Miami in Tuscany, or at least that’s how the Maremmans see Follonica… and they’re not wrong to.

The second biggest city in the region, Follonica does mirror Miami with its tall, white buildings, which stretch from the busy city centre right up to the sandy beaches and wild Tyherrinian Sea.

But that’s where the comparison ends. Literally living next to the sea has made Follonica’s locals an incredibly laid back bunch, unlike their American contemporaries.

Follonica may be a city in terms of its size and numbers, but its locals take it easy.

They’ve adopted a tropical island attitude to their daily lives, which mostly involves a lot of relaxed walks through the city after lunch and lazing on the beach in the afternoon before returning to work at four.

Unlike Miami, Follonica also has the history to match its enviable seaside view.

Woven around the metalliferous deposits in the nearby hills, Follonica existed thousands of years ago as an ancient Etruscan settlement for those who mined the vast mineral resources and built ovens in the area to work with metals.

Sadly modern Follonica’s beauty lies more in its contemporary monuments than what remains of this ancient heritage.

During the 19th century, Follonica’s population (previously a grand total of 105) exploded after the Grand Duke Leopoldo II took a special interest in the city and set about commissioning great improvement works including the complete reorganisation of the nearby foundry.

As a result, the splendour of this seaside city isn’t old, but, believe me, it’s still captivating, especially for those who love neo-classical design.

EVENTS

Carnevale Follonichese

early February

If you only manage to see one festival during your time in the Maremma, don’t miss this one. More than three decades old, it celebrates everything that makes Carnevale so much fun.