Etruscan Coast

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The Etruscan Coast (Costa degli Etruschi) is a coastal area stretching from Livorno to Piombino in the Province of Livorno. Here are some seaside resorts and historic sites located near the coast and at the foot of the nearby hills.

Piombino

Piombino is a port city located on a promontory facing Elba, in the Province of Livorno. The area was inhabited by the Etruscans, and the modern town was born after the nearby Populonia was abandoned following various attacks by pirates in the Middle Ages. Piombino was ruled by Pisa for centuries, and in 1398 it became a small lordship, elevated to principality in 1594. The Principality of Piombino ruled over the surrounding area and islands as a vassal of the Kingdom of Naples. In 1805 it became part of the Principality of Lucca and Piombino, and it was given to Tuscany in 1815. Piombino later became an important port and industrial center, and it features various historic attractions.

✪ Baratti and Populonia Archeological Park

The Baratti and Populonia Archeological Park (Parco Archeologico di Baratti e Populonia) is an archaeological area north of Piombino. The park includes the ruins of the ancient Etruscan port of Populonia, one of the most important centers of this civilization. Populonia later declined and it was sacked and destroyed in the Middle Ages, when it was abandoned in favor of Piombino. The archaeological area features various ancient tombs and a large necropolis, as well as the medieval Rocca of Populonia, a castle that now hosts an archaeological museum.

Archaeological Museum of Populonia

The Archaeological Museum of Populonia (Museo Archeologico del Territorio di Populonia) is an archaeological museum in Piombino, hosted inside the Citadel (Cittadella), the former seat of the local rulers. The museum features a rich collection of archaeological finds unearthed in and around Populonia, and dating between prehistory and late antiquity.

Piazza Bovio

Piazza Bovio is a scenic panoramic terrace located on a small peninsula in Piombino. The square offers a great view on the sea and the nearby islands, and it features a medieval-style lighthouse. The nearby Palazzo Appiani, which faces the square, houses the Museum of the Sea (Museo del Mare), a small aquarium and museum dedicated to the local environment.

Piombino Cathedral

Also known as: Co-Cathedral of Sant’Antimo (Concattedrale di Sant’Antimo)

The Piombino Cathedral (Duomo di Piombino) is the main church of Piombino. The structure was erected in the Late Middle Ages in Romanesque and Gothic style and it features some historic artworks. A museum of religious art is hosted in the former convent adjacent to the cathedral.

Campiglia Marittima

Campiglia Marittima is a town located among the hills of the Province of Livorno. The town houses a few ancient buildings and it is historically known for its mining activity.

Parco Archeominerario di San Silvestro

The Parco Archeominerario di San Silvestro is a park located just north of Campiglia Marittima, which features a series of museums and exhibitions on the history of the mining activity in the area. The park includes the ruins of the Rocca of Campiglia, a medieval castle in Campiglia Marittima.

Bolgheri

Bolgheri is a tiny village located at the foot of the hills south of Livorno, in the municipality of Castagneto Carducci. The picturesque hamlet developed around a medieval castle and it is known for the production of wine.

Viale dei Cipressi

Viale dei Cipressi is an almost 5-km-long straight road that leads toward Bolgheri. The road is flanked on both sides by thousands of cypresses, and it was made famous by a poem written by 19th-century poet Giosuè Carducci, who lived nearby as a child.

Rosignano Marittimo

Rosignano Marittimo is a town located south of Livorno. While the old town is located among the hills, a large industrial area developed in the 20th century is on the nearby coast.

Civic Archaeological Museum of Rosignano Marittimo

The Civic Archaeological Museum of Rosignano Marittimo (Museo Civico Archeologico di Rosignano Marittimo) is a museum in the old town of Rosignano Marittimo. The museum features a collection of local archaeological finds unearthed in the area and dating between prehistory and the Middle Ages.