CAMPIGLIA MARITTIMA (LIVORNO)

Situated on a hill overlooking the sea and the surrounding countryside, Campiglia Marittima is one of the loveliest old hill towns on the Etruscan Coast.

Here in heart of the Val di Cornia where ancient traditions live on, remains bearing witness to the Etruscan, Roman and Medieval civilisations can be found.  

The Val Fucinaia furnaces and the San Silvestro Archaeological-Mineral Park – a splendid open-air museum – tell the fascinating story of how metal was worked from Etruscan times on.

The Caldana Hot Springs at Venturina, already known in Etruscan and Roman times, are today a well-equipped spa facility for mental and physical well being-.

The Etruscan Coast Wine Route – home of the prestigious Val di Cornia DOC wines - winds through olive groves, vineyards and Mediterranean scrub, where farms and producers of the excellent local extra-virgin olive oil and other delicious specialities can be found.

History and folklore come alive during the fests and events held every year to celebrate feast days and the changing seasons.

This hill town, formerly a medieval castle, is full of history and tradition. 

The streets, the paved alleys and the buildings are harmoniously arranged in concentric semi-circles, and city walls enclose the old town.

The area is rich in metals which have been worked since ancient times - the furnaces discovered in the Val Fucinaia go back to the 7^th or 8^th century B.C. 

Artisans workshops, museums and eating places face onto the squares. Palazzo Pretorio, the ancient seat of political and military power, houses an historical archive and a museum of interesting archaeological finds.  

The Palazzo also makes an evocative setting for the public Wine Centre – a shop window for the exceptional wines of the Etruscan Coast and a centre for the promotion of the Val di Cornia’s wine growing and producing industry.

The churches are of particular interest, among them the Church of San Giovanni – a splendid example of Tuscan-Romanesque style – and the Church of San Lorenzo, built inside the city walls and dating back to the 12^th century.

Theatrical productions are held in the elegant 19^th century Teatro dei Concordi.