Tourism
The economy of the area is essentially based on tourism activities, very developed along the coast and linked to the normal seasonal nature of Italian holidays. In addition to normal hotel and restaurant activities, there are those deriving from connections with the nearby Isola del Giglio and Giannutri Island. The Argentario is a privileged place for nautical tourism, and is particularly interesting from the underwater point of view, so much so as to be a must for both diving enthusiasts and marine biology enthusiasts. For several years now, the municipality has been awarded the Blue Flag by the FEE for the best European seaside resorts and the green flag for the best beaches for children. Since 2016 Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole, are ports of call of the US shipping company Oceania Cruises, which deals with luxury cruises.
Fishing and manufacturing industry
Part of the fishing fleet of Porto Santo Stefano moored at the Garibaldi pier.
Fishing was once the main activity and significant source of livelihood of the local population. In the first half of the nineteenth century, until 1887 in front of Porto Santo Stefano a tuna fishery was active, the fishing of bluefish, anchovies, sardines and tuna, encouraged the birth of small canning activities as early as 1873. The culmination of the development of local manufacturing took place in the sixties of the twentieth century, with the construction of the Cirio plant in Porto Ercole for the production of canned tuna and sardines, the former factory now abandoned for decades will be transformed into an extra luxury hotel. At the Argentario there is one of the most important fishing fleets of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the boats mainly exercise the coastal drag, the marinas of the two main centers provide the catch in the most important Italian cities through the fish market. An important international company based in Porto Santo Stefano is the Manno Pesca, multinational of the fish trade.
Agriculture
The promontory is almost entirely covered by Mediterranean vegetation, but in some areas agricultural activities are developed based on the cultivation of olive trees, terraced vineyards and fruit trees. Since 2006, by the Tuscany region, a program has begun to enhance the viticulture of the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago and Monte Argentario, which has enabled the production of quality wine in these areas to be increased. Areas of particular environmental and landscape value have been identified, particularly suitable for the production of wines with a protected designation of origin, such as the Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario. The Argentario wine offer could be enriched by the Riminese of Porto Ercole, an ancient autochthonous vine rediscovered by the University of Pisa in collaboration with the province of Grosseto, which is part of the policy of the provincial administration in support of the viticulture.
Crafts
Of particular importance is the activity of shipyards and shipwrights, especially in the construction of pleasure boats and naval storage. The Argentario Shipyard, in Porto Santo Stefano, is one of the most important Italian shipyards for the restoration of vintage boats and sailboats.
Mining industry
The territory of Monte Argentario is rich in iron-manganesiferous deposits. The first mining activities date back to 1873, after the discovery of the underground material in the locality of Terrarossa and the excavations were both underground and open air. The mines were active until the end of the fifties of the twentieth century, among the proprietary companies included Ilva and Ferromin. In remembrance of the activity there are the reinforced concrete towers for the descent of the extraction wells, the plain opposite that was used as a square for sorting the mineral has been transformed into a residential center.