sea-faring people allied with the southern British during the war of 56 BC – as living in clifftop oppida . Their capital was Darioritum, on the Gulf of Morbihan , now modern Vannes /Gwened. The Veneti had close trade ties with southwestern Britain. When they were attacked by

68-447: A small rail line, closed in 1944. The town has two port harbors: Porto Vecchio and Porto del Valle. Porto Santo Stefano has regular ferry service to the Isola del Giglio (Giglio Island). After the capsizing of the cruise ship Costa Concordia on 13 January 2012, many of the ship's passengers and crew were evacuated to the mainland on these ferries. Promontory A promontory

85-616: A steep cliff, often only connected to the mainland by a small neck of land, thus using the topography to reduce the ramparts needed. The oldest known promontory fort is Amnya I in Siberia which was established as a fortified site in the late 7th millennium BC. Although their dating is problematic, most seem to date to the Iron Age . They are mainly found in Ireland , Brittany , the Orkney Islands ,

102-428: Is a raised mass of land that projects into a lowland or a body of water (in which case it is a peninsula ). Most promontories either are formed from a hard ridge of rock that has resisted the erosive forces that have removed the softer rock to the sides of it, or are the high ground that remains between two river valleys where they form a confluence . One type of promontory is a headland , or head. Located at

119-528: Is another example of a promontory fort. Located on a small promontory, the town was part of the Ajuran Sultanate 's domain during the Middle Ages and was strategically located to defend against potential invaders. This article about geography terminology is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Promontory fort A promontory fort is a defensive structure located above

136-618: Is called a "gozzo" (plural "gozzi" ) – which is held every August between the four districts. The prize was started in 1937, but discontinued from 1940 to 1944 because of World War II . The list of victories are: 23 victories for the Pilarella district, 19 for the Cross district, 16 for the Valley and 13 for the Fortress district. Porto Santo Stefano was once connected by rail to Orbetello via

153-635: The Isle of Man , Devon , the Channel Islands and Cornwall . Only a few Irish promontory forts have been excavated and most date to the Iron Age , though some, like Dunbeg Fort ( County Kerry ) might have originated in the Bronze Age . Others, like Dalkey Island ( County Dublin ) contain imported Eastern Mediterranean pottery and have been reoccupied and changed in the early medieval period. Some, like Doonmore (near Dingle, County Kerry) are associated with

170-609: The Middle Ages. Dunbeg contains an early medieval corbelled stone hut ( clochán ). On the Isle of Man , promontory forts are found particularly on the rocky slate headlands of the south. Four out of more than twenty have been excavated and several, especially in Santon , can be visited using the Raad ny Foillan coastal footpath. All have a rampart on their vulnerable landward side, and excavations at Cronk ny Merriu have shown that access to

187-578: The Romans in Brittany , Julius Caesar reports that Cornwall sent them military aid. There are a few examples of promontory forts on the Island of Jersey, which includes Le Pinacle , Le Câtel de Rozel, and Le Câtel de Lecq. All of these were located on headlands on the north and north-east of the Island, given the strong natural defences that exist on those parts of the Island. Remains of an Iron Age fort were located on

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204-565: The area, Porto Santo Stefano joined the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in the first half of the 19th century. Besides the fortress, the territory still plays host to two Spanish lookout towers; Lividonia and dell'Argentiera, the latter situated on the slopes of Mount Argentario which dominates the whole Santo Stefano area. Notable events in the town include the Palio Marinaro , an annual 4,000-metre (2.5-mile) rowing regatta  – a boat

221-612: The center had low priority during the rule of Aldobrandeschi and of the Republic of Siena , but with its entry into the State of Presidi in the mid-16th century, the town became a center of great importance in Argentario. It was during this the construction of the Spanish Fort began, a powerful defensive structure that now hosts a permanent exhibition "Submerged Memories". Like all other centers in

238-447: The coast of Penwith . Maen Castle , near to Land's End is one of the oldest, having been dated to around 500 BC. They are also found in other districts, e.g. The Rumps near Padstow and Dodman Point on the southern Cornish coast as well as Rame Head close to Plymouth. In Devon, Burgh Island and Bolt Tail are located on the south coast and Embury Beacon and Hillsborough on the north coast. The famous site at Tintagel may be

255-544: The confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, providing an additional layer of defense. The surrounding area eventually became the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . In Ireland , many promontory forts were built by the ancient Celts for defense against invaders. These forts were often located on isolated peninsulas or headlands and were difficult to access, making them ideal for defending against enemy attacks. The ancient town of Ras Bar Balla in southern Somalia

272-560: The edge of a landmass , promontories offer a natural defense against enemies, as they are often surrounded by water and difficult to access. Many ancient and modern forts and castles have been built on promontories for this reason. One of the most famous examples of promontory forts is the Citadel of Namur in Belgium. Located at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, the citadel has been

289-584: The fort was via a strongly built gate. The Scandinavians who arrived in Mann in the eighth and ninth centuries AD sometimes re-used these Iron Age promontory forts, often obliterating the old domestic quarters with their characteristic rectangular houses; the fine example at Cronk ny Merriu has been used as the basis of the reconstruction in the House of Manannan museum in Peel . Cornish promontory forts can be found all along

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