CECINA
CECINA - Since 1980 the Archaeological museum has been housed in a wing of the 18th century VILLA LA CINQUANTINA. In the collection there are beautiful Etruscan boccaro vases, classicalGreek and Hellenistic painted ceramics, bronzes like brooches, belts, bracelets, arrowheads, household utensils and coins. Other important finds from the valley of the Cecina include stone urns containing funerary objects discovered in a chamber tomb of the 6th century B.C. A tomb of this type has been reconstructed in the garden of the Comune Di Cecina in Via Boccaccio. Ensembles of funerary objects consisting of oil lamps, glass and terracotta ampules, pins and other bone itemswere also found in Roman burial places from imperial times. Underwater discoveries attest to the presence of at least two Roman wrecks in the area (wine jars, remains of anchors and sailors equipment).
On a small hill on the left bank of the river Cecina there are some exceptionally interesting Roman remains traditionally known as the VILLA DI ALVINO CECINA. Excavations have revealed the existence of an extensive complex of buildings dating from the middle of the first century B.C. with additions until late Roman times (5th to 6th centuries A.D.) There was the owner's Otium, a colonnaded peristyle, baths (frigidarium, tepidarium, calidarium) entirely covered with marble and an area used for producing olive oil with an olive press and jars for storage. Particularly interesting is the well preserved vaulted cistern with underground shafts leading from it, equipped with earthenware filters for water and tanks which supplied the villa's plumbing requirements.