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L'Assedio del 1946

The continuous struggles between the Barberini family (protected by France) and Pope Innocent X (supported by Spain and by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Ferdinand II) led the French Cardinal Mazarin to set up a fleet with the aim of invading the ports of Tuscany and the Royal Presidia. Spaniards. The goal was to create good military bases and then aim for the conquest of the Kingdom of Naples, and begin the submission of the Spanish enemy.

Mazarin had full confidence in this expedition, knowing full well that Philip IV, King of Spain, and his Viceroy in Naples kept the Garrisons in a state of complete abandonment, with a few malnourished soldiers and scarcely stocked with ammunition. siege The Spanish Government, having become aware of the enemy plans, had appointed Don Rodrigo Ponze of Leon, Duke of Arcos, Viceroy of Naples, who promptly began preparations to avert the attack, sending soldiers, ammunition and food to Orbetello by means of galleys, Tartars and brigantines entrusted to General Don Carlo Della Gatta, who in the months preceding the siege had supplied and organized the army, and also organized the fleets of Sicily and Sardinia.

The attack of the French troops was sudden; the naval fleet led by prince Tommaso di Savoia cast anchors at the mouth of the Albegna river, putting the garrisons that were stationed there on the run, and conquering Porto Santo Stefano and Talamone. General Della Gatta concentrated all available forces in Orbetello, also arming civilians, priests and friars and supplies and ammunition were evacuated from Porto Ercole; always from Porto Ercole, ships and soldiers arrived who had managed to overcome the barrier of the French.

On 13 June off the Argentario, a great naval battle began between the French and Spanish fleets. In Orbetello the fight became more and more bloody: in one of the many clashes the son of Commander Della Gatta died, and his body still rests in the church of San Francesco. Meanwhile the Marquis Carocciolo, appointed commander of all the Spanish and Neapolitan forces of the Presidi, managed to force the defenses in Feniglia and to join Ansedonia with the other soldiers, bringing in reinforcements more than 9000 men. Faced with the renewed strength of the Spanish troops, the French withdrew and the troops led by Prince Tommaso di Savoia returned to France and Piedmont.

Feste di Maggio

It is said that on 12 May about four centuries ago a farmer, while plowing the land, saw the oxen suddenly stop and, realizing that something was blocking the plow, he began to dig. From the clods he emerged a skull, at the sight of which the oxen knelt. The skull was immediately believed to be a relic of San Biagio, patron saint of Orbetello, and carried in procession on a cart pulled by oxen. Every year, during the May Feasts, which always begin on the 15th of the month, the finding of the relic is remembered, with the ritual of the kiss of the head and the procession with the butteri.

Also in Orbetello, the Eel Festival and the Corsa dei Barchini take place, which today takes place on the last Sunday of July. It is a race dating back to 1768, born during the celebrations for the marriage between Ferdinand IV, King of Naples and the Two Sicilies and Maria Carolina, Archduchess of Austria; the fishermen of Orbetello still challenge each other with oars on the waters of the Lagoon, each crew combined with one of the five districts: