PARCO DI RIMIGLIANO

A BAND OF GREEN OVERLOOKING THE SEA

Imagine a free beach of fine sand, equipped with showers, toilets, picnic areas and a refreshment point, that stretches for 6 kilometres between by a fabulous pine forest and the crystal-clear sea that bathes the coastline.  The Rimigliano Coastal Park, which extends from Vincenzo to the border with the municipalities of Piombino and Campiglia Marittima, is much more than that. Covering about 650 hectares, the park is divided into two by the Principessa (SP 23) provincial road; on one side there is the sea, protected by a strip of Mediterranean maquis with its dune system and the beach, and on the other, agricultural areas, the area of the former lake of Rimigliano and mixed woodland, with a prevalence of oak species, which replaced the previous pine forest.

This is one of the most beautiful places for encountering the natural essence of the Etruscan Coast and where the panorama sweeps from the green promontory of Piombino to the silhouettes of the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago in the distance. There is no better experience than lying on the dunes shaped by the wind, relishing the shade during the heat of the day or enjoying sports in the water or along paths inland.

A Fitness Course has been created under the thick cover of holm oaks and pines with 18 stations, each offering exercises that train different parts of the body, with varying degrees of difficulty and suitable for all ages. The one kilometre long circuit, takes about an hour and a half to complete and starts at entrance number 4 of the Park. This is also the location of the Lago Verde kiosk; a meeting point where families with children, young and old can drink and eat and listen to music.

The entrances, 10 in all, are pedestrian only and are located along the Via della Principessa, named in honour of Elisa Bonaparte, to whom her brother Napoleon had assigned the principality of Piombino and who did much for the economic development of the area. Before the road was associated with Elisa’s name it was known as Via dei Cavalleggeri and joined Livorno and Piombino. It had been commissioned in the sixteenth century by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I de ‘Medici for surveillance along two hundred kilometres of coastline. Nowadays, the road through thick woods can be travelled on foot, by bike or on horseback, offering beautiful glimpses of the sea and traces of the ancient Etruscan civilisation.

The Rimigliano Coastal Park has an optimal climate throughout the year, thanks to the Monte Calvi hills, which protect the coast from offshore winds and the Promontory of Piombino, which mitigates the force of onshore winds. An oasis of rare value for those who love to experience the sea in its total naturalness and yet still have access to amenities, including a series of wooden walkways that lead from the main entrance to the beach for the disabled. In 2018 the park was chosen by the Caretta caretta turtle to lay its eggs and San Vincenzo saw the birth, on 28 July, of 58 small turtles who then swam off on reaching the sea.

To find out more:
Telefono URP
0565/707206-243

E-mail
urp@comune.sanvincenzo.li.it

Sito web
www.visitsanvincenzo.it