Category: Livorno

You surely heard about the beautiful Elba Island in the Tuscan Archipelago, but probably you do not know much about Piombino, the gateway to Elba. For this reason, we are going to tell you 7 Facts about Piombino on the Etruscan Coast of Tuscany. This is a town full of history and evocative landscapes. It is located on a promontory right opposite of the more famous destination of Elba, in the final stretch of the Etruscan Coast.     1 - An historical borgo: from the Etruscans to the Bonaparte's If you are passionate about history, there is a lot to learn about Piombino. The Etruscans lived here at the beginning of the 9th century BC Christ already, even before the Romans did. Evidence from this period can be found in town (see the next paragraph for information about the Archeological Museum in Piiombino). The town was also a possession of the Republic of Pisa (at the time of the socalled Repubbliche Marinare), that made it one of the most important cities along the Tyrrhenian coast. In 1594 it was declared a princedom under the protection of theAppiani family. Later on, at the beginning of the 19th century Elisa Bonaparte, Napoleon's sister, ruled the town. She used to live in the old Cittadella, in a beautiful palace designed by the famous artist Leonardo da Vinci, today seat of the Archeological Museum.   2 - The Archeological Museum of Baratti and Populonia is located in Piombino In the above mentioned museum, you can find evidence about the Etruscans in the area. More specifically, you can find here over 2.000 finds dating back not only to the Etruscan but also to the prehistoric and Roman period. All finds come from the socalled Val di Cornia Park system (Parchi della Val di Cornia).

Tuscany is one of the most famous Italian regions abroad. Many movies chose it as their set and promoted the image of rolling hills, cypress trees, vineyards and medieval villages world-wide. In this article, we will tell you about the coastal area and specifically about Populonia and Baratti: the Etruscan side of Tuscany. This is a place full of history, where to visit ancient borgos and ruins. All of it combined with a beautiful landscape, right in front of the Tuscan Archipelago.   The Archeological Park in Baratti and Populonia The socalled Parco Archeologico di Baratti-Populonia is a real open-air museum. It streches over 80 hectars between the Gulf of Baratti and the promontory of Piombino. The park lies right in front of the Tuscan Archipelago (Elba, Montecristo, etc.). There you can learn about the Etruscans and the metallurgical activities in the ancient town of Populonia, the only Etruscan town in Tuscany to be built directly by the sea. The park divides into two main sections. Down hill you find the necropolis together with the old caves and the working areas, while on the upper site there is the acropolis with its temples, buildings and Roman streets. Moreover, part of the ancient walls are still standing on the sea side. What made this area very rich at Etruscan times was hematite, an iron oxide, coming from the big deposits on the nearby Elba Island. Keep reading our article Populonia and Baratti: the Etruscan side of Tuscany to learn more about the Etruscan necropolis in the park and the beautiful borgo of Populonia. Day and Multday Private Boat tours to Elba Island and Tuscan Islands  The Etruscan Necropolis of the Park As we mentioned, the lower part of the park is where the old caves and the industrial headquarters were. In

From Livorno to the Beauties of Tuscany and Florence The one of Livorno is among the biggest ports in Italy today and in the last years many cruise lines decided to dock here and let their passengers discover the wonders of Tuscany. Indeed, Livorno represents a real Gateway to Tuscany (and Florence). From here, it is possible to reach famous destinations like Pisa and Florence within a day. Moreover, you can visit other amazing destinations in Tuscany from Livorno. From the north west coast of Tuscany, you can get to Lucca, to the well-known Chianti wine area and to many historical places like San Gimignano and Siena. Below you find some interesting info about this departing point and some possible places to visit starting from Livorno. Some info about the Port of Livorno The Port of Livorno is actually the third biggest port in Italy and in the last years it also became an important cruise Gateway to Tuscany and important cities like Florence. Looking at the Italian map, we can say that Livorno is located on the Tyrrhenian coast between the major ports of La Spezia and Genoa (in the Region of Liguria) and Civitavecchia (in the Region of Lazio, only one hour from Rome). From the Cruise Terminal, you can easily reach the Railway Station by taxi in about 15 minutes. In case you prefere to stay in Livorno, you can find some interesting attractions in a walking distance. Otherwise, you can reach some other charming places with a short drive. Probably Livorno can not be compared to more stunning places like Pisa, Florence, Lucca or Siena. However, if you have already been to the most famous destinations in Tuscany, you can still spend a lovely day in this maritime city.   What to see in Livorno Due