Sightseeing
A FAMOUS SEASIDE TOWN IN A BAY OF BREATHTAKING VIEWS
Follonica is found in the middle of the gulf that bears its name, tucked in between the Piombino peninsular and Punta Ala, which faces out to the Isle of Elba.
Famous for its bathing establishments and its crystalline waters, Follonica has enjoyed the Blue Flag recognition for 20 years. Thanks to its mild climate and shaded location, it is also the ideal place for summer relaxing with all the family.
Ever since antiquity, the town has been known as a centre of ironworking and cast iron production. Its name, indeed, comes from fulloni, the old bellows formerly used in the forges.
As part of Leopold II’s Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Follonica became an important industrial hub. Thus a new foundry was built next to the old Medici forges, and the structures remain intact even today.
Thanks to its bright sandy strand and its clear, clean waters, Follonica is one of Tuscany’s most important seaside destinations. There are plenty of opportunities to practise watersports along its beautiful beaches, but you can also follow a number of walking trails through the Mediterranean shrub. The long walk to Cala Violina, considered one of the most gorgeous beaches in Italy, is certainly worth the effort.
The beach of Carbonifera is the first that we meet upon leaving Piombino. Forming part of the Coastal Park of Sterpaia, it has fine sand, a thick, centuries-old pinewood and shallow waters, making it perfect for families with children.
The beach of Torre Mozza, which takes its name from the Moorish stronghold that stands over it, is also blessed with a crystal-clear sea. The view of the islands of Elba and Montecristo is the icing on this spectacular cake.
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Follonica
A FAMOUS SEASIDE TOWN IN A BAY OF BREATHTAKING VIEWS
Follonica is found in the middle of the gulf that bears its name, tucked in between the Piombino peninsular and Punta Ala, which faces out to the Isle of Elba.
Famous for its bathing establishments and its crystalline waters, Follonica has enjoyed the Blue Flag recognition for 20 years. Thanks to its mild climate and shaded location, it is also the ideal place for summer relaxing with all the family.
Ever since antiquity, the town has been known as a centre of ironworking and cast iron production. Its name, indeed, comes from fulloni, the old bellows formerly used in the forges.
As part of Leopold II’s Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Follonica became an important industrial hub. Thus a new foundry was built next to the old Medici forges, and the structures remain intact even today.
Thanks to its bright sandy strand and its clear, clean waters, Follonica is one of Tuscany’s most important seaside destinations. There are plenty of opportunities to practise watersports along its beautiful beaches, but you can also follow a number of walking trails through the Mediterranean shrub. The long walk to Cala Violina, considered one of the most gorgeous beaches in Italy, is certainly worth the effort.
The beach of Carbonifera is the first that we meet upon leaving Piombino. Forming part of the Coastal Park of Sterpaia, it has fine sand, a thick, centuries-old pinewood and shallow waters, making it perfect for families with children.
The beach of Torre Mozza, which takes its name from the Moorish stronghold that stands over it, is also blessed with a crystal-clear sea. The view of the islands of Elba and Montecristo is the icing on this spectacular cake.
A fascinating journey through history and technology.
The Geothermics Museum is located in the Villaggio Enel Green Power in Lardarello, in the municipality of Pomarance, the world capital of geothermics: the completely renovated building boasts tons of technological and multimedia content and is open to schools, scholars and anyone interested in learning about the geothermic phenomenon and its multiple facets, from the history of geothermics in the chemistry field to the electrical industry to its uses for heat.
The first room of the Museum welcomes visitors with an explanation of all the types of renewable resources and the work of Enel Green Power in Italy and the world. After the introduction, the second room addresses the science’s history, with the first historical signs of geothermics, the Etruscan and Roman thermal baths and a copy of the Tabula Peutingeriana dating to 70 CE, which speaks of the thermal waters in Volterra and Populonia.
The following rooms get to the heart of the history of geothermal energy, with the 1777 discovery of boric acid in Lagone Cerchiaio, near Monterotondo Marittimo, by Uberto Francesco Hoefer from Cologne, the subsequent beginnings of chemistry by Count François de Larderel and the first five lightbulbs powered in 1904 thanks to the intuition of Prince Ginori Conti.
The museum has a space dedicated to drilling, referenced in the 1841 treatise of the Accademia dei Georgofili, which dates the first drilling activities to 1838.
Visitors can also take a journey to the center of the earth, a spectacular experience in the 3D room that brings visitors on a virtual descent into the bowels of the Earth, where energy is formed and geothermics originates. The exhibition ends in the rooms dedicated to the history of geothermal energy to today.
Info: museivaldicecina.it
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I-Museum Geothermal
Piazza LeopoldaA fascinating journey through history and technology.
The Geothermics Museum is located in the Villaggio Enel Green Power in Lardarello, in the municipality of Pomarance, the world capital of geothermics: the completely renovated building boasts tons of technological and multimedia content and is open to schools, scholars and anyone interested in learning about the geothermic phenomenon and its multiple facets, from the history of geothermics in the chemistry field to the electrical industry to its uses for heat.
The first room of the Museum welcomes visitors with an explanation of all the types of renewable resources and the work of Enel Green Power in Italy and the world. After the introduction, the second room addresses the science’s history, with the first historical signs of geothermics, the Etruscan and Roman thermal baths and a copy of the Tabula Peutingeriana dating to 70 CE, which speaks of the thermal waters in Volterra and Populonia.
The following rooms get to the heart of the history of geothermal energy, with the 1777 discovery of boric acid in Lagone Cerchiaio, near Monterotondo Marittimo, by Uberto Francesco Hoefer from Cologne, the subsequent beginnings of chemistry by Count François de Larderel and the first five lightbulbs powered in 1904 thanks to the intuition of Prince Ginori Conti.
The museum has a space dedicated to drilling, referenced in the 1841 treatise of the Accademia dei Georgofili, which dates the first drilling activities to 1838.
Visitors can also take a journey to the center of the earth, a spectacular experience in the 3D room that brings visitors on a virtual descent into the bowels of the Earth, where energy is formed and geothermics originates. The exhibition ends in the rooms dedicated to the history of geothermal energy to today.
Info: museivaldicecina.it
From the center of the Earth to the sky, a surreal landscape in Monterotondo Marittimo
Le Biancane Nature Park is a symbol of the relationship between Monterotondo Marittimo and geothermics, that is, the energy that comes from the depths of the Earth. Le Biancane is an extraordinary area for its vapour emissions and for the way in which the energy modified the natural habitat and the typical colours of the nature found in the Colline Metallifere. It is precisely for these geological and climactic characteristics that a peculiar plant life has developed here that makes the territory unique. The white vapours emitting from the Earth, the boiling mud and the white brush marking the soil give this landscape an evocative and unusual appearance.
The Municipality of Monterotondo Marittimo and Enel Green Power thought to promote this natural heritage by creating an itinerary through the most fascinating geothermic traces in the area and the “historical and industrial” patrimony of man’s use of the endogenic fluid.
The itinerary begins just a few meters from Monterotondo’s historical center, right in Lagoni, in the area known as “Vecchio Vascone,” and takes visitors on a discovery of unique phenomena, like the vapour that emits from stone cracks, concretions of various colours and materials, boiling water flowing from the ground and the colour of the ground that turns from a deep red to a yellow ochre to a bright, intense white.
Info: turismomonterotondomarittimo.it
Le Biancane
Le BiancaneFrom the center of the Earth to the sky, a surreal landscape in Monterotondo Marittimo
Le Biancane Nature Park is a symbol of the relationship between Monterotondo Marittimo and geothermics, that is, the energy that comes from the depths of the Earth. Le Biancane is an extraordinary area for its vapour emissions and for the way in which the energy modified the natural habitat and the typical colours of the nature found in the Colline Metallifere. It is precisely for these geological and climactic characteristics that a peculiar plant life has developed here that makes the territory unique. The white vapours emitting from the Earth, the boiling mud and the white brush marking the soil give this landscape an evocative and unusual appearance.
The Municipality of Monterotondo Marittimo and Enel Green Power thought to promote this natural heritage by creating an itinerary through the most fascinating geothermic traces in the area and the “historical and industrial” patrimony of man’s use of the endogenic fluid.
The itinerary begins just a few meters from Monterotondo’s historical center, right in Lagoni, in the area known as “Vecchio Vascone,” and takes visitors on a discovery of unique phenomena, like the vapour that emits from stone cracks, concretions of various colours and materials, boiling water flowing from the ground and the colour of the ground that turns from a deep red to a yellow ochre to a bright, intense white.
Info: turismomonterotondomarittimo.it
One slice of the rugged Maremma region in Tuscany is known for its “butteri” (cowboys) and wildlife: mules, timid roe deer, foxes and others wander in the wild amid the scents and colors of Mediterranean shrubbery. This is the Natural Park of Maremma, a 9,000 hectare green oasis extending along the stretch of coast between Principina a Mare and Talamone, in the municipalities of Grosseto, Magliano in Toscana and Orbetello.
Key features of this landscape are the Uccellina mountains, a green coastal ridge dotted with romantic traces of old watchtowers and a Cistercian abbey. At the foot of the mountain ridge lies the Tyrrhenian Sea, with rocky beaches and shores and the mouth of the Ombrone river’s surrounding plains.
The park includes 25 kilometers of coast, a chain hills descending toward the sea with sandy beaches and cliffs, surrounded by marshes, pine forests, cultivated fields and pastures. With intense scents of aromatic herbs, colorful berries and wildlife calls, the Park welcomes the visitor, revealing both sweet and wild sides. The combined effect of all the elements awakens and frees the senses, making the whole park feel like a newly discovered paradise.
The park is packed with wide-ranging and evocative landscapes: the coast and its long sandy beaches; the super-green Uccellina mountain ridge; the pine forest of Marina di Alberese; the mouth of the Ombrone river and the Paludi della Trappola (Trap Marshes), where Maremma cattle live in the wild.
You can visit the park on foot, using the trekking or Nordic walking paths as a guide, or by bike, on horseback, in a covered wagon, via canoe or even atop a donkey, a special excursion designed specifically for children.
Info: parco-maremma.it
384 abantu bendawo batusa
Maremma Regional Park
7/9 Via del BersagliereOne slice of the rugged Maremma region in Tuscany is known for its “butteri” (cowboys) and wildlife: mules, timid roe deer, foxes and others wander in the wild amid the scents and colors of Mediterranean shrubbery. This is the Natural Park of Maremma, a 9,000 hectare green oasis extending along the stretch of coast between Principina a Mare and Talamone, in the municipalities of Grosseto, Magliano in Toscana and Orbetello.
Key features of this landscape are the Uccellina mountains, a green coastal ridge dotted with romantic traces of old watchtowers and a Cistercian abbey. At the foot of the mountain ridge lies the Tyrrhenian Sea, with rocky beaches and shores and the mouth of the Ombrone river’s surrounding plains.
The park includes 25 kilometers of coast, a chain hills descending toward the sea with sandy beaches and cliffs, surrounded by marshes, pine forests, cultivated fields and pastures. With intense scents of aromatic herbs, colorful berries and wildlife calls, the Park welcomes the visitor, revealing both sweet and wild sides. The combined effect of all the elements awakens and frees the senses, making the whole park feel like a newly discovered paradise.
The park is packed with wide-ranging and evocative landscapes: the coast and its long sandy beaches; the super-green Uccellina mountain ridge; the pine forest of Marina di Alberese; the mouth of the Ombrone river and the Paludi della Trappola (Trap Marshes), where Maremma cattle live in the wild.
You can visit the park on foot, using the trekking or Nordic walking paths as a guide, or by bike, on horseback, in a covered wagon, via canoe or even atop a donkey, a special excursion designed specifically for children.
Info: parco-maremma.it
Cala Violina is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Maremma. In order to visit it in total safety, access is limited to 700 people per day from 1 June to 15 September.
Cala Violina, in the Mediterranean scrub of the Scarlino natural reserve, is a strip of beach facing an unspoiled sea, enclosed between two promontories. Here, you can find perfect routes for those who love sports, with walks varying from leisurely strolls to demanding climbs, also great for mountain bikes. The spot is also popular in spring and autumn thanks to its mild climate.
Near the beach, there are benches and tables for a picnic in the shade but make sure to take your waste away with you. There are no waste bins in the area to avoid attracting wild boars at night.
How to reach it
Cala Violina can be reached on foot or by bicycle in a tiring but beautiful route from the Puntone di Scarlino, immediately after the Portiglioni area. You can also reach it through the countryside, arriving by car or motorbike at the parking area of Pian d’Alma, a typical rural area in Maremma characterized by large crops and small farms. But there is also another way to reach this pearl in Tuscany, the sea. From the port of Scarlino (renowned for international sailing competitions) and from the Fiumara canal, which is located next to the port, direct boat trips depart from the splendid coves of Scarlino, including Cala Martina, a fascinating place taken by Giuseppe Garibaldi in 1849.
New Rules
Cala Violina beach is a natural heritage site of the highest value. For an unforgettable experience in total safety, a maximum of 700 people per day can access it from 1 June to 15 September.
To book in advance your place at Cala Violina you should follow all the instructions available on the website www.calaviolinascarlino.it: a contribution of 1 euro is required for the reservation fee. For children from 1 to 12 years of age there is no fee, only a reservation. For children from 0 to 12 months, no fee and no reservation are required.
Please note that tickets are non-refundable and reservations cannot be changed. In alternative, not far from here, Cala Martina and Cala Civette can be reached on foot or by bicycle along the paths in the Costiere area.
Once at Cala Violina you will be welcomed by stewards who will give you all the necessary information. Remember to respect the environment and to keep the distance from other people as highly recommended by the anti-covid rules.
The beach is not supervised by bathing attendants.
Calaviolina 1
Calaviolina 1Cala Violina is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Maremma. In order to visit it in total safety, access is limited to 700 people per day from 1 June to 15 September.
Cala Violina, in the Mediterranean scrub of the Scarlino natural reserve, is a strip of beach facing an unspoiled sea, enclosed between two promontories. Here, you can find perfect routes for those who love sports, with walks varying from leisurely strolls to demanding climbs, also great for mountain bikes. The spot is also popular in spring and autumn thanks to its mild climate.
Near the beach, there are benches and tables for a picnic in the shade but make sure to take your waste away with you. There are no waste bins in the area to avoid attracting wild boars at night.
How to reach it
Cala Violina can be reached on foot or by bicycle in a tiring but beautiful route from the Puntone di Scarlino, immediately after the Portiglioni area. You can also reach it through the countryside, arriving by car or motorbike at the parking area of Pian d’Alma, a typical rural area in Maremma characterized by large crops and small farms. But there is also another way to reach this pearl in Tuscany, the sea. From the port of Scarlino (renowned for international sailing competitions) and from the Fiumara canal, which is located next to the port, direct boat trips depart from the splendid coves of Scarlino, including Cala Martina, a fascinating place taken by Giuseppe Garibaldi in 1849.
New Rules
Cala Violina beach is a natural heritage site of the highest value. For an unforgettable experience in total safety, a maximum of 700 people per day can access it from 1 June to 15 September.
To book in advance your place at Cala Violina you should follow all the instructions available on the website www.calaviolinascarlino.it: a contribution of 1 euro is required for the reservation fee. For children from 1 to 12 years of age there is no fee, only a reservation. For children from 0 to 12 months, no fee and no reservation are required.
Please note that tickets are non-refundable and reservations cannot be changed. In alternative, not far from here, Cala Martina and Cala Civette can be reached on foot or by bicycle along the paths in the Costiere area.
Once at Cala Violina you will be welcomed by stewards who will give you all the necessary information. Remember to respect the environment and to keep the distance from other people as highly recommended by the anti-covid rules.
The beach is not supervised by bathing attendants.