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Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia
- Category Art History and Culture
The Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia: what to see, what they are and how long the itineraries last.
Number of views: 8277Agriturismo - Where to stay overnight
- What can be seen at the Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia
- What are the visits that can be made?
- The Necropolis of San Cerbone
- Necropolis of the Caves
- Acropolis of Populonia
- What itineraries are available?
- Via del Ferro
- Via delle Cave
- Via del Monastero
- Via della Romanella
- Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia (Video):
What can be seen at the Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia
Populonia is the ideal destination for a cultural holiday, immersed in nature and history. The Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia extends between the slopes of the promontory of Piombino and the Gulf of Baratti, it includes the area where once stood the Roman and Etruscan city of Populonia, known for its intense metallurgical activity linked to the production of iron.
Populonia is also a place of great charm as it is immersed in a naturally unique landscape. On one side, the sea of the Gulf of Baratti, overlooked by the tombs of warrior princes, to the Mediterranean scrub that conceals incredible Etruscan tombs carved into the rock, finally reaching the acropolis with its sacred buildings overlooking the islands of the Tuscan archipelago.
The Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia is spread over two visiting areas that show the transformation of the landscape and the city over the centuries:
in the lower part it is possible to see the two Etruscan necropolises, the calcarenite quarries and the industrial districts, where the hematite ore, coming from the Elbe deposits, was worked in order to obtain the iron ingots;
in the upper part it is possible to visit the Acropolis of Populonia, together with its temples, buildings, mosaics and the streets of the Roman phase, the remains of the huts of the first Etruscan settlement with the walls that surrounded the city on the sea side of the Gulf of Baratti.
What are the visits that can be made?
The Necropolis of San Cerbone
Duration of the visit: 1 hour
The Necropolis of San Cerbone is located in the lower part of the Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia, near the Visitor Center (Podere San Cerbone).
You can decide whether to observe the necropolis independently, with the help of the bilingual panels, or whether to visit it together with an expert guide (the guided tour is included in the cost of the ticket, but takes place at regular times throughout the day).
During the visit it will be possible to admire Etruscan tombs of different types, from princely mounds to aedicule tombs, up to the later caisson and sarcophagus tombs.
On average, the visit takes place over the course of 1 hour.
Necropolis of the Caves
Duration of the visit: 2 hours
If you take the Via delle Cave, starting from the Visitor Center of the Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia, you can reach the Necropolis of the Caves , which can be visited independently using the panels, or always via a guided tour.
This necropolis was used between the 4th and 3rd centuries. BC, when the San Cerbone area had become the new industrial district of Populonia.
The Necropolis of the Caves has chamber tombs carved into the rock, alternating quarry fronts, for the extraction of the bench stone (a local sandstone), which over the centuries has been used as a building material, both for the tombs of the Necropolis of San Cerbone, and for the structures of the Acropolis in the Etruscan period.
The visit lasts about 2 hours.
Acropolis of Populonia
Duration of the visit: 1 hour and 30 minutes
A simple route takes the visitor through ancient scenarios and panoramic views of the Gulf of Baratti, thus visitors can discover the upper part of the city of Populonia, which can be visited independently or as already mentioned for the previous ones, taking advantage of the guided tour.
The itinerary leads guests in front of the remains of the important Roman temples that overlook a large square in the center of the ancient city.
Once you get beyond this area, you walk along the paved road, which leads to a large domus and to the Edificio delle Logge, a monumental terrace that formed the basis on which other rich rooms were articulated.
We therefore proceed with a nature trail that allows you to reach the top of the promontory, where you can skirt the ancient city walls, with all-round panoramic views of the northern coast and the island of Elba, to finally reach the area of the first Etruscan settlement of Populonia.
The visit takes place over the course of 1 hour and a half.
What itineraries are available?
There are many itineraries that run through the Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia and each visitor can decide which one is best suited to their needs, based on interests and different levels of difficulty. Stimulating from a naturalistic point of view, they also allow you to enjoy truly stunning views, between nature and culture.
Ideal for those who want to go trekking in Tuscany.
Via del Ferro
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes (easy)
The Via del Ferro is a pleasant and simple itinerary, interesting for its environmental and naturalistic values, it develops between imposing tumulus tombs and ancient structures concerning iron working.
Areas delimited by masonry, within which some of the most important activities related to the production of iron took place, and the presence of intense dark red layers inside the rooms, denotes that the roasting of the hematite, an operation to prepare the mineral before placing it in real ovens.
Via delle Cave
Duration: 2 hours (moderately demanding)
The Via delle cave is the path that connects the Visitor Center with the area of the Necropolis of the Caves, it is an itinerary that begins slightly uphill in the meadow of Campo dell'Arpia, and then enters the Mediterranean scrub wood. Along the way, it is possible to admire a spectacular panoramic view with the viewpoint overlooking the Gulf of Baratti and the Necropolis of the Caves.
Via del Monastero
Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes (moderately demanding)
The Via del Monastero is the perfect route for those wishing to go trekking in Tuscany and allows you to reach the Benedictine monastery of San Quirico. It can be traveled independently by visitors, either starting from the Visitor Center of Baratti and following the Via delle Cave up to the crossroads that continues on the opposite side of the promontory, or starting from the Acropolis of Populonia.
Via Della Romanella
Duration of the visit 2 hours and 30 minutes (demanding)
The Via della Romanella is the itinerary that starts from the Via del Ferro, in the lower part of the city, and leads up to the remains of the ancient walls of Populonia.
Proceeding along the path, you are immersed in nature and in the woods and you can reach the Acropolis of the city, via an ancient paved road, partly hidden by the surrounding vegetation.
