Forte di Macchiatonda, Coastal fortification in Capalbio, Italy.

Forte di Macchiatonda is a coastal fortification in Capalbio featuring a quadrangular layout, two stories, and four diagonal corner pillars supporting a pyramidal roof structure. The building sits directly on Macchiatonda beach, positioning historical architecture right at the water's edge.

The Spanish built the fort on Macchiatonda beach in the 17th century to strengthen the defensive system at the southern end of the State of Presidi. It served as a lookout post while appearing to be a residential farmhouse. It was decommissioned in the first half of the 19th century, when the area passed to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and pirate raids had ceased. A long decline followed.

The fort was used as a filming location for Marco Ferreri's 1969 film 'Il seme dell'uomo', which captured its appearance at that time. These cinematic records provide a window into how the structure looked during a specific period in its existence.

The fort stands on Macchiatonda beach in the Capalbio municipality, beside Lake Burano, at the southern end of the Tuscan coast. The building has been in long decline, so the walls and roof are weathered and there are no visitor facilities. Approach on foot along the beach; the sandy shore has eroded considerably over the decades.

Despite its military purpose, the building was deliberately designed to resemble a residential farmhouse, concealing its surveillance role from potential enemies. This disguise was a clever strategic move to avoid detection from the sea.