Livorno Province

Twenty Municipalities in the Province of Livorno

The Province of LivornoThe Province of Livorno is a predominantly coastal province, boasting what I think is some of the most beautiful and unspoilt coastline in Italy.

It is made up of twenty municipalities, or comuni, each of which has its own administrative centre. Eight of these municipalities make up the Island of Elba, and one is represented by the island of Capraia. The remaining 11 are on the Tuscan mainland:

Bibbona

Vineyards near BibbonaThe small Comune of Bibbona is located on the coast, about 40km south of Livorno. It has a population of about 3000 and covers an area of 65 sq km.

The main village of Bibbona - a medieval hamlet - is located a few kilometres inland, while the popular resort of Marina di Bibbona with its sandy beaches attracts numerous visitors in the summer months, especially from northern Europe. It centres around an 18th-century fort built by the Lorraine family to protect the area from attacks from the sea.

Campiglia Marittima

Palazzo Pretorio with its medieval coats-of-arms, Campiglia MarittimaOne of only four non-coastal municipalities in Livorno Province, Campiglia Marittima lies in the far south, about 70km from the city of Livorno. Apart from the main town of Campiglia Marittima (276m above sea level), the comune also includes the villages (frazioniI) of Venturina, Cafaggio, Lumiere, Banditelle, Palmentello and Casalappi. It has 13,500 inhabitants and covers an area of 83 sq km.

Places of Interest

Castagneto Carducci

Cypress Avenue leading to BolgheriThe municipality of Castagneto Carducci is situated south of Livorno, in the heart of what is known as the Livornese Maremma, and on the Costa degli Etruschi. The coastline is low-lying and embraces the important nature reserve of Bolgheri. Further inland the terrain is hilly. The municipality has around 8500 inhabitants and a surface area of 142 sq km.

Cecina

The Municipality of Cecina has a population of about 28,000 and covers an area of about 42 sq km. It lies to the south of the comune of Rosignano Marittimo, about 30km from the city of Livorno.

Apart from the main town of Cecina, the municipality also includes the villages of Colle Mezzano, La Cinquantina, San Pietro in Palazzi, and Marina di Cecina, the latter a popular summer holiday resort.

Collesalvetti

The municipality (or comune) of Collesalvetti is situated inland, in the far north-east corner of Livorno Province. It has about 16,500 inhabitants and extends over an area of 109 sq km.

The terrain is mainly flat, with some hilly land to the south. Agriculture is quite well developed, but there are also large areas of industrial activity in Stagno and Guasticce, two small centres in the comune, including the Vespucci Interport and the Il Faldo Autoparco - the largest area for the storing of new cars in Europe -, as well as the Agip Refinery (in Stagno).

Piombino

Beach in the Sterpaia Coastal Park, Piombino ProvinceThe municipality of Piombino ( with a population of about 34,000) lies in the far south of the Province of Livorno, 90km south of Livorno, in the Cornia valley, and in an area known as the Livornese Maremma. Opposite lies the Island of Elba.

The municipality's greatest attraction is probably its beaches which number among some of the most beautiful and unspoilt in the whole of the mainland province. Another major pull is the Etruscan archaeological site at Populonia.

Piombino is a busy port from where the ferry service to the Island of Elba operates, so there is a great deal of through traffic in the summer months.

Rosignano Marittimo

Looking down on lower Rosignano MarittimoThe Comune of Rosignano Marittimo is situated to the immediate south of Livorno, the main town of Rosignano Marittimo being about 20 km from Livorno itself. It has a population of about 32,000 and covers a total area of 120 sq km.

Other towns in the municipality include Rosignano Solvay, which grew up with the establishment of the Belgian Solvay plant in the early 1900s. The factory, which produces caustic soda and bicarbonate of soda (among other things), is still in full operation and employs many people locally.

San Vincenzo

San Vincenzo is probably one of the best known municipalities in Livorno Province, since it is a very popular destination for summer holidays, both among Italians and Europeans, especially Germans and Dutch visitors.

San Vincenzo is found on the coast, about 50km south of Livorno, has a population of about 6500 and covers an area of 32 sq km. It boasts a long stretch of sandy beach, a natural park, good wines, and some excellent restaurants. San Vincenzo itself is also the main town in the Val di Cornia.