The Val di Cornia, which stretches between the hinterland to the south of the Etruscan Coast and its coastline, boasts one of the oldest cuisines in Tuscany, dating back to Etruscan times. There are lots of places between land and sea, where you can taste the catch of the day and top-quality meat. Excellent fruit and vegetables are produced on the plains, such as artichokes, spinach and melons, while the hills are covered with olive groves and vineyards where excellent red and white wines are made.
Contents
1.
Sassetta
2.
San Vincenzo
3.
Suvereto
4.
Campiglia Marittima
5.
Piombino
Sassetta
Chestnut - Credit: Ambito Costa degli Etruschi
Chestnuts reign supreme in the woods and on the tables of Sassetta, delighting the palate with recipes like wild boar with chestnuts and Castagnaccio cake, or simpler dishes such as “ballotte” (boiled chestnuts). The culinary tradition in this territory, based on genuine ingredients, cooked as they were in the past, is expressed during the October Feasts, a series of food and wine events featuring forest fruits, soups and game.
San Vincenzo
Oily fish - Credit: Ambito Costa degli Etruschi
The San Vincenzo oily fish is a natural element and an integral part of the history of a fishing community. In the restaurants along the coast, overlooking the Island of Capraia, you can enjoy anchovies, sardines, skipjack and bonito, cooked according to the "poor man’s fish" tradition or revisited with creativity. Just a stone's throw from the sea, the Etruscan Coast Wine and Olive Oil Trail offers a journey of the senses, through excellent quality agricultural products and wines.
Suvereto
Wine tasting - Credit: Ambito Costa degli Etruschi
An area filled with the aroma of wine stretches between the first high grounds of the Metalliferous Hills and the blue sea, overlooking the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. The Sagra del Cinghiale (Wild Boar Festival ) in December is the most famous food and wine event in Suvereto , but it is not the only one: the Estate Suveretana (Suvereto Summer) celebrates the flavors of good cuisine of the land, while throughout the year major wineries and wine festivals offer tastings to combine with traditional local dishes.
Campiglia Marittima
Tasting - Credit: Ambito Costa degli Etruschi
Perched on a hill overlooking the coast, Campiglia Marittima offers cuisine ranging from simple recipes to refined dishes. The traditional Schiaccia Campigliese, a cake with ancient origins and a PDO label, goes well with the intense flavor of Aleatico wine from Val di Cornia. The spring event, Artichoke Pride, focuses on one of this area's most excellent products. Good food and sports come together in May in the Scampigliata, a tasty food and wine trekking event.
Piombino
Mixed fried fish - Credit: Ambito Costa degli Etruschi
It was the Etruscans who began to cultivate the vineyards that characterize the southern part of the coastline. The wine vocation of the Piombino area is combined with the production of fruit, vegetables (such as the Val di Corniapurple artichoke), legumes and cereals. Fish is the star of the local cuisine, with events like the Sagra Estiva del Pesce Fritto (Fried Fish Summer Festival), while land-based dishes are the focus of food offered at the Riotorto Artichoke Festival.
