Gulf of Baratti - Credit: Ambito Costa degli Etruschi
The first coastal section starts just below Livorno, with the Baia del Quercetano in Castiglioncello, Rosignano and Vada: alternating sand and rocks, with sheltered coves and rocky seabeds ideal for diving and snorkeling lovers.
There are well-equipped beach resorts between Cecina and Bibbona, interrupted by stretches of free beaches, allowing you to relax or enjoy sports like surfing and windsurfing. The Tomboli di Cecina Nature Reserve runs alongside the sea for 5 km between the two towns and is a green lung in which you will feel rejuvenated by the scents of the Mediterranean scrub: the perfect place for getting some exercise on foot, by bike or on horseback or for organizing a picnic in the rest areas or lying in the cool shade of the maritime pines.
Marina di Castagneto Carducci is sheltered by a thick pine forest and has a sandy seabed sloping towards the open sea, making it suitable for families with children. The seascape between San Vincenzo and Piombino has a shimmering appearance: the golden sandy shores protected by the lush vegetation of the Rimigliano Coastal Park make way for the darker beach of the Baratti Gulf, with its ferrous component that brings to mind ancient ironworking that took place in Etruscan times.
The promontory of Piombino, overlooking the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, is a succession of rocky inlets, small sheltered bays and rocks washed by crystal clear waters, ideal for deep diving. In the southern part of the Val di Cornia, the sea changes again: the Sterpaia Coastal Park runs alongside a long free beach that is also accessible to people with disabilities thanks to specially signposted wooden walkways. There is also no shortage of attention for our four-legged friends: free and equipped Dog Beaches on which you can walk and have fun with your dog are indicated all along the coast.
From relaxation to sports, alone or in company, the Etruscan Coast has plenty to offer for sea lovers. Behind it, the hinterland, with distinctive villages, comes alive during the summer period thanks to a multitude of artistic, cultural and food and wine events.
