Gulf of Baratti

We found an elegant restaurant in a very unlikely place. On a recommendation from someone who told us we "had to visit the Gulf of Baratti" we headed right over. Surrounded by a natural park and the site of Etruscan ruins, some currently being excavated right on the beach, this is a pretty little bay. We would have easily missed this pretty and important place had someone not mentioned it to us and it makes me wonder--just how many other things are we missing. The restaurant, Canessa, sat over the water, was modern and the food beautifully prepared and presented. Next to us were two laborers (Tom surmised they were in construction) sat next to us drinking a bottle of wine and eating a beautiful lunch before returning to work. I have to think it is a more civilized way to live and a healthier way to work. After lunch, we headed up the hill to Populonia a city high over the Mediterranean with a castle that looks like a king's crown. Closed was a museum whose grounds are the site of an ancient Etruscan city. Across the street is a Roman necropolis.




After beautiful Baratti we headed to Piombino, the port city where ferries take people and cars to and from the Island of Elba. Piombino is an ugly industrial city. I'm sure there are parts of it to love but we didn't see them. Instead we headed to the harbor where small fishing boats were bouncing around in the very strong wind. The wind was so strong it lifted my heavy wool coat and whipped it around like it was a leaf. Which is why I thought this was worth mentioning. (First picture on this post.)