Cala Martina

Gulf of Follonica, Maremma

Cala Martina is a small cove - a "caletta" - with two rocky shore bays situated within the Golfo di Follonica (Gulf of Follonica), the heart of the Riserva Naturale delle Bandite di Scarlino (Bandite di Scarlino Nature Reserve) and, Le Costiere di Scarlino Area Naturale Protetta di Interesse Locale (the Coast of Scarlino Protected Natural Area of Local Interest).

There are no bars or a multitude of coloured parasols here!

The Bandite di Scarlino is a protected nature reserve of some 6,000 hectares of densely wooded hills and agricultural land.

These hills are home to wild boar, "cinghiale", and you can see evidence of their rootings for food along the track to the cove (particularly along the more shady parts of the route).

Getting there

There are two access options.

The first is along a private, unsurfaced, and closed to vehicular access road - marked on the maps as "strada privata" - that closely follows the coastline. From here you can glimpse Follonica and Piombino across the Mar Tirrenno (Tyrrhenian Sea).

View of Follonica from the access track

Take the road signposted to the Marina di Scarlino or Portiglione and follow it past the marina and numerous new apartment complex building sites, the restaurant and small bagno of Cala Felice, to its very end where you will find the Ristorante Il Cantuccio and a couple of private dwellings.

The small amount of parking at the end of this road, where the "strada privata" track to the cove commences, is completely private, and there is very limited parking along the approach road. So you may need to back track a little to find a suitable place.

The track itself is ideally suited to cycling/mountain biking and many choose this option for passing a glorious morning and/or afternoon along this part of the coast.

The distance from the start of the track to the beach is marked as 2km. I have walked it many times and can verify that it is!

The alternative approach is to park at the car park for Cala Violina and take either the track (again private with no vehicular access) or footpath through the wood to Cala Violina. At the signpost '400 metres for Cala Violina', the track and paths divide and, rather than entering the wooded path to Cala Violina, you can bear north (right) and continue along the track to Cala Martina. The distance from the Cala Violina car park to this point is about 1.1km. The track on from here to Cala Martina is approximately a further 1.8km.

(I will lay odds, however, that if you arrive at this point within only 400 metres of the best beach in Italy, the likelihood is that you will not trek or bike further to a rocky shore! But, it is a beautiful cove and entirely a different experience to Cala Violina.)

When you reach Cala Martina there is a path down to each of the two bays: the first is partially stepped, but the second not. Neither are particularly difficult, but if you have a pushchair etc, two hands will definately be needed to carry it down.

Located between the two is a monument to the Italian military and political figure, Giuseppe Garibaldi (July 4, 1807 – June 2, 1882).

It is possible, with a little care, to traverse the rocks around the mini promontory that separates the two bays.

Panorama from the beach

Sat on the beach looking out to sea you can see the Isola di Elba (Island of Elba), the port of Piombino and the tiny island of Cerboli (L'Isola di Cerboli, quarryed for rocks to build the port of Piombino and now deserted) in the far distance.

To the far south is the promontory of the port of Punta Ala and the small rocky islands of Scoglio dello Sparviero and Troia.

Around the southern promontory, Punte Francese, lies the fine white sandy "caletta" of Cala Violina, which can be accessed by continuing along the coastal track from Cala Martina for another 1.8km.

Sunset view of Isola D'Elba taken from the access track

Swimming

The bays are protected spots from both the Gregale and Scirocco winds. They are not, however, particularly great places to go swimming, as the rocky shore continues for some considerable distance out to sea. In addition, be aware that this habitat is favoured by the "ricci di mare", Echinoidea sea urchins. For both reasons, I would highly recommend swimming with sandals or rubber shoes.

Satellite view of the bays

For a satellite view of the two bays along the Mar Tirreno coast, the access tracks to the cove as described above, and neighbouring Cala Violina, access tracks and car park click here.

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