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The colours and the scents of Tuscany
blend with the lights and the fragrance of the Mediterrean Sea along
“Costa degli Etruschi”. The Etruscan sites, the crystal-clear
sea, the medioeval villages, the natural parks and reserves, all make
this land of Tuscany unique. The countryside is crossed by a prestigious
Wine Road, characterised by noble vines and silver olive trees. The
magic itinerary unwinding between the sea and the countryside gives
you the opportunity to discover artistic, cultural and architectural
treasures, the heritage of this land. The Etruscans have left important
traces of their past presence, such as the only necropolis ever built
by the sea, Rare finds are carefully preserved in local museums. The
historical villages, which have preserved their medioeval architecture
intact, provide ample evidence of the past. |
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The sea is the very heart of the “Costa degli Etruschi”,
it is always with you. The Blue Flags, awarded by European Union,
and other prestigious prizes indicate the quality of an unpolluted
sea. The beaches of fine white sand of San Vincenzo, Vada and the
gulf of Baratti alternate with the coarser and the darker beaches
of Bibbona and Castagneto. Next the bathing establishments scattered
all along the coast, you can find wide free beaches and “Blue
Points”, stretches of shoreline where it is possible to hire
deck-chairs and sunshades. Here the presence of lifeguards is guaranteed.
The pinewoods by the shores, the characteristics “tomboli”,
strips of vegetation which extend from the beach to the interior for
600-800 m , and the Mediterrean Macchia vegetation, all favour long
walks and a lot of sports. |
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More than 20% of the territory of the “Costa degli Etruschi”
consists of natural park sand reserves, that is quite a high percentage
for a stretch of land rich in urban areas. By the sea the natural
park of Bolgheri, a splendid marshy area of international importance,
houses thousands of aquatic birds, it was the very first sanctuary
for fauna in Italy. Its marshland and its pine forest shelter roe-deer,
fallow deer, ducks and fishing hawks. Close to Piombino , flamingos,
ibis, storks and herons gather at Orti-Bottigone natural park which
is characterised by salty and freshwater marshlands. In the area of
Piombino the natural park “Parco Costiero della Sterpaia”,
a stretch of damp forest behind the shore, displays a natural landscape
typical of the Maremma region. On the outskirts of San Vincenzo the
natural park of Rimigliano, a flourishing flora and fauna oasis, opens
onto one of the most beautiful beaches of the “Costa degli Etruschi”. |
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Etruscan finds are carefully preserved inside the Archaeological Park
of Baratti and Populonia, in the museums of Rosignano and Cecina and
in the archaeological areas of Vada and Cecina. Along this coast the
Etruscans extracted and worked metals, creating precious artefacts.
An interesting itinerary, showing all the different phases and techniques
of metal work from the Etruscan period to the Middle Ages, unwinds
the Archaeological Mineral Park of San Silvestro in Campiglia Marittima.
This is an outdoor excavation, one of the most important in the Mediterranean.
The Springs of Venturina provided at present with well equipped spas
which recall an ancient atmosphere, date back from the time of the
Etruscans. |
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The medieval villages of the “Costa degli Etruschi” situated
between the sea and the hills or set in the green countryside, have
the privilege of making a long ancient past living again. A sort of
fairy-like itinerary reveals Roman and Medicean archaeological remains,
castles, parish churches, small historical theatres, cloisters and
villas half hidden in the green vegetation, an ideal setting for summer
concerts of classic music. Ruins dating back to the time of the Romans
and the to the Renaissance blend with a harmonious design of medieval
architecture. |
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