Marina di Cecina

The first record of a town being founded here dates back to the sixteenth century, when the Grand Duke of Tuscany built a watchtower that was later attached to the Villa Ginori. In fact it was at the behest of marquis Carlo Ginori that the town centre was created, to the left of the mouth of the river Cecina: it was built on land that Ginori had bought from the Grand Duchy, and a small colony was set up for land reclamation and coral fishing. The oldest bathing resort here, meanwhile, was founded in the late 1800s.

Marina di Cecina is perfect for people who love watersports, which are easy to pursue here. Swimming and sailing schools are open, as are stables and shooting ranges. The touristy port is large and well equipped. Trees, rental houses and campsites are often surrounded by greenery. Quiet yet lively and furnished with all the necessary facilities, Marina di Cecina is an ideal spot for relaxing vacations, even for families.

The Tomboli di Cecina Nature Reserve is one of the most beautiful woods in Italy, full of thick, varied vegetation which nurtures many different animal species. Inside the wood, you can find picnic areas with benches and tables.

Three kilometres from Marina di Cecina you find the town of Cecina itself, which dates back a long way, even to antiquity. Here you can visit the Town Archaeological Museum in Villa Guerrazzi and the Roman villa of San Vincenzino, a residential complex that was built between the first century BC and the fifth century AD. From Cecina you can easily reach other towns on the Etruscan Coast in a matter of minutes, places like Bolgheri, Suvereto and Campiglia Marittima, and the archaeological parks of Baratti and Populonia.

This seaside town is the perfect place in which to sample some starters and main courses based on the freshest fish: cacciucco, for example, ideally paired with one of the finest wines from the Etruscan Coast Wine and Olive Oil Trail. The most important labels produced in these parts include Bolgheri DOC, Terratico di Bibbona DOC, Suvereto DOCG and Valdicornia Rosso DOCG.