From Bibbona to Follonica
Data from OpenStreetMap - Posted under ODbL
From here on it becomes more rural and the towns near the coast become smaller. Small fishing villages with their harbors alternate with beaches, pine forests and sometimes impassable areas or nature reserves. However, most places are now very much geared towards tourism.
The places Bibbona, Castagneto and San Vincezo are up to the beginning of the peninsula of Piombino very much influenced by beach tourism. Bibbona impresses with its nested old town on a hill. San Vincenzo invites you to stroll with its small harbor. A good restaurant can be found almost anywhere. Since San Vincenzo is a member of the so-called Cittàslow, an Italian movement to slow down inner cities, despite its only 7000 inhabitants, there is an extensive traffic-calmed area.
On the further way to Follonica you will pass the peninsula of Piombino (southern part) and Populonia (northern part) on the right. Both places are worth a trip, although (or perhaps because) ores have been mined or processed in the area since ancient times.
Populonia is an old place that is still inhabited. Ancient ruins point to a long and turbulent History shaped by Etruscans to pirate attacks in the Middle Ages. The archaeological park is highly recommended for history buffs.
Piombino itself owes its foundation to the Romans, the cathedral dates back to 1377. The medieval-looking place is rich in old churches and other buildings. The city center is beautiful and typically Italian and invites you to visit. You shouldn't be put off by the ironworks in the harbor area. It is literally part of Piombino's millennia-old tradition. By the way, from Piombino you can take the ferry to the nearby one Elba-Island.
Left picture: Follonica, Wikipedia IT. Middle picture: San Vincenzo, Wikipedia IT. Right picture: Scarlino, Cala Violina, Wikipedia IT
Next you will reach Follonica. Follonica is a place whose development is very similar to that of some other Tuscan towns. In the last 100 years the population has increased from just under 1000 to around 20.000. Follonica owes this mainly to the economic development in the region and the draining of extensive swamp areas. The result is that Follonica does not have a distinct medieval old town and thus a slightly different "ambience" than many other Tuscan places. Today the city lives mainly from bathing tourism and has some medium-sized industry. The city looks very clean and there is a beach promenade that invites you to stroll. Many buildings are characterized by Art Nouveau and there are some nature reserves in the area, some of which border directly on the beaches. From Follonica you can reach the small town of Puntone with its port of Portiglioni in a southerly direction, from which very beautiful stretches of beach can be reached on foot in a further southerly direction. Read more about this here.
Last updated: 06.02.2024
