Val di Cecina

Etruscan history and identity

The identity of the Val di Cecina has its roots in the Etruscan era: Volterra, the ancient Velathri, was one of the most important city-states of Etruria, as evidenced by the Etruscan walls, the Porta all'Arco, and the necropolis preserved in the Etruscan Guarnacci Museum. In medieval times, Volterra became a free commune, with the Palazzo dei Priori, among the oldest municipal palaces in Tuscany, and developed the traditional alabaster processing, still a distinctive artisanal activity of the territory today. In the 20th century, the Larderello area, in the municipality of Pomarance, became famous for being the world's cradle of industrial exploitation of geothermal energy, which began at the start of the 20th century.

Villages and places to see

Volterra is the most famous destination in the valley, with its walled historic center, the Roman Theatre, the Medici Fortress, and alabaster workshops. Pomarance preserves a medieval village and provides access to Larderello and its geothermal architecture, while Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina dominates the Devil's Valley from a fortified stone nucleus. On the coast, Cecina is a reference center with its pine forest and Marina di Cecina, Bibbona preserves a small hilly village in addition to the coastal hamlet of Marina di Bibbona, and Rosignano Marittimo includes the hilly capital, Castiglioncello, and the famous White Beaches of Rosignano Solvay.

Not to be missed

• The historic centre of Volterra with the Roman Theatre and the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum
• The Balze di Volterra, the dramatic erosion cliffs overlooking the town
• The Larderello geothermal area and the Valle del Diavolo, in the municipality of Pomarance
• The Spiagge Bianche of Rosignano Solvay, famous for their turquoise sea
• The pine forest and shoreline of the Costa degli Etruschi between Cecina and Bibbona