The long coast on the Gulf of Follonica is mainly made of fine sand and the sea level gradually slopes down. From Piombino to Punta Ala you will find several private and equipped beaches, perfect for a relaxing stay.
Mare Si Village has a partnership with Pratoranieri property, at the Reception you can book the beach services.
The Surroundings
From North to South you can also choose one the following public beaches:
La Carbonifera
Just 5 km far from the city center of Follonica, the name origins from the 19th century tower, a former commercial port for coal, which still dominates the beach. A big car parking 100 m away from the beach will allow you to reach the sea in full relax. La Carbonifera belongs to Parco Della Sterpaia. Both private and public beaches are available. With its clear and fine sand and the shallow sea bottom, it is ideal for children too.
Torre Mozza
This beach, which is part of Parco Della Sterpaia, is overlooked by an ancient watchtower dating back to 1500 and is about 3 km far from Follonica city center. 30 m under the water, a cliff – which was maybe part of the Roman Aurelia Road – runs parallel to the mainland and is a natural barrier and a shelter for the local marine fauna, you can observe it by snorkeling. The nearby parking is sometimes too small for all incoming tourists, attracted here by the charm and beauty of this place. Although the environment is wild at first sight, you will find both equipped and public areas.
Pratoranieri, The Boschetto, the Lido
West of Follonica the three closest beaches are Il Boschetto, Il Lido and Pratoranieri: the last one is the closest to Mare Si Village, but you can also easily reach the others by bike. Il Boschetto beach, which takes its name from the small pine wood behind it, is made up of fine and clear sand, shallow seabed and still calm water. Pratoranieri and Il Lido are the best equipped beaches of the Gulf and form almost a single beach. On a clear day, from the coast you can see the shapes of Elba, Corsica and Montecristo Islands.
La Polveriera
This is the first beach in the east of Follonica, about 3 km far from the city center. Its main feature is a very low seabed, so that during low tide many spits of sand emerge from the sea and are very funny for children to play. The fine sand and a centuries-old pine wood in the surroundings complete the picture of Polveriera beach.
Cala Martina
The second beach on the east coast is called Cala Martina and is about 7 km far from Follonica. Perfect for beach lovers, you can park in Puntone, since Cala Martina can only be reached throught a pedestrian path. If you decide to visit this place, you should equip yourself before arriving, since there are no bars or private beaches. A monument dedicated to Garibaldi’s escape on 2 September 1849, located halfway along the path, the rocks and an unspoiled nature will be good reasons for stopping here.
Cala Violina
Thanks to the fine sand, the crystal clear water and the unspoiled nature, Cala Violina is one of the most beautiful beaches of the Gulf of Follonica and of whole Maremma. Located between Follonica and Punta Ala, 10 km far from both towns, the beach is part of the Natural Reserve of Bandite Di Scarlino. Forbidden to vehicles, you can get here choosing amongs two paths: or from Punta Ala by bike, after entering the barrier of Portiglioni (near the port of Scarlino), through a beautiful but quite difficult path; either, more easily, leaving from Pian d’Alma and following the signs on the provincial road 158. This will lead you to a dirt road and after 1 km you will find a limited parking lot (since we are inside of a natural reserve). After parking, you will walk about 1.5 km on a path through the pine wood before getting to the beach. A luxuriant Mediterranean vegetation overlooks the clear beach with quartz granules. The palce takes its name from the sound they emit stepping on them (to hear it, it is necessary a lot of silence, so we recommend you to try very early in the morning, late in the evening or off season). Since there are no beach facilities here, this place gives a really extraordinary experience thanks to the wonderful view and the very clear water but remember that during high season it will be very crowded.
Cala Civette
Far 11 km from Follonica, the beach takes its name from the Torre delle Civette, which overlooks the small bay. Following the provincial road 158, after arriving in Pian d’Alma, follow the signs for Punta Ala until you reach the river Alma. Probably the wildest beach in the whole Gulf, it is not easy to find, there are no facilities or refreshing points. That is why we suggest you to bring the necessary for a pleasant stay.
Casetta Civinini
Next to Cala Civetta, you meet Casetta Civinini. In this case you will find some beach facilities and a car parking. The beach is about 6 km long and has white sand. Since it is a quite large area, even in high season it is often possible to find uncrowded corners of beach.
The following beaches are pet-friendly:
Casetta Civinini Bau Beach
The part of Casetta Civinini beach facing Punta Ala is called “Bau Beach” and will welcome your 4-legged friends. It is however advised to bring everything you need to take care of your best friend, since you will not find much on the spot.
The Puntone Bau Beach and the public beach
The sporting club Sottovento manages this equipped beach in Scarlino. Here you will find an ideal place for your dogs: you can get a beach umbrellas and deck chairs and they will provide you with bowls and drinking water. For the guests there is a snack bar on the beach. At the public beach, although the access is permitted to animals, you will need to bring everything you need to ensure their well-being.
Pascià Glam Beach Località Perelli 1
Awarded as one of the best italian pet-friendly beaches by the Ministry for the animal protection, at Pascià Glam Beach you can swim with your dog without limitation: the site is very well equipped both for dogs and people, thanks to the several snack bars, showers, gazebos, pine forests, picnic areas and a restaurant on the pier to end the day enjoying the sunset by the sea.
Further locations in the Gulf of Follonica
In the surroundings of Follonica, it is not possible to forget the importance of the many wonderful bays and beaches equipped for every kind of need.
Punta Ala
Tourist destination of extraordinary beauty, the town of Punta Ala is located 19 km from Follonica on a small peninsula covered with a green pine forest and surrounded by the sea. Punta Ala has become a tourist destination since when the Italian aviator Italo Balbo, impressed by its beauty observing it from above, decided to buy here an ancient fort as training base of his air fleet. In 1931 he finally performed the first ocean transvolation. The town is also renowned for the sailing regattas, for its golf courses and for the Marina, where some of the most beautiful boats of the whole Tuscan coast are moored.
Suvereto
About 26 km far from Follonica, Suvereto is a Medieval village still surrounded by historic defensive walls and bastions. The urbanization of the town started between the 11th and the 14th century: calling back the ancient roughness of that period, Suvereto gives the tourist a unique atmosphere.
Castiglione della Pescaia
Typical village of maritime origins, 23 km far from Follonica, Castiglione della Pescaia is perched on a hill 540 m above sea level. The village is overlooked by the Aragonese Castle, whose towers give, together with the coast landscape, a breathtaking view. The town is also one of the most exclusive tourist destinations in the area, with a huge quantity of private and public beaches and of green areas in the Mediterranean wood. Castiglione della Pescaia is also famous for its harbour and the nightlife.
The Gulf of Baratti and Populonia
Approximately 29 km far from Follonica you will discover a small glimpse of unspoiled nature, halfway between the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, on the the coast that goes from Livorno to Grosseto. Anyone visiting this land can not miss the Gulf of Baratti, a place where history, art and nature come together to create one of the most beautiful and popular destinations of the Tuscan coast. Next to Baratti, there is the ancient Etruscan and Roman settlement of Populonia, inside the same name archaeological park. Probably the largest Etruscan settlement ever existed, composed of necropolises, calcarenite mines and industrial districts where the hematite was processed from the deposits of Elba Island, the park is divided into different visiting areas, that show to the tourist how this territory changed and evolved over time. The Archaeological Museum of Populonia, located in Piombino, will show you even more details through evocative technological reconstructions.
