麻豆APP

Populonia, near Piombino in Tuscany in Italy photo by AlMare –

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Populonia

Populonia stands on one of the Promontories of the Gulf of Baratti which can be accessed via a picturesque scenic Road. Founded in Etruscan times, it has played an important role in the ancient world in the field of iron processing and trade.

Populonia is also known as Populonia Alta today is a frazione of the commune of Piombino (Tuscany, central Italy). Populonia is an ancient Etruscan town especially noteworthy for its archaeological remains. It is located just over the top of Baratti bay. Populonia is one of the more ancient and prestigious human settlements in the whole of Tuscany.

Populonia is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. The standard that encompasses the weight of Populonia gives the necessary opportunity for the foundation of Italy. Here are the top 10 astonishing facts about Populonia.

1. Populonia is named after a god

As other Etruscan cities were named after divinities, Populonia has been suggested that was named after a god, Fulfuns (Etruscan god), thus being named Fulfuna. It would mean then, 鈥渢he city of Fulfunas鈥�.

The word was written in Hellenistic times with the Etruscan Letter F, only introduced before the Etruscans and Romans made do with a P, resulting in such spellings as Pulpuna or Populonia, but the pronunciation must have been Fulfuna.

It has been further suggested that Pliny鈥檚 mention of a state of Zeus at Populonia carved from one Vine (hence very ancient, possible hundreds of years) suggests a pre-metallurgical wine industry flourishing at the time Fulfuna was officially formed.

2. It sits at the highest point of Monte Massoncello Peninsular

gate of the castle of Populonia photo by Allie_Caulfield –

In the present day, Populonia is a pretty little medieval 鈥渂orgo鈥� enclosed within a fifteenth-century fortress and sitting on the highest point of the Monte Masson cello peninsular. The fortress was built by the Appiani Lord of Piombino to defend the city against marauding barbaric pirates with stones taken from the remains of the adjacent Etruscan Acropolis.

The symbol of the house of Appiani, the dragon can be seen above the walled gateway, 鈥淟a Porta鈥� to the village.

3. The city has been inhabited since the Neolithic era

The earliest evidence of Etruscans at Fulfuna is from two necropoleis containing material of the Villanovan culture, which was Iron age and began about 900BC.

The archaeological recovery of its wide necropolis confirms that the area was inhabited at least from the Neolithic era. It has views and contemplation of life here centuries past, let alone the incredible archaeological treasures that both the village and the bay have revealed and which are still being expanded

4. Populonia became the Etruscan civilization鈥檚 only city by the sea

Panorama from the castle of Populonia photo by Giampiero Magnani –

The city is situated on the western coast of central Italy. It was the only city built by the sea in the Etruscan civilization. The city was situated on the western coast of the Monte Mass cello peninsula, the only large Etruscan city directly on the sea. Populonia became rich thanks to the industrial activities related to iron manufacturing.

Its position at the coast was very strategic for the presence of rich metallic reserves on the campigliese mountains on one side and the big hematite deposits on the Elba island. For this reason, the port of Populonia was very prosperous.

5. Populonia was rebuilt by the Appiani, Princes of Piombino

The decline of the Etruscan city probably began in the first century BC and the centuries following the fall of the Roman empire. It was first devastated by the Lombard and then sacked by the Pirates.

The reconstruction of the village in the forms we still see today dates back to the 15th century when Populonia was rebuilt by the Appioni, princes of Piombino. It is to them that we owe the current layout of the city and the construction of its fortifications.

6. The city is surrounded by the medieval walls

Castle of Populonia (Piombino, Italy). Seen from the higher tower photo by Jalo –

The village is surrounded by medieval walls, built for defence and dominated by the Rocca, from the first half of the fifteenth century.

Inside the village you can get lost among its paved alleys, the walls and the Fortress were essential to defending Populonia from pirates and protecting local craftsmen.

7. It was the first city in Etruria to coin silver

Despite Populonia being made up of green and blue as the promontory, the ancient Etruscan city was indeed a port where metals were processed and marketed. Copper first then iron from the hinterland.

Archaeologists have estimated that just because of the iron processing, the level of pollution in the area was so high that the incidence of lung cancer was dead in three. Tall columns of smoke rose dense up to the Acropolis and the impressive tombs built in the early days of the city were covered with slag and the waste products of metalworking, creating real hills of waste which have had the effect of preserving this area up to this day.

The reason for the city鈥檚 existence is found in the vast slag remnants from the smelting of silver and iron ores from the nearby island of Elba. The city became wealthy and prominent and was the first city in Etruria to coin silver.

8. Populonia is an archaeological site

Sarcophagus at the necropolis of “San Cerbone” at Populonia in Tuscany in Italy. photo by AlMare –

The park鈥檚 uncovered area contains several necropoleis and some monuments dating from the 7th and 6th centuries BC. These archaeological remains have been preserved perfectly and are now open to the public. In the reserve, there is also a small experimental archaeology laboratory to allow the curious to get to know the discipline better.

The archaeological park of Baratti and Populonia is one of the most popular and famous protected areas in Populonia extending between the promontory of Piombino and the Gulf of Baratti, the park preserves numerous archaeological evidence of the Etruscan and Roman people.

9. The city has awe-inspiring landscapes

Populonia is a place of great charm as it is immersed in a naturally unique landscape. On one side, the sea of the Gulf of Baratti is overlooked by the tombs of warrior princes to the Mediterranean scrub that conceals incredible Etruscan tombs carved into the rock.

Finally reaching the Acropolis with its sacred buildings overlooking the islands of the Tuscan archipelago. The archaeological oak in Populonia is spread over two visiting areas that show the transformation of the landscape and the city over the centuries.

10. Populonia was destroyed during the roman civil war against Mario

Like all the Etruscan cities, Populonia knew the decadence with the progressive growth of the power of Rome, and also suffered serious destruction at the hand of Silla during the Roman civil war against Mario. Already in the first century A.C the city was desert with the houses ruined and the ovens abandoned.

In the following centuries, there were attempts to reactivate the seaport and the industrial activities connected to it, but the life in the city never took back big vigour, also because of the invasions and piracy raids to which it was exposed.

Populonia was reborn in the middle age when the 14th century was decided to build a new castle, that today still dominates the hill of the Etruscan acropolis.

 Pulpuna was one of the most important cities of the Etruscan civilization and it was the only one, among the greatest settlements to rise to the coast.