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Wonder everywhere

all steps you can’t miss

Ten unmissable experiences

The Val di Cornia offers so many sites of historical, cultural, archeological and naturalistic interest that you can take the risk to miss some of them. Here there are the 10 experiences not to be missed.

Val di Cornia underground: <br>the tour of the mines

Val di Cornia underground:
the tour of the mines

A must for anyone who visits Val di Cornia is the Tour of the Mines in the Archaeological Mines Park of San Silvestro. A unique and fascinating experience in the footsteps of the ancient miners, to remember their hard work and discover the underground treasures.

After donning the colourful helmets and accompanied by expert guides, the Temperino Mine proposes a fascinating tour through a series of underground tunnels and chambers that will enchant old and young alike with its unique sensations, telling the story and chronicling the geology of the area in a simple and original way.

The centrepiece of the Park, popular above all with children, is the trip through the Lanzi-Temperino Tunnel on board the mining train.

An underground journey in the heart of the earth, enveloped by the plays of light and shadow of the mine in a natural setting between the past and the present.

Rocca San Silvestro: <br>the castle suspended in time

Rocca San Silvestro:
the castle suspended in time

The beating heart of the Archaeological Mines Park of San Silvestro is its Rocca, a medieval village of miners and metal smelters crystallised in time.

Radiant and proud, oblivious to the whipping wind, the Rocca towers over the surrounding countryside, offering a unique insight of its type into Medieval life.

The guided visit of the castle allows visitors to see the ruins of houses, the church, the cemetery, the area where the nobles lived and the industrial zone and to imagine the industrious inhabitants of the castle at work, extracting precious metals from the mines.

Rocca San Silvestro comes to life above all in summer: besides the special evening events and visits, the castle becomes an experimental archaeology work site, engaging young and old with interesting workshops on medieval times, ideal for families and enthusiasts of this historical period.

The Tomba dei Carri: <br>the eternal resting place of the Etruscan princes

The Tomba dei Carri:
the eternal resting place of the Etruscan princes

Nature and history are the indisputable stars of the Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia, a real outdoor museum sparkling with the ferrous scrap that bears witness to the importance of the ancient Populonia, the only Etruscan city built directly by the sea.

The Tomba dei Carri, the largest and most impressive mound tomb of the Necropolis of San Cerbone, is a must-see. The opulence of this tomb is testified both by its monumental nature and by the grave goods found inside it: remains of chariots and horns in precious materials talk to us about their affluent owners, perhaps the princes of Etruscan Populonia.

Accompanied by the guide, the tour continues along the long entrance dromos to the burial chamber, to see the remains of the funerary beds used by the Etruscans to lay down the bodies of their dearly departed.

A moving experience for all, made even more scenic by original background music that evokes the sound of horns…

Perfect to get into the mood of the times.

The Grotte Necropolis: <br>the perfect blend of humans and nature

The Grotte Necropolis:
the perfect blend of humans and nature

A dream-like scenario in the heart of the woodland.

The Le Grotte necropolis bewitches for its colours and shapes and, with the last piece of the puzzle, completes the history of the Etruscan city of Populonia.

Nature and trekking lovers will love the trail in the Mediterranean scrub wood that leads to the first tombs and the area of the necropolis, along Via delle Cave in the Baratti Park.

Here you can admire the massive calcarenite quarries, where the signs of the tools used by the Etruscan quarriers are still visible and discover the dark entrances to the hypogaea tombs dotted around the area as well as the rocks that outcrop in an extremely characteristic way.

Don’t miss the Belvedere above the necropolis that offers a breathtaking view over the Gulf of Baratti and the entire Val di Cornia, from the sandy beaches of San Vincenzo to the gentle slopes of Campiglia and the lively city of Piombino.

The Casa del Re: <br>a 2700 years old celebration

The Casa del Re:
a 2700 years old celebration

The archaeologists found the traces of the ancient part of the Etruscan city in the high part of the city of Populonia, behind the ruins of the Acropolis, restored in Roman times: post holes and stone walls are what remain of the ancient Etruscan wooden and clay huts built at the top of the hill.

Thanks to an experimental archaeology project, in this area of the Baratti e Populonia Park you can admire the splendid reconstruction of one of those huts, the largest and most important, the impressive Casa del Re (The King’s House).

With its colours and shapes, inspired by the Etruscan tombs, paintings and objects, this hut was the centre of power of the Etruscan city of Populonia and its construction was celebrated with a ritual toast, to hail the coming of a new king.

The mosaics of the Acropolis: <br>precious traces of Roman splendour

The mosaics of the Acropolis:
precious traces of Roman splendour

Nature, archaeology and art are the main ingredients that make the Park of Baratti and Populonia so special.

Objects and artistic compositions of great value have been found at the Acropolis, such as the splendid mosaics that decorated the domus, the sacred buildings and the temples of the city in its Roman period.

Skilled artists cut the stone and terracotta pieces by hand and fixed them perfectly on the mortar base to form beautiful geometric patterns or figurative images, making the mosaics of Populonia magnificent works of art.

In the archaeological area you can admire the original mosaics of the large domus at the foot of the terrace of Le Logge, while some mosaics that adorned some floors in the Sanctuary of Venere, such as the famous marine mosaic, can be admired at the Archaeological Museum of the Territory of Populonia in Piombino.

The Baratti Amphora: <br>treasures rediscovered, between land and sea

The Baratti Amphora:
treasures rediscovered, between land and sea

After the visit to the Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia, to complete your journey through the history of Val di Cornia, a must-see is the Archaeological Museum of the Territory of Populonia, located in the Citadel of Piombino.

Here you will find valuable objects from the tombs and digs in the area as well as precious items found at sea that tell the incredible story of traffic, trade and traders.

The centrepiece of the collection is the silver amphora of Baratti, with its fine workmanship and unique shape: its medallions depicting divinities and mythological figures talk of the cults and devotion of our forebears and the story of its improbable discovery fascinates both young and old alike.

Thanks to the modern, multimedia and accessible set up, the Museum welcomes and engages visitors, inviting them to look at, touch and listen to the story, re-living it at first hand.

The history of the doll at the Museum in Suvereto

The Museum of Doll Art, in Suvereto, houses the extraordinary Collection of Maria Micaelli.

Over 50 dolls, dating from the end of the 19th century to the 1980s, with unique pieces and works of art and craftsmanship of the most important Italian brands, are displayed in a surprising visit that traces the evolution of costumes, styles and materials and a passion that engages everyone, children and adults alike.

Fun fact: the most important exhibits include some Lenci dolls made in Turin and, of these, there is Violetta (1921), the doll that is the symbol of the museum, inspired by the leading lady of Verdi’s opera La Traviata.

Centuries of history and important characters at the Rocca in Suvereto

At the highest point of Suvereto stands the Rocca Aldobrandesca, symbol of the town that has always embodied the history and identity of the village.

Its architectonic developments mark the town’s centuries long history.

Historical events and important characters are reproduced at the museum in the Rocca: from the journey of Emperor Henry VII to Princess Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, along with the distinctive characteristics of a free and open space, land of cattle drives and wine-making.

Coastal and nature parks: green tourism and uncontaminated nature

A real Mediterranean Tuscan oasis.

Val di Cornia offers enchanting natural sceneries, in a harmonious balance between man and nature: from the white sand beaches of the coast, lapped by the waves of a calm and crystal-clear sea, to the gentle inland slopes, where the Mediterranean scrub with its brackish aroma flourishes, beaten by the wind.

For a green holiday, immersed in nature and uncontaminated environments, enjoy the beauty of our coastal and nature parks, that can be visited on foot, by bicycle or on horseback, discovering the incredible trails throughout the countryside.

Wonder everywhere

Ten unmissable experiences

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