On a voyage to discover the Etruscans
Pisa and Populonia were the two major ports of northern Etruria.
Populonia, moreover, is the only Etruscan city directly on the sea:
its inhabitants, as evidenced by the rich funerary accroutements found in the burial mounds, led lavish lives and had grown rich from their control of the local iron mines and the nearby Island of Elba, whose exploitation soon became systematic.
The territory controlled by Populonia reached Cecina, Piombino and Campiglia Marittima, where production facilities and princely burial mounds with valuable funerary accroutements have been found.
Pisa was a river port, located at the confluence of the rivers Serchio and Arno. A bridgehead for exports of northern Etruscan products, it also often had relations with southern Etruscan ports, particularly those on the coast of Lazio.
It was the center of Etruscan wine exports to the French and Spanish coasts.
Here is an itinerary to retrace the main archeological sites found in this area.
As you drive along the road that runs along the Gulf of Baratti, you will see on the left the entrance to the Parco Archeologico di Populonia, a true open-air museum overlooking the sea.
Inside the park you can visit the San Cerbone-Casone necropolis, the Grotte necropolis and the Populonia acropolis.
In the Centro di Archeologica Sperimentale "Davide Mancini", located in the heart of the park where many activities can be carried out, experiencing ancient techniques: expert operators lead visitors in the manual experience of making objects of daily life, from prehistoric to Etruscan times.
Most of the ancient artifacts found throughout the area are on display at the Museo Archeologico del Territorio di Populonia, located in Piombino.
Archeological excavations in the area have also uncovered numerous plants related to mining production.
In this respect, just a few kilometers from Campiglia, there is also the Museo Archeominerario in Campiglia Marittima, which shows the underground world and the evolution of copper, lead, silver, and zinc exploration and extraction techniques in the Val di Cornia.
As you drive along the road that runs along the Gulf of Baratti, you will see on the left the entrance to the Parco Archeologico di Populonia, a true open-air museum overlooking the sea.
Inside the park you can visit the San Cerbone-Casone necropolis, the Grotte necropolis and the Populonia acropolis.
In the Centro di Archeologica Sperimentale "Davide Mancini", located in the heart of the park where many activities can be carried out, experiencing ancient techniques: expert operators lead visitors in the manual experience of making objects of daily life, from prehistoric to Etruscan times.
Most of the ancient artifacts found throughout the area are on display at the Museo Archeologico del Territorio di Populonia, located in Piombino.
Archeological excavations in the area have also uncovered numerous plants related to mining production.
In this respect, just a few kilometers from Campiglia, there is also the Museo Archeominerario in Campiglia Marittima, which shows the underground world and the evolution of copper, lead, silver, and zinc exploration and extraction techniques in the Val di Cornia.
Once we finish our visit to the archeological area, we move on to Piombino to visit the Archeological Museum, which houses important artifacts from the area.
The archeological material covers a time span from prehistoric to Roman times: of considerable importance are the numerous and rich funerary accroutements from the tombs of Populonia and some extraordinarily beautiful Roman artifacts such as the Baratti silver amphora, 4th century A.D., with medallions depicting pagan myths and the fish mosaic.
Full-scale reconstructions of ancient landscapes and environments, multimedia and musical tours, videos and displays make the visit informative and suitable for all.
Once we finish our visit to the archeological area, we move on to Piombino to visit the Archeological Museum, which houses important artifacts from the area.
The archeological material covers a time span from prehistoric to Roman times: of considerable importance are the numerous and rich funerary accroutements from the tombs of Populonia and some extraordinarily beautiful Roman artifacts such as the Baratti silver amphora, 4th century A.D., with medallions depicting pagan myths and the fish mosaic.
Full-scale reconstructions of ancient landscapes and environments, multimedia and musical tours, videos and displays make the visit informative and suitable for all.
The journey continues in the direction of Pisa: in Cecina we find the Museo Civico Archeologico, which is housed in the 18th-century Villa Guerrazzi in the locality of La Cinquantina.
The museum itinerary represents a complete and accurate display of the ancient history and archeology of the Lower Cecina Valley, from the remote coastal settlements of the Lower Paleolithic to the last phase of the great Roman villas that occupied the entire surrounding territory with their estates.
The museum follows the human traces of the territory according to a chronological and topographical criterion that takes into account the deep connection between the Lower Cecina Valley and the city of Volterra.
A few kilometers from Cecina is also the parco archeologico della Villa romana di San Vincenzino, where a Roman building - built on the model of the urban villa - stands, with open rooms onto gardens and porticoed areas.
The journey continues in the direction of Pisa: in Cecina we find the Museo Civico Archeologico, which is housed in the 18th-century Villa Guerrazzi in the locality of La Cinquantina.
The museum itinerary represents a complete and accurate display of the ancient history and archeology of the Lower Cecina Valley, from the remote coastal settlements of the Lower Paleolithic to the last phase of the great Roman villas that occupied the entire surrounding territory with their estates.
The museum follows the human traces of the territory according to a chronological and topographical criterion that takes into account the deep connection between the Lower Cecina Valley and the city of Volterra.
A few kilometers from Cecina is also the parco archeologico della Villa romana di San Vincenzino, where a Roman building - built on the model of the urban villa - stands, with open rooms onto gardens and porticoed areas.
Located in the premises of Palazzo Bombardieri, the Museo Archeologico Palazzo Bombardieri in Rosignano Marittimo retraces the ancient history of the area stretching from the Livorno hills to the upper Cecina Valley.
The museum houses grave goods from the necropolis, architectural elements and furnishings that were once decorations of luxury residences located along the coast and inland.
Located in the premises of Palazzo Bombardieri, the Museo Archeologico Palazzo Bombardieri in Rosignano Marittimo retraces the ancient history of the area stretching from the Livorno hills to the upper Cecina Valley.
The museum houses grave goods from the necropolis, architectural elements and furnishings that were once decorations of luxury residences located along the coast and inland.
Also worth a stop is Castiglioncello, the seaside town immortalized in the famous film Il Sorpasso by Dino Risi. Here you can visit the Museo archeologico nazionale which, located on the promontory, has a large display of Etruscan artifacts.
Also worth a stop is Castiglioncello, the seaside town immortalized in the famous film Il Sorpasso by Dino Risi. Here you can visit the Museo archeologico nazionale which, located on the promontory, has a large display of Etruscan artifacts.
The voyage of discovery of the Etruscans ends with the Museo delle Navi Antiche, a unique museum that - after more than 20 years of study and research - exhibits seven vessels from the Roman period, dating between the 3rd century B.C. and the 7th century A.D., and about 8.000 artifacts.
Also noteworthy is the Etruscan prince's tumulus, located in the urban area of Pisa between Via San Jacopo and Via Pietrasantina, which can be dated between the 8th and 7th centuries B.C.
The tumulus is not a real tomb but a cenotaph - a sepulchral monument - to commemorate a person buried elsewhere: the remains of a human-shaped metal artifact were found inside to replace the deceased.
Prominent among the artifacts found in the cenotaph are an iron trident linking the deceased to the sea-related activities and fragments of a stone altar demolished, according to funeral ritual, by blows with a club. Numerous burials from later times have been found in the same area.
Finally, a few kilometers from Pisa, we find the Museo Archeologico di Peccioli, which houses artifacts found within the territory, especially in the Etruscan site of Ortaglia and in the Archeological Area of Santa Mustiola in which traces of settlements from the Roman and Longobard periods are preserved.
The site of Ortaglia, near Peccioli, has returned traces of a sanctuary complex, whose remains of the highest artistic value place it among the most important centers in the territory between the 6th and 3rd centuries B.C.
The voyage of discovery of the Etruscans ends with the Museo delle Navi Antiche, a unique museum that - after more than 20 years of study and research - exhibits seven vessels from the Roman period, dating between the 3rd century B.C. and the 7th century A.D., and about 8.000 artifacts.
Also noteworthy is the Etruscan prince's tumulus, located in the urban area of Pisa between Via San Jacopo and Via Pietrasantina, which can be dated between the 8th and 7th centuries B.C.
The tumulus is not a real tomb but a cenotaph - a sepulchral monument - to commemorate a person buried elsewhere: the remains of a human-shaped metal artifact were found inside to replace the deceased.
Prominent among the artifacts found in the cenotaph are an iron trident linking the deceased to the sea-related activities and fragments of a stone altar demolished, according to funeral ritual, by blows with a club. Numerous burials from later times have been found in the same area.
Finally, a few kilometers from Pisa, we find the Museo Archeologico di Peccioli, which houses artifacts found within the territory, especially in the Etruscan site of Ortaglia and in the Archeological Area of Santa Mustiola in which traces of settlements from the Roman and Longobard periods are preserved.
The site of Ortaglia, near Peccioli, has returned traces of a sanctuary complex, whose remains of the highest artistic value place it among the most important centers in the territory between the 6th and 3rd centuries B.C.