Since 1937, the marine palio of the Argentario at Porto Santo Stefano has been held every year. The competition consists of a regatta among four boats, each with four oarsmen and a helmsman, to represent the four districts of the town - Croce, Fortezza, Valle and Pilarella. The manifestation recalls the hard sea life and the legend of sailors’ escape from a dangerous barbarian felucca.
The port of Porto Santo Stefano has been famous for centuries and was known historically as one of the safest for its rocks and lack of wind. The town was heavily damaged from bombardments during the Second World War but is still dominated by the Rocca Spagnola, named thus for the presence of Iberians starting in 1557.