If you love sea food, you will want to be sure to see Castiglioncello during its annual ‘celebration of fish’ that occurs one weekend in June every year. This city was once an impoverished fishing city and has some incredible traditions in food that are simple but still absolutely delicious. You will, of course, find all the fruits of the sea you could possibly desire- both fresh and delicious, cooked to order at the multiple food stands or fresh to prepare at home- but you will also find music, festivities, and an artisanal market full of everything you can think of from art to antiques.
The expansive shore in Castiglioncello has just a few meters of sandy beach to speak of, but those beaches are utilized for every inch of space. However, if you’re looking for a less populated area to sit and soak in the sun and beautiful coastal sights, there are countless posts in the rockier areas up and down the shore. If searching for a more active experience of the area there are many scuba diving sites where you can explore the wonder of the Ligurian Sea from below, or go the opposite direction and take any number of hiking trails to the top of Monte Pelato, a mountainous tree covered hill part of the ‘colline Livornese’ (‘Livornese hills’).
Being part of the Etruscan Coast, there are quite a few places of interest; one of which is an Etruscan burial site from the 4th -3rd centuries BC that has an incredible 35 tombs still visible. Other historical elements include the ‘Torre di Castiglioncello’ was the first of many fortification towers to be built the city during the mid to late 1500s.
