Location
Immersed in beautiful Tuscan landscapes, nature, villages, historical and cultural sites.
Massa Marittima
Long regarded as one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Italy, Massa Marittima encloses within its walls palaces and narrow streets that lead to the central square. Here you can admire the Cathedral of San Cerbone, the Palazzo del Comune, the Loggia del Mercato and the Zecca, for a plunge into a distant past that a visit during the Balestro del Girifalco can only reinvigorate. This is in fact an ancient contest between the crossbowmen of the various districts for the conquest of the ‘drappellone’ made of painted silk, preceded by a historical parade and the evolutions of the flag-wavers. Massa Marittima’s calendar of mostly summer events is well articulated and includes the opera event held in front of the Cathedral.
Follonica
Located in the centre of the Gulf of the same name, Follonica has been a popular family seaside destination for years by virtue of its clear, shallow waters, fine sandy beaches and lush pine forest. The town offers all amenities, with a wide selection of restaurants, clubs and shops that come to life after hours of sunbathing on the beach.
Torre Mozza, Carbonifera, Mortelliccio and Casetta Civinini beaches
Fine sandy beaches between Follonica and Punta Ala:
Leaving Follonica in the direction of Piombino on the SP 152, after about 3 km turn left for Torre Mozza (known for its natural pool) so called because of the presence of a watchtower dating back to the 1500s and known for the natural pool formed by the ancient Roman road submerged a few metres from the shoreline. Continuing northwards, after 2 km, you reach Carbonifera with its characteristic tower. Further north you will find Mortelliccio, ideal for children. For a long, wild beach, after 9 km from Follonica, on the road to Castiglione della Pescaia, turn right for Punta Ala and after another 4 km you will reach the Casetta Civinini beach.
Cala Violina
Cala Violina, where the sand trodden in the absence of sound sources emits a sound reminiscent of a violin, can be reached by taking the state road from Follonica to Castiglione della Pescaia and turning right at the sign for the car park. From here we venture on foot into the nature of the Maremma maquis for a two-kilometre walk to the beach. We are in the Bandite di Scarlino, which encloses the other two coves of Cala Civette and Cala Martina, equally beautiful but with far fewer visitors during the summer period. Yes, because this is the problem with being famous: everyone wants to see Cala Violina and so the car park soon fills up, especially at weekends. But if you feel like pedalling, take the dirt road that runs along the coast from Puntone di Scarlino and with that you can reach the three coves. Remember, don’t forget what you need for your stay because there are no bars or services here.
Castiglione della Pescaia
From Punta Ala to Marina di Grosseto, the golden beaches and endless coastal pine forests follow one another as far as the eye can see. Towering over them is the medieval village of Castiglione della Pescaia with its 15th-century castle. But Castiglione della Pescaia is also the port, with the fishing boats that land the fresh fish that you will then find in the restaurants, the fashionable shops where you can stroll and shop, the bars and restaurants where you can spend an evening with friends. And then there are the fine sandy beaches, reachable by the cycle path that runs along the entire Castiglionese coast from north to south, to be enjoyed in comfortable bathing establishments or more wildly in the tranquillity of the Marse. There is no shortage of cultural and sporting events, with a calendar that embraces all visitors’ needs.
Gulf of Baratti and Val di Cornia Parks
If you want a sandy beach enclosed between the green of the lush pine forest and the blue of the waters running to the Island of Elba, Baratti is your destination. Its seabed is not only rich in flora and fauna, but dense with history. The remains of past civilisations have been found here, such as the famous silver amphora now in the Piombino museum. And the thousand-year history of metal mining and processing from the ancient Etruscans to more recent times is recounted in the Val di Cornia Parks. Here, two Archaeological Parks, four Nature Parks, two Museums and a Documentation Centre occupy the territory of five municipalities. If you want an unforgettable experience for young and old alike, hop aboard the little yellow train for a visit to the Temperino Mine.
Calidario Thermal Baths
Known by the ancient Etruscans who exploited the benefits of water and steam for their wellbeing, the ancient Calidario spring in Venturina today offers the special feature of plunging into a large pool at the exact point where the waters are born and regenerated following centuries-old natural processes. Inside the spa you will find the Thermarium path with sauna, Turkish bath, sensorial showers, whirlpool bath and relaxation area.
Elba Island
The largest of the islands in the Tuscan Archipelago offers visitors much more than a bathing holiday on its white beaches and crystal-clear waters: its history, from Etruscan mines to the stay of Napoleon Bonaparte, makes it a destination packed with places to visit. Nature is undoubtedly the undisputed mistress of the island, but while the summer days are spent on the pristine beaches, the towns and villages prepare for an ever-changing nightlife, thus offering an ideal holiday for every traveller.
Lake Accesa
Twelve kilometres from Agriturismo Il Belvedere and surrounded by a forest of oaks and holm oaks, Lago dell’Accesa covers an area of fourteen hectares, with a depth of up to fifty metres. Important Etruscan settlements have been found on its shores, so much so that the area has become a theme park of the Etruscan civilisation and can be visited by following the special equipped paths, while the Etruscan artefacts found can be seen at the Archaeological Museum of Massa Marittima. The water of the lake is deep blue and in good season invites one to take a dip from its small beach of fine sand. The popular legends that have surrounded the lake over the centuries are many and probably derive from its name (lake that lights up) and its anomalous depth.
Abbey of San Galgano
The story of King Arthur and his knights has been told to us from childhood. Here, the Round Table has little to do with it, but if you want to see the sword embedded in the rock by Galgano, eager to transform the weapon into a cross, the Abbey thirty kilometres from Siena is the place for you. Here, the myth of the sword in the rock is reborn within the now roofless but architecturally stunning walls, and a trip to San Galgano and the nearby village of Chiusdino is well worth the journey.
Le Biancane' Geothermal Park
The Biancane, a term used in Tuscany to define vast areas where white-coloured rocks outcrop, are a nature trail in the municipality of Monterotondo where geothermal fluids with temperatures above 100° reach the surface, giving rise to numerous natural geothermal manifestations. In this area, in the early 19th century, boric acid was extracted from the thermal spring waters. To reach the park, in Monterotondo, continue to the village of Lagoni and follow the signs for ‘Parco delle Biancane’.
The Garden of Sounds
Imagine walking through a twelve-hectare park in the Maremma in the company of sounds that vary with the weather, and discovering that the sounds are emitted by large sculptures made of natural materials such as iron, bronze, wood and stone, which, modelled by the artist’s hand, blend in with the surrounding nature, appearing like light and fragile threads to the spectator. You are in the world of Paul Fuchs, a versatile Bavarian artist whose mastery of sculpture goes hand in hand with musical composition. Having moved to the rural area near Boccheggiano, where he has created this private art park, the artist always challenges the rules of physics with his creations, with increasingly slender and slender structures, in an exhibition ‘in the making’, to which he adds new works to create more and more emotions. Don’t miss the ‘music room’, where the instruments he makes from natural materials produce exciting sounds and noises. The park can only be visited by appointment for groups of 10 people with a contribution to costs of €10 per person. Visits are guided by the artist and last about 2h30, with musical performances. Find out more at https://www.paulfuchs.com/giardino-dei-suoni/
The Tarot Garden
Located in Capalbio, in the hamlet of Pescia Fiorentina and created by the artist Niki de Saint Phalle following her inspiration after a visit to the Parque Gruell in Barcelona, the Tarot Garden consists of twenty-two imposing figures covered in glass, mirrors and coloured ceramics that are inspired by the figures of the major arcana of the tarot. After a day on the beautiful beaches of Ansedonia and before an evening stroll through the village of Capalbio, the garden is the ideal place for a relaxing afternoon with the family.
