It is the green lung of the Area, with its wooded areas, waterways and small villages: Collesalvetti is part of the Monti Livornesi Park and is located a few kilometers from the coast of Tuscany, not far from Livorno.
This area, already known in Etruscans and Romans times, is characterized by an agricultural vocation. Thanks to the presence of small villages it is an ideal destination for those who want to disconnect from the daily routine and enjoy nature and ancient peasant traditions. Known for its honey production, so much so that it is part of the “City of Honey” project, Collesalvetti is also a food and wine destination, thanks to the cultivation of ancient grains and the production of wine and oil.
Crossed by important routes such as the ones of Santa Giulia and Navicelli, it offers a wide range of slow tourism experiences in every season of the year.
Spring: discovering different paths
Spring is when nature reborn, one of the best seasons to visit Collesalvetti.
A network of hiking trails unwinds from the hilly centers, allowing you to appreciate this green island, an ideal place to reconnect with Nature. On foot, by bicycle or on horseback, it is possible to reach Livorno by following the route of the ancient Leopoldine Aqueduct, built by the Grand Dukes of Tuscany during the 19th century. Among the paths that cross Livorno worth a mention also the Via dei Navicelli trail, which starts from the crypt of San Jacopo in Acquaviva and reaches Altopascio, and the one of Santa Giulia, which connects Livorno to the city of Brescia.
Outdoor lovers should visit the Oasis of the Countess, a Regional Nature Reserve, equipped for birdwatching: there are numerous species of birds stopping here during migration, from herons to sea jays.
Summer: sea as well as many events
In summer the proximity to Livorno offers Collesalvetti a perfect outlet to the sea. Much quieter than Leghorn, it is possible to stay in one of the farmhouses in the area and be able to reach the coast in 20 minutes by car to spend the day on the beach.
Summer is also the season of events: the most important are concentrated in July such as the “Notte Clara”, when the streets of the city come alive with cultural, musical and entertainment events, and “L’Opera al lago”, the symphonic opera concert held at Lake Alberto, in the splendid setting of the nature reserve. In September, on the other hand, do not miss the “Historical Agricultural Fair”, an exhibition-market of local producers of honey, cheeses, fruit and handicrafts and the “Palio dei caretti”, the race of ball-bearing carts that takes place in the streets of the historic center.
Autumn: between villages and genuine flavors
The air cools, nature is tinged with yellow and orange: after the heat of summer, autumn offers a mild climate ideal for strolling through the villages of Collesalvetti.
Some examples are: the delightful Nugola, also mentioned in the “Carta della Toscana Marittima” by Leonardo Da Vinci, where in this period the harvested grapes are transformed into excellent wine; Parrana San Martino, in the Livorno Mountains, where there is an important necropolis of Bronze Age; the village of Colognole, an ancient Roman colony, from where to trek along the Leopoldine Aqueduct.
Autumn is also the season to taste good food: Collesalvetti is renowned for its ancient grain flour and honey production.
Along the Cerreta provincial road, instead, the vineyards of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are cultivated while the Insuese area is dedicated to the olive oil production, with over 7000 specimens of olive trees, including Frantoio, Leccino and Moraiolo.
Winter: festivals and cultural heritage
The shorter days and cold temperatures slow down but do not stop life in Collesalvetti.
If during the holidays the town comes alive with the Christmas lights, the many markets and the initiatives of the festive calendar, during the rest of the season it is possible to discover the cultural heritage.
Do not miss a visit to the “Carlo Servolini” Art Gallery, a permanent exhibition of numerous artists: Leghorn painters of the 18th and 19th centuries (Renato Natali, Guglielmo Micheli, Giovanni Lomi, Giovanni Marchi), including those names of wider resonance such as Renato Guttuso, Domenico Purificato, Remo Gordigiani, Anacleto Margotti.
In Sambuca, there is the Sambuca Hermitage, whose origins are lost in the mists of time, between the 11th and 13th centuries, while in Colognole, the Church of Santi Pietro e Paolo houses, perhaps, the oldest example of a small positive organ of the Tuscany, dating back to the end of the sixteenth century. Finally, La Mansio Romana, in Loc. Torretta Vecchia, along the ancient Via Aemilia Scauri, probably a large public thermal complex from the Roman era.
