Top 8 Castles around Santa Luce

Route with beautiful views of the coast, there is a main road section of about 7 km without a cycle path where you have to be a bit careful with the bike.

Photo #5 is taken from the MTA website (Tuscan Museums for Alzheimer's)

Rosignano Castle sits atop the hill overlooking the town center. Its origins are ancient: it was first an Etruscan fortress, then a Roman castrum, and finally a medieval fortress, important for its position, which allowed it to control both the hills behind it and the sea. It was also the residence of the Medici family, who strengthened its fortifications with two towers. The castle was not only a fortress, but also encompassed several other buildings: a church, a building of the Archbishopric of Pisa, the seat of the municipal authorities, homes and shops, and noble palaces belonging to the Vestrini, Marini, and Bombardieri families. The latter currently houses the Rosignano Archaeological Museum; Opened in 1996 and spread over three floors, it houses architectural elements and furnishings from Roman villas, underwater finds from Roman shipwrecks along the coast, and various funerary objects discovered in the Etruscan necropolises of Castiglioncello and Vada. Particularly interesting is the reconstruction of a Roman-era domus, complete with furnishings and everyday objects. The museum has an educational approach, accessible each year to thousands of teachers and students of all ages, thanks to guides, multimedia, models, panels, and captions. From Piazzale Vestrini, especially at sunset and on clear days, you can enjoy a magnificent view of Rosignano Marittimo, the coast, and the islands. Ample parking is available in the area adjacent to the tower. Closed on Mondays, open Tuesday through Sunday (9:00-13:00 in the winter and 17:00-20:00 in the summer). Tel. 0586 724288 Email: palazzobombardieri@comune.rosignano.livorno.it Tickets: * €5.00 adults; * €3.00 reduced (students, families, groups of more than 9 people); * free for children (under 10), seniors (over 65), and disabled visitors

The park surrounding the castle is also beautiful, offering the possibility of walking in the shade of tall trees

Lari is famous for its Castello dei Vicari, located at the top of the hill and in the center of the city. This interesting fortress was started around the year 1000 in a strategic point of the Arno valley and grew in splendor until 1400, when it began to host the Vicars, i.e. the magistrates who had the task of administering a large part of the Pisan territory on behalf of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Today, after being restored, it is open to the public and hosts conferences, meetings and exhibitions, as well as guided tours, entertainment, concerts, theater, wedding ceremonies and other initiatives for groups and school parties. Timetable: 01.01 — 31.03 and 01.11 — 31.12: Saturday and holidays from 10.30am to 12.30am and from 3pm to 6pm 01.04 — 31.05: Monday-friday from 3.30pm to 7pm. Saturday and holidays from 10.30am to 12.30am and from 3.30pm to 7pm 01.06 — 30.09: Every day from 10:30am to 13:00pm/3:00pm to 7:00pm 01.10 — 31.10 Monday-friday from 3pm to 6pm. Saturday and holidays from 10.30am to 12.30am and from 3pm to 6pm Full price ticket €4.00 Guided tour on booking €5.00 Reduced ticket and school parties €3.00 For reservations or other information, tel 0587 687116 or mail to info@castellodilari.it

Rosignano Marittimo is a town of nearly 2500 inhabitants (but its large municipality reaches 30,000), located between Livorno and Cecina. In spite of the name it is not on the sea, but on a hill at 150 m. above sea level. Here a ridge road connects it with Livorno without passing the busy old Aurelia that runs along the coast. it is a pleasant stretch of about thirty kilometers in the shade, full of curves and ups and downs that are never too demanding. From Rosignano Marittimo, then, you can descend towards the S.R. 206 and go up towards the villages of the "Colline Pisane", or go down to Rosignano Solvay and take the beautiful coastal cycle path that leads to Vada, Mazzanta, Marina di Cecina and, through the pine forest of the "Tomboli di Cecina" nature reserve, reach Marina di Bibbona In Rosignano M. it is worth tackling the climb that leads to the highest point, from which it is possible to take beautiful photos towards the coast (on clear and clear days,beyond the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, it is possible to see Corsica). Rosignano, in its whole municipality organizes gastronomic festivals, cultural and folkloristic events throughout the year. In addition, the Museum housed in the rooms of Palazzo Bombardieri (in the Castle on the top of the hill), displays interesting archaeological finds. https://www.visitrosignano.it/en/eventi.php?id=922 Museum opening (closed on Mondays): Summer (from 1st July to 3rd September) 10:00 - 13:00; 17:00 - 20:00 Winter: Tuesday to Saturday: 9:00 - 13:00 Sundays and holidays: 10:00 - 13:00 Tickets: € 10; € 5 reduced; free for over 65 and under 10 Tel: 0586724288 mail: museo@comune.rosignano.livorno.it

Piazza della Vittoria, 1, 57016 Castiglioncello LI http://armunia.eu/ +390586754202

The Pasquini Castle is located near the Castiglioncello railway station in the municipality of Rosignano Marittimo (province of Livorno) Despite its appearance, the castle is not ancient: at the end of the nineteenth century, Baron Patrone, owner of an agricultural land overlooking Castiglioncello, wanted a building to be built there in imitation of a medieval castle and that the surrounding agricultural land to be transformed into a luxuriant park with a romantic imprint. In the forties it was bought by the Pasquini family, from which the current name derives; today it belongs to the Municipality, which has made it the center of a series of cultural events and performances, such as the Castiglioncello-Costa degli Etruschi Literary Prize. The visit to the park is free. A ticket is required for some of the performances.