Puntone di Scarlino

Puntone di Scarlino is located along the Tyrrhenian coast, just south of the town of Follonica. The settlement developed around the mouth of the Pecora River, where a residual marsh persists, representing one of the last remnants of the former wetland system that once characterised the coastal plain. To the south of Puntone, beginning at the bay of Portiglioni where the marina is located, the coastline enters the protected landscape of the Bandite di Scarlino. Here the shore becomes predominantly rocky, alternating with small coves such as Cala Le Donne and Cala Terra Rossa. The latter is associated with the former coastal terminal of a mining cableway system that transported ore from inland extraction areas to the coast. Further south, the promontory of Punta Francese separates these inlets from Cala Martina. == History ==

The area of Puntone di Scarlino was originally part of the ancient Lake of Scarlino, a coastal lagoon that later became marshland. From the 4th century BCE, it hosted an early industrial settlement linked to metallurgy and manufacturing. Between the late 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, a major coastal harbour developed. It is generally identified with the ancient Portus Scabris mentioned by Livy, which traded iron ore from Elba as well as agricultural goods. The port expanded during the late Roman Republic , becoming a more structured industrial and service centre with baths, accommodation facilities, and the "Manliana" complex, a roadside station. Although rural decline began in the Imperial period, Portus Scabris remained active into late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. From the 16th century, the area progressively declined due to marsh formation and malaria, although a small harbour remained in use until the 18th century. From the 19th century, reclamation works under the Lorraine administration began to transform the area, followed by 20th-century industrial reuse linked to mining and chemical production. After the decline of industrial activity in the late 20th century, Puntone developed into a seaside and tourist destination, culminating in the opening of a marina in 2003. == Main sights ==

Archaeological museum The main landmark in Puntone di Scarlino is the Portus Scabris Archaeological Museum (MAPS), opened in 2009. It was established following underwater archaeological excavations carried out between 2000 and 2001 during the construction of the modern marina, which brought to light extensive remains of the ancient harbour. It presents the long history of the site through maps, reconstructions, and artefacts documenting maritime trade from the late 3rd century BCE through the Roman, medieval, and modern periods. The museum is housed within the historic hydraulic station of Puntone, a set of early 20th-century structures originally built to regulate and monitor the waters of the Scarlino marshland and the mouth of the Pecora River. The complex included the residence of the lock keeper, whose role was to oversee the hydraulic system and manage water levels between the inland wetlands and the coastal area. Alongside the main building, the site also preserves a restored warehouse and a sluice-bridge structure over the Pecora. Archaeological sites Of the medieval religious and defensive structures in the area, no visible remains survive of the church of San Severo, although archaeological traces of masonry and a sacred spring traditionally associated with the saint have been identified nearby. Likewise, the medieval coastal tower of Portiglioni, located at the mouth of the Pecora River, has completely disappeared. The area also preserves numerous archaeological remains, including a 3rd-century BCE tomb discovered in 1956, a late Bronze Age settlement located about 500 metres from the sea, and the Roman villa of Puntone Vecchio, a classical building dating to the 1st century BCE, likely in use until the first half of the 3rd century CE. The villa was partially damaged during the construction of a canal serving the chemical plant built by the Montecatini company in 1962. == References ==