Bibbona is a great base for exploring the Tuscan cities of art and the islands.

Just 50 minutes by car is the beautiful Volterra, here the story of several centuries has merged with the city and the surrounding nature.
It was one of the main cities of ancient Tuscany, the historic center, in fact, is of Etruscan origin, with the door of the Arch and the door Diana, most of the city walls and the Acropolis, where even today you can see the foundations of two temples and various buildings.
Then there are Roman ruins and medieval buildings such as the Palazzo dei Priori, the Medici Fortress and the Cathedral. The latter was built between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries; the interior was restored in the nineteenth century while the bell tower dates back to 1400. The baptistery, in front of the Duomo was built in the mid-1200s.

From Bibbona it is easy to reach the city that houses the most famous leaning tower in the world: Pisa.
One of the ancient maritime republics, in Pisa there is an inestimable artistic and historical heritage. One of the most famous is certainly the Piazza dei Miracoli, where, in a huge green lawn, surrounded by walls, there are the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the monumental Cemetery and the famous Tower of Pisa.
There are many Palaces, Churches, Villas and Bridges to see and there are many little-known places to discover; like the mural Tuttomondo by Keith Haring, a contemporary pearl that this city offers.

Surely to visit is the beautiful Florence. World Heritage Site, cradle of the Renaissance is, still today, recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
The famous Piazza della Signoria is worth a visit, with the Palazzo Vecchio and the nearby Uffizi Gallery. The Accademia Gallery, which preserves Michelangelo’s famous David and the Pitti Palace.
Florence also offers shopping, literary cafes, boutiques, excellent restaurants and markets to visit.

From Bibbona it is possible to take the ferry service to the Island of Elba.
The island offers golden beaches and crystal clear waters, landscapes surrounded by unpolluted nature; the villages on the mountains and the terraces overlooking the sea offer breathtaking views. Discovering the perfumes carried by the breeze and the flavors of this island is a unique experience.

The Oasis of Bolgheri was the first Italian private wildlife oasis created by Mario Incisa della Rocchetta in 1959. An area of about 80 hectares of marsh and surrounded by 440 hectares of flooded forest, wet meadows, pastures and cultivated fields.

In 1966 with the birth of WWF Italy, the Oasis became, in conjunction with the Oasis of Lake Burano, the first Italian WWF Oasis.

The appearance is that original Maremma coast with fresh water ponds and flooded forest; the coastal forest separates the ponds from the beach.

In winter you can see the flights of species such as the Mallard, the Eurasian teal, the Eurasian wigeon, the Gadwall. Very important is the winter presence of Wild Goose, symbol of the Oasis, which makes the marsh one of the most important wintering points for this species in Tuscany.

Numerous are the Common Snipe, the Heron, Western Marsh Harrier. Since 2008, the Oasis has hosted a couple of White Stork that had been absent in Maremma for 200 years.

Among the mammals that are in this area there are the Roe Deer, the Fallow Deer, the Wild Boar, the Crested Porcupine and the Fox.
There are many species that the Oasis of Bolgheri hosts and there are many places to explore inside.

For more informations: http://www.wwf.it/oasi/toscana/padule_di_bolgheri/index.cfm

Daniele Caccia, Padule di Bolgheri – Monumento Naturale –, CC BY-SA 3.0

Fine white sand beaches, turquoise water, Marina di Bibbona is ideal for relaxing summer holidays.

But why not take advantage of this beautiful sea for sports?

In Marina di Bibbona there are many clubs that will allow you to learn or practice water sports such as surfing, sailing or canoeing and kayaking. Given the beauty of the seabed and the historical artifacts that compose them, Marina di Bibbona is also ideal for snorkelers, who can enjoy many fascinating underwater excursions!

In Cecina there is an unusual farm, the Gallorose Park. The Park, inaugurated in 2001 today is undergoing restructuring and evolution, is located in a green oasis and is home to 150 wild and domestic mammals and birds.

Red giant kangaroos, Nile lichi, bertucce, fennec foxes, palm owls, black giant squirrels are just some of the animals in the park; in addition we find domestic varieties of the territory, such as the Pisan cows, the horse of Monterufoli and the Sienese cinta. The Park, in fact, was created to understand the importance of biodiversity and to educate the sustainable use of natural resources.

Inside the park there are also several historical museums with finds from the 18th to the 21st century. You will find galleries of political posters, a museum on everyday life with vintage images and toys from the early 1900s and, being the park a farm, a museum dedicated to the work vehicles from the 1900s to today has been created.

There are plenty of refreshments, for a quick meal you can take advantage of the service of the bar or self service, for lovers of Tuscan cuisine there is also a restaurant that offers traditional dishes for lunch and dinner. All this exclusively with farm products.

In 1968, after years of trials, the first bottle of Sassicaia comes out. Mario Incisa della Rochetta plants a cabernet vineyard to reproduce wines similar to those of Bordeaux. This is how the first “Supertuscan” was born, which promotes the Bolgheri area as one of the most important areas for the production of wines.

Between the end of the 70s and the beginning of the 90s, many companies began to produce in this area with grapes such as merlot and cabernet sauvignon.

Today Bolgheri is famous for these wines that have become DOC in the 90s but which were initially classified as table wines. Today they are wines of excellence famous all over the world.

To get to the village, you have to cross the famous cypress avenue, mentioned by Giosué Carducci; the avenue, flanked by tall cypress trees, about 5 km long.

From a distance you can see the charming red brick castle. Approaching, you arrive in front of the tower of the castle and the door of the city center surmounted by the great coat of arms of the counts Della Gherardesca, the ancient noble family to whom Bolgheri has been linked since 1200.

The center is full of small shops of typical products and alleys. There are many restaurants and places where you can taste typical products and enjoy a romantic dinner at sunset, the time of day when the village is transformed and, illuminated, becomes an enchanted place.

The spectacle of the vineyards and olive trees immersed in the Mediterranean vegetation, the medieval village, the hills and the sea in the distance, the wine tasting makes this place unique and special.

A way to get to know the territory more deeply and explore the nature that surrounds us. Thanks to the different trekking routes in the Val di Cecina you will pass through woods, meadows and places of great naturalistic and historical interest.

There are many itineraries available to observe the vegetation and the geology of the Mediterranean scrub. Like those at the center of the Val di Cecina Reserves, which will take you through woods that preserve rare plants. During these routes you will encounter several ancient mills and spectacular waterfalls declared World Heritage Sites.

Other itineraries are those among the hills, between the medieval villages and the castles that will make you discover the traces left by the Etruscans in this area. Also explore the paths that lead to the sea and will take you through the Mediterranean scrub and pine forests to the beaches.

At 50 meters from the beach rises the Fort of Marina di Bibbona, a military construction built by the will of the Lorraines in the late 1700s. From the square plan with a brick front on which there is still a viewing terrace on which it is possible sunbathe, have lunch or enjoy the view.

Inside were the rooms for the guards who patrolled the coast; his other duties were health control, the fight against contraband and was used as a reference point for goods arrived by sea.

The characteristic symbol of Marina di Bibbona, a place definitely worth visiting!

Val di Cecina is one of the most unpolluted areas of Tuscany; this valley goes from the sea to the city and, since ancient times, has been one of the most important communication routes.

This is an ideal place for those who love exploring Tuscany by motorcycle. You will cross fields of cultivated meadows, vineyards and hills and then cross woods and natural reserves.

In your journey you can go to the discovery of ancient villages that reflect the history of these places, with Etruscan and medieval references, like Volterra or visit the natural reserves that the area offers, such as that of Berignone and finally get to the sea.

You will cross hilly landscapes and you will find places to enjoy a lunch or tasting of typical Tuscan products combined with breathtaking views. An experience not to be missed!

The Etruscan Coast is a long stretch of the Tuscan coast that goes from Livorno to Piombino; his name is linked to the presence of the Etruscans who lived in this area since the ninth century BC

The traces of the Etruscan people are still present on the territory and can be found simply walking in this area. In the Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia are the most important testimonies, it is to be considered, in fact, an open-air museum where you can find very interesting archaeological finds such as the necropolis.

But the Etruscan Coast is not only famous for its history but also for its environment. In fact, here you can find wide and sandy beaches like Torre Mozza; with an ancient tower of the ‘300 that guards the beach from above and the remains of the ancient Via Aurelia that remains underwater. But you will also find beaches with pebbles and rocks with crystal clear water, or you can enjoy the summer sheltered by the many pine forests that are located near the sea.

On this coast there is also the Gulf of Baratti, a beautiful bay surrounded by the Mediterranean scrub with clear waters and clear beach, called “the caribbean of Tuscany”. Not far from the beach there is also the very characteristic harbour which is located about 50 meters from the old Etruscan port now submerged by water.

Whether you are a lover of relaxation, of the beach or love to discover ancient places full of history, the Etruscan Coast is for you!

Überraschungsbilder, Elba Enfola, CC BY-SA 3.0