THROUGH TUSCANY AND ITS MOST CHARACTERISTIC PLACES
Volterra
VOLTERRA: THROUGH THE TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE We leave the sea behind and head towards the interior of the region: the road is comfortable and the uniqueness of the landscape deserves to be seen at least once. Here are some trivia from Wikipedia: the city, famous for the extraction and processing of alabaster, was one of the main city-states of ancient Tuscany (Etruria), was the seat of an important episcopal dominion in the Middle Ages with jurisdiction over a large part of the Tuscan hills; the hill on which Volterra stands was already inhabited during the early Iron Age, as confirmed by the large Villanovan necropolis of the Ripaie and the Guerruccia, located on the slopes facing west and north; the Roman theater was brought to light in the fifties by archaeological excavations conducted in the locality of Vallebuona. The monument dates back to the end of the 1st century BC; on the Sunday before the 2nd of June each year there is the event called “UT ARMENTUR BALISTARII”, a shooting tournament with an antique crossbow, in which the crossbowmen of the Volterrana Company challenge each other to obtain the title of Prior of the Crossbowmen; On June 2 of each year […]
Marina di Cecina
MARINA DI CECINA: A FEW STEPS FROM THE CAMPING The coastal district of Cecina is a tourist destination appreciated by families, both for the safety of its sea, for the pine forests that provide serenity and recreation for the little ones, and for the tranquility that the area also guarantees in summer. Every year, the beaches of Cecina Mare receive the prestigious Blue Flag award. In addition, the “Acqua Village” water park is located in the area. The pine forests that occupy a total area of 400 hectares stretching along the coast for more than 15 kilometers, make up the Biogenetic Nature Reserve of the Tomboli di Cecina. WHERE IS IT UPDATED EVENTS All events directly from the Tourism page of the Municipality of Cecina.
Elba island
ELBA ISLAND: A RIDE TO THE TUSCAN ARCHIPELAGO The Island of Elba is located a few kilometers from the coast and is part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park. Here are some details taken from Wikipedia: it is the largest of the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago; the terrain is very varied, and divided into several parts according to its conformation and the geological era in which it was formed; the climate has predominantly Mediterranean characteristics, with the exception of Mount Capanne where winters tend to be moderately cold. Precipitation is concentrated in the autumn period and appears to be quite contained. The most frequent wind is the sirocco characterized by a high humidity level; the most widespread plant formation is the Mediterranean maquis; rich in iron deposits, the island of Elba made the rise of the Etruscan civilization possible; rich in beaches and cliffs, the island of Elba offers a wide choice for scuba diving, ranging from accessible dives to beginners to the most demanding ones. HOW TO GET
Siena
SIENA: A HISTORICAL, ARTISTIC AND LANDSCAPE HERITAGE The Sienese territory offers a glimpse of the typical Tuscan countryside: along the way to arrive you can feel the scent of this land. Following, some details taken from Wikipedia: in 1995 its historic center was included by UNESCO in the World Heritage; Siena is located in central Tuscany at the center of a vast hilly landscape; on July 2 and August 16 in Siena, in Piazza del Campo, there is the traditional Palio, a horse-mounted race (bareback) between the different districts of Siena that monopolizes the city’s attention for several days; Siena has a long culinary tradition, perhaps due to the wealth of the medieval period and the presence of numerous taverns and points of hospitality along the Via Francigena; The craftsmanship retains the character of a “shop” or family business. In addition to the classic activities necessary for any city, there are those related to the restoration and the “major” arts: restorers, decorators, carpenters specialized in antique furniture. HOW TO GET
Bibbona
BIBBONA: VAL DI CECINA DIRECTION A country rich in history and culture, inserted in a unique natural context in the world. Below, some curiosity from Wikipedia: the municipality of Bibbona is located in the Val di Cecina and its territory, which includes about four kilometers of beaches as well as a large forest of considerable naturalistic value, extends from the slopes of the Metalliferous Hills up to the Maremma; the coast is low and sandy, characterized by beaches and extensive pine forests; near the town is the Macchia della Magona, a wood of 1635 hectares, full of paths and natural paths that connect it to the parks of Val di Cornia and wooded areas of Volterra. HOW TO GET EVENTS IN BIBBONA All events directly from the page of Tourism of the Municipality of Bibbona.
San Gimignano
SAN GIMIGNANO: MEDIEVAL ARCHITECTURE, UNESCO HERITAGE Among the recommended itineraries this can not be missing: one of the best examples in Europe of urban organization of the municipal age. Below, some details taken from Wikipedia: it rises on a place inhabited certainly by the Etruscans, at least from the III century a.C. The hill had been chosen for strategic matters, being dominant; it is above all famous for the medieval towers that still stand on its panorama, which have earned it the nickname of Manhattan of the Middle Ages; Teatro dei Leggieri: already in the ‘600 in San Gimignano two Academies were active; that of the Scolari and that of the Awakened Comedians; is one of the settings of the Assassin’s Creed II videogame, in which many of the city’s major monuments are represented and cited. HOW TO GET
Montescudaio / Guardistallo / Casale Marittimo
MONTESCUDAIO / GUARDISTALLO / CASALE MARITTIMO: A LOOK FROM ABOVE A few kilometers from the Camping there are 3 small villages to visit: the elements that unite these places are history, the culture of food and a unique view for incredible photos. Some references taken from Wikipedia: Montescudaio: it is located in the Val di Cecina and is part of the Pisan Maremma. About ten kilometers from the coast, it is included among the most beautiful villages in Italy; Guardistallo: it is among the Cities decorated to Military Valor for the War of Liberation having been awarded the bronze medal for the sacrifices of its populations and for its activity in the partisan struggle during the Second World War. On June 29, 1944, on the eve of the arrival of the allied troops, the country was the scene of a massacre perpetrated by German soldiers in which they found the death of 63 people, mostly civilians; Casale Marittimo: it was the castle and the main center of the area under the counts of Gherardesca. Nominated as early as 1004, in 1406 it came under the Florentine dominion, following its fate. In 1684 it was given in fief to Ridolfi […]
Populonia
POPULONIA: A DIVE IN HISTORY The oldest part is located on one of the dominant promontories of the area, directly overlooking the Gulf of Baratti: a true spectacle of nature. Here are some trivia from Wikipedia: it was in antiquity one of the largest and most important Etruscan and Roman cities. near the present inhabited area are the remains of the ancient city, with the Etruscan walls and remains of Roman buildings; some of the city necropolises of the different historical phases can be visited in the archaeological park of Baratti and Populonia. HOW TO GET
Livorno
LIVORNO: BETWEEN BUSINESS, ART AND HISTORY This city undoubtedly deserves a visit that, thanks to its characteristics, will leave you with open eyes. Below, some trivia from Wikipedia: it is located along the coast of the Ligurian Sea and is one of the most important Italian ports, both as a commercial and tourist port; among all the Tuscan cities it is usually considered the most modern; the Goldoni Theater, built between 1843 and 1847 on a project by Giuseppe Cappellini, is the most important theater in the city, the only historical theater in Livorno that survived the war and reconstruction; the Provincial Park of the Monti Livornesi, extends in the hills behind the city, also involving the neighboring towns of Collesalvetti and Rosignano Marittimo. Next to the park, along the coast, is the “Calafuria Nature Reserve”; Livorno has had an intense relationship with the history of cinema; a report made of films, film studios and national premieres; the traditional cuisine of Livorno was defined by Aldo Santini as quarrelsome and popular as it reflects the original character of the city’s poor population in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, coming from various parts of the Mediterranean fleeing the law or religious […]
Bolgheri
BOLGHERI: AT THE CENTER OF THE MAREMMA (district of Livorno) A village famous all over the world, immersed in a countryside with typical Mediterranean scents. Below, some news from Wikipedia: the name derives from a military settlement of Bulgarian allies of the Longobards, here attested in a defensive position against a possible landing of Byzantine troops coming from Sardinia; the characteristic village has developed around the medieval castle (extensively remodeled over the centuries) which stands on a modest hill accessible through the evocative Viale dei Cipressi, a road almost five kilometers long that begins in the valley, on the Via Aurelia, right in front of the eighteenth-century Oratory of San Guido: the place was made famous by the verses of Giosuè Carducci in the poem Davanti San Guido (1874). Bolgheri is famous not only for its historical-landscape features, but also for the red wines produced in the area. Thanks to the particular characteristics of the soil and the sunny, dry and moderately ventilated microclimate, the area has been adapted to the area of Bordeaux, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Among the most famous we find the Sassicaia of Tenuta San Guido (in the homonymous area […]
Firenze
FLORENCE: PERFUME OF HISTORY AND CULTURE Being at Camping Bocca di Cecina and not visiting Florence would be a shame! In just over an hour’s drive you can be with your eyes turned to the sky to admire the works of this beautiful city known all over the world. Here are some trivia from Wikipedia: in the poetic language also called Fiorenza, the capital of Tuscany; important university center and UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is considered a place of origin of the Renaissance; is universally recognized as one of the cradles of art and architecture, as well as renowned as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, thanks to its numerous monuments and museums – including the Duomo, Santa Croce, the Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Lordship and Palazzo Pitti; Florence is in a scenic position, in the middle of a large amphitheater basin; the city is everywhere characterized by that extraordinary literary, artistic and scientific development that took place in the XIV-XVI century; with its artists, thinkers, writers, scientists of world renown (just think of Leonardo da Vinci who here created his masterpieces such as the Gioconda, Michelangelo, Raphael, Sandro Botticelli, Niccolò Machiavelli, Filippo Brunelleschi, Galileo […]
The territory of Maremma
THE MAREMMA: AN INCREDIBLE VARIETY OF TASTE The Maremma is a geographical area between Tuscany and Lazio that overlooks the sea: the uniqueness of the territory is unmistakable and thanks to this there are excellences on the territory both in the culinary and naturalistic fields. Here are some details taken from Wikipedia: in addition to a central part, corresponding to the province of Grosseto up to the slopes of Mount Amiata and the Metalliferous Hills and up to the middle Ombrone valley (Maremma Grossetana and, in the inner part, Maremma Senese), includes the coastal strip between Piombino and Cecina (Maremma Pisana, province of Livorno) and goes to Lazio towards Civitavecchia; the climate of the Maremma has Mediterranean characteristics along the coast, while it takes on more continental characteristics as it progresses inwards; in Tuscany the Maremma covers about 5,000 km² of land, equal to about 1/4 of the entire region; the Maremma still today shows almost all its nature of rough land, with strong contrasts, particularly fascinating colors; the butteri are now guardians of the Maremma horse breed that almost no longer needs to follow the flocks during the transhumance, but is used for sport and for hippotherapy in the […]
