The area behind the beach at the Gulf of Baratti hosted a lively settlement of the Etruscan people. Here, the Etruscans worked on metals coming from the mines of Elba Island, in particular iron.
Today there are only a few traces of their presence left. The most important and best preserved are collected in the Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia. It is a real open-air museum of incredible charm, immersed in the colors and scents of Mediterranean nature.
The park is open to the public since 1998, its surface covers about 80 hectares between Piombino, the promontory of Populonia and the beach of Baratti.
In this land have been discovered several Etruscan necropolises which, according to experts, date back to the 7th and 6th centuries B.C. The most famous are the Necropolis of San Cerbone and the Necropolis of the Caves. The latter, in particular, appears as a high rock facade in which many single-room tombs have been excavated. The view is particularly impressive.
Visitors are free to move around the park following the paths specially-made for them. Every point of interest is well marked at every intersection.