Overlooking the meeting point of the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas, Piombino is a historic port in the Italian province of Livorno. Settled since ancient times, it played an important role in the Etruscan territory of Populonia before being ruled by the Republic of Pisa during the Middle Ages.
Things to do in Piombino
One of Piombino's most important architectural landmarks is the Concattedrale di San Antimo Martire, a 14th-century church dominated by a red-brick facade. It houses a Baroque-style altar and a marble baptismal font designed by the 15th-century sculptor Andrea Guardi. Of particular note is the Tuscan Renaissance-style cloister with its elegant marble columns.
Originally built in the 13th century by the Pisians is the Cassero Pisano, an imposing castle designed to defend what was one of the Tyrrhenian coastline’s most important ports. Among the architects who have left their mark are Leonardo Da Vinci and Giovanni Battista Belluzzi, who transformed the castle into a star-shaped fort. Today, the Cassero Pisano houses the Museo Del Castello, which explores Piombino’s storied past.
History buffs should visit the Museo Archeologico del Territorio di Populonia, which showcases artefacts from the ancient territory of Populonia. A highlight of the collection is the Anfora of Baratti, a preserved silver vase believed to date back to the 4th century BC. Also exhibited is a 2nd-century-BC fish mosaic and the cargo from the ancient wreck of Pozzino.
Getting around Piombino
Piombino is around an hour’s drive from Livorno, from where ferries connect to Sardinia, while Florence is two hours away. Pisa International Airport is 1.5 hours’ drive from Piombino and has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Regular trains connect to the Piombino railway station and buses travel throughout the town.