Cecina

Despite Cecina town is a rather recent in its territory were found ancient artefacts from various eras (Paleolithic, Etruscan, Roman), whose testimonies can be admired at the villa "Cinquantina" seat of a museum Etruscan-Roman and an ethnographic museum easily accessible through an avenue ce joins the sea at San Pietro in palaces. Of particular historical interest is what remains of the Roman villa of San Vincenzino. The remains of this villa, which are visible foundations, mosaics and a tank underground, stands a villa which houses interesting archaeological exhibitions

The tree belt that extends north and south of Marina di Cecina, between Vada and Marina di Bibbona, which occupies a total area of 400 hectares stretching along the coast for more than 15 km, is the Natural Reserve of Biogenetic Tomboli Cecina . This important botanical complex owes its birth to the Grand Duke of Tuscany Leopold II, in 1839, he ordered the establishment to complete the work of reclamation of the marshes that stretched around Cecina River.

Between sea and the pine forests by Vada in Bibbona
From the centre of Vada you move the bathing area, but shortly before it, turn left on the asphalt road that runs just outside dall'arenile. Continue on this for about 3 km to reach the asphalt road for a Mill Fire. On this we turn to the right shortly after coming to a square. Here take Via della Forest, a beautiful runway closed to cars bar that you forward in the pine forest. After about 1 km paved the way back and leads, after overcoming a barrier to cross another asphalt road on which bends to the right coming to the beach. Tenendosi along the edges of the latter, you pedal laboriously to identify, on the left, made up of an opening that allows the re pinewood. This goes completely crossed keeping as much as possible parallel to the coastline up to converge on the asphalt road that, right, goes to exceed bridge on the river Cecina entering Marina di Cecina.
From the bridge, turning left, you can reach Cecina, village built in the immediate vicinity of the mouth of the homonymous river. The town was born in the nineteenth century, when the whole area was reclaimed from marshes that once characterized much of the coast of Tuscany and Lazio. In the historical center certainly deserves a visit Cinquantina the villa, home of the museum-Roman Etruscan.
Who does not want to reach Cecina, immediately after the bridge turn right and crosses Cecina Mare coming to the seafront road. It follows that direction Marina di Bibbona until the road came to the limits of the village, not fulfilled a clear turn left heading towards the pine forest. At this point we leave the asphalt right to take a dirt road that is also in the pine forest rincrociando, shortly after the asphalt. This bends to the right and after 100 meters is detected, always right, a big wooden gate with an opening side for the passage of pedestrians and cyclists. After you enter the gate in the splendid Reserve Biogenetic of Tomboli Cecina, in the pine forest that has its strong point. It begins to travel so large a cart road that shortly after arriving at the starting point of some trails.
In the southern part of Pineta di Cecina, in fact, as well as some areas were prepared stop some marked with stamps of different colors depending on the length (these are also frequented by hikers walk so it is appropriate to pay attention). The wooden arrows to be followed are those with the stamp green arrows that shortly afterwards invited to abandon the cart road to bend to the right on a beautiful trail made from soft pine needles.
Gradually we get close to the sea bringing the area with interesting coastal dunes. The coastal dune sand waves are colonized and, in practice, Cemented by herbaceous vegetation resistant to salt. The dunes are a real rarity for the Italian coast since the tourist led on most of the Tyrrhenian coast, the disappearance of this natural protective barrier.
Always follow the green arrows after about 6.5 km you reach the edge of pine forest, near Marina di Bibbona. Near the town of Marina di Bibbona, just a few metres from the shore, you can admire the imposing fortress of Bibbona, built in time Medici. Cycling along the beach you can see examples of interesting Phoenician juniper and marshes formed along the estuary of the pit Camilla.
At this point you can begin your journey back to Marina di Cecina route that takes place along the easy cart road that crosses completely pinewood. In this way you can from the gate that allows access to the pine forest and riattraversa Marina di Cecina and Cecina on the bridge. From here on, just follow the road to return to Go.

The Roman Villa St. CECINA VINCENZINO.

Along the coast of 'Etruria North America, in what was once the territory of Volterra, arose in many Roman villas, which choices with a residence attached by the people of illustrious rank.
This is the case of the Roman villa of San Vincenzino. The archaeological, place an emphasis on natural terrain, near the town of Cecina modern, it lambìto north from the river itself, not far from its outlet to the sea, while behind it ran the coastal road linking Rome with Pisa and Liguria.
Known since the eighteenth century, it is traditionally attributed to the property of Albino Cecina, a member of the noble family of Caecina Volterra, which was praefectus Urbi in 415 AD, based on the report travel Rutilius Namaziano Latin poet who had found shelter and hospitality.
If it is not possible to confirm the attribution to the owner, which now marks the place name in ancient maps and portolani, often called "Albini villa, there is no doubt that this is a building of great importance, divided into sectors different destination, which experienced successive changes of use into the historical period in which he was alive (from the first century BC to the fifth century AD).
The first plant construction, built on the model of a villa with urban environments located on areas arcades and gardens, was built in conjunction to the general water system consists of a large underground tank that was used to supply the villa, exceptionally complex still intact and open, extends in a series of tunnels equipped with a system of filtering and purification of water. connection with the surface structures, a series of wells annular allowed to draw water.
Certainly added imperial advanced age (II-III century AD) are other buildings, as the district delle Terme, consisting of the series of rooms intended for canonical baths enhanced with a valuable architectural and sculptural decoration, and the great triclinium summer with nymphaeum not served by the original water system. In this context include the discovery of a statuette acefala, fine alabaster, depiction of Isis.
At a later stage (III century BC.) Belongs to a character productive sector for squeezing olives, which are the remains of the mill and a grinding stone, and facilities for the processing of that part of oblitera home environments of the villa. Much of the archaeological remains and the complex of tankers are currently visited arranged in a park.