Metalliferous Hills
THE METALLIFEROUS HILLS OF THE TUSCAN MAREMMA ARE FOUND IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE PROVINCE OF LIVORNO, AND NORTH OF THE PROVINCE OF GROSSETO, IN A LARGE AREA RICH IN MINERAL DEPOSITS.
Forests, woods and dense scrub cover the slopes and peaks of the Colline Metallifere, located in the central western area of Tuscany, known since the Metal Age for the presence of iron, copper, lead and silver. The abundance of precious minerals has always characterized the economy of this wide range of reliefs, which trace a natural border between Pisa, Livorno, Grosseto and Siena, constituting the most important and extensive hill and mountain system of the Tuscan Anti-Apennines.
The Metalliferous Hills of the Tuscan Maremma (Livornese and Grossetana) include the municipal territories of Sassetta, Campiglia Marittima, Suvereto, Gavorrano, Massa Marittima, Monterotondo Marittimo, Montieri, Roccastrada, Scarlino and the northern part of the municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia. Due to the identical geological characteristics, the hilly massif of Poggio Ballone is also part of it, and therefore the entire foothill area which, divided from the remaining hilly territory by the Pecora river, opens up to the Gulf of Follonica. The mining settlements of the Colline Metallifere are currently disused or abandoned (the main ones are located in Campiglia Marittima, Gavorrano, Massa Marittima, Montieri and Boccheggiano), but traces of the past still remain: from the tunnels Etruscans to landfills of sterile material from the Middle Ages up to the tall contemporary metal structures, classified as evidence of industrial archeology. The abundance of vegetation and therefore of wood is also linked to mining activity, which is essential both for reinforcing the mine tunnels and for fueling the furnaces for melting metals.
CHESTNUT TREES, OAKS, OAK TREES AND BEECH TREES ABUND IN THE HINTERLAND OF THE METALLIFEROUS HILLS AND THEN BLEND INTO THE MEDITERRANEAN SPICY, APPROACHING THE COASTAL AREA OF FOLLONICA.
The Grosseto Metalliferous Hills, located in the northern part of the Province of Grosseto, are a large stage of scenes that change gently: from the immense green expanses, often transformed into protected areas or nature reserves, you arrive at the fortified villages, also called castles, located on the top of the hills (such as the Scarlino Castle, an ancient Aldobrandesca fortress, the Castel di Pietra, the Monte Lattaia Castle and that of Belagaio). In medieval times this area was in fact subject to the phenomenon ofembedment (i.e., the increase in castles and fortification works): due to the progressive swamping of the plains (and the consequent spread of malaria, defeated thanks to Maremma land reclamation commissioned by the Lorena family and completed during the 20th century by the Ente Maremma) as for the Saracen raids, the Maremma coast suffered a strong depopulation. The settlements then moved to the first hilly reliefs, giving rise to the fortified villages, which are still witnesses of these events today.
The Etruscans and the Metalliferous Hills
One of the most important factors in the development of Etruscan society was the presence of many mineral resources in the Colline Metallifere. Throughout the area, the remains of the Etruscan mines and smelting furnaces are still visible today, which mainly exploited the deposits of copper, silver and iron.
THE NATIONAL TECHNOLOGICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF THE GROSSETAN METALLIFEROUS HILLS
To enhance and use the mining sites and old buildings for cultural purposes through a circuit of guided educational itineraries, the National Technological and Archaeological Park of the Grosseto Metalliferous Hills was created, which involves seven municipalities in the Grosseto Maremma: Follonica, Gavorrano, Massa Marittima, Monterotondo Marittimo, Montieri, Roccastrada, Scarlino. In 2010 the Colline Metallifere park was included in the network of European geoparks (European and Global Geoparks Network) with the name of Tuscan Mining Geopark (Geoparco delle Colline Metallifere), obtaining the prestigious recognition from UNESCO.
Resources on the Colline Metallifere
- Union of Montana Municipalities – Colline Metallifere – New body, born in December 2011, which integrates the member municipalities of Massa Marittima, Monterotondo Marittimo and Montieri, in the Grosseto Maremma.
- Cooperativa Colline Metallifere – Since 1980, it has promoted the Colline Metallifere area of Grosseto with various own projects, public and private initiatives, operating in the Province of Grosseto and particularly in the municipality of Massa Marittima.
