COSTA FIORITA - MONTENERO - GABBRO - NIBBIAIA - CASTELNUOVO
Leaving the seaside, its sunny beaches and suggestive cliffs, you can visit the hills of COSTA FIORITA and the "Leghornian Natural Park" extending from Montenero to Castiglioncello. The hills are covered with evergreen oaks, junipers, pines, elms, poplars, willow and cypress trees typical of the Mediterranean Brush. The park is rich with a lot of animals: wild boars, foxes, badgers, weasels, martens, and a large variety of birds, like owls, robins, greenfinches, sparrows and blackbirds. Seagulls abound. There are a lot of trails through the park where one can admire the most charming panorama of the coast from the hills overlooking the blue sea.
MONTENERO, with its panoramic village perched on one of the hills, hosts one of the most important Sanctuaries in Italy dedicated to Maria delle Grazie, Patron of Tuscany making it an exclusive place of pilgrimage and faith. The sanctuary dates its origins in the 400's with its final form dating back to 1710. Inside the church one finds an important display of votive offerings testimonials of popular religiosity. The guests can also visit the suggestive caves offering magical underground excursions.
GABBRO, is a village whose actual name comes from the rock on which it was built. In 1879 some etruscan and roman tombs were discovered there. Since 1886 Silvestro Lega, one of the Macchiaioli paiters, lived here finding inspiration in the landscape of this quaint little village. One can visit an interesting church from the 1700's brought back to the old linear baroque style. Inside one can see a wooden painting dedicated to St. Michelino and the "Madonna del Buon Consiglio" (1400).
NIBBIAIA, whose name probably comes from "nibbio" a bird, developed in the early 1800's and was inhabited by sheperds. The church, dedicated to St. Joseph was built in 1835. Village life revolves around the main square Piazza Mazzini where most of the Sagras (festivals) take place.
CASTELNUOVO DELLA MISERICORDIA, is very interesting from a tourist's point of view: the parish church, situated in the main square is dedicated to St. Stefano and was built between 1638 and 1642, The small castle dates back to the 13th century. Next to the castle, there is Santa Maria Assunta Villa dating back to the 15th century.