Il Casone between Roman traces and Mediterranean maquis

Roman traces and a unique museum setting

Il Casone appeals to travellers who want to combine landscape and history. The MAPS Museum displays archaeological finds from the ancient Roman harbour. It is housed in an early 20th-century hydraulic building overlooking the Padule di Scarlino. In Località Casone, the ruins of several Roman-era smelting works have also been preserved. This means that, in different locations, you encounter both the ancient past and traces of industrial history.

During your stay, you can deliberately experience these two cultural aspects side by side: a visit to the museum leads to archaeological finds and a striking historic building, while the ruins in Località Casone draw attention to preserved structures from Roman times. Il Casone therefore has a character shaped not only by nature, but also by tangible evidence of earlier use.

Maquis, protected areas and coves

The Le Bandite di Scarlino nature reserve covers almost 9,000 hectares of Mediterranean maquis. The protected natural area of Costiere di Scarlino and a wildlife oasis are part of the nature reserve. Cala Martina is located within this nature reserve. Anyone who wants to include wide-open landscapes, protected nature and Mediterranean vegetation in their travel plans will find several interconnected themes here, without having to consider culture and nature separately.

Cala Violina is known for its tiny, differently shaped quartz grains, which produce a sound reminiscent of a violin when stepped on. Cala Violina can only be reached on foot or by bicycle. Cala Martina, on the other hand, can be reached by sea from La Marina di Scarlino in Puntone. These different ways of accessing the sites are important for your planning if you want to organise excursions according to the mode of transport and the experience you are looking for.

Cycling along the Pecora

A cycling excursion to explore the Pecora River basin follows the left bank after the bridge near Casone, close to the airfield. Another cycling excursion in the Pecora River basin crosses river embankments and unpaved paths, with a small section running along paved roads. This gives cyclists a clearer impression of the character of the routes: the route consists not only of paved sections, but also includes embankments and unpaved paths.

Cala Martina is part of an approximately 15-kilometre cycling loop that also includes Cala Violina. As part of the announced event, a leisurely walk through the Padule di Scarlino over footbridges and developed paths was possible.

Il Casone as a starting point for planning your trip

When choosing your hotel in Il Casone, you can focus your stay on the MAPS Museum and the Roman ruins, or on the Mediterranean maquis, the protected areas, the cycling routes and the coves. Culture enthusiasts will focus on the connection between the MAPS Museum and the Roman ruins, while nature and active holidaymakers will put the Mediterranean maquis, the protected areas, the cycling routes or the paths to the coves at the centre of their plans. The different ways of getting around – on foot, by bicycle and by sea – help you plan your excursions according to your personal rhythm.

If you would like to expand your selection of locations in Italy, you can also include Scarlino Scalo and Puntone.

For the higher-level travel overview: Scarlino.