The Pine Forest of the Tuscan Coast

The pine forest is a defining feature of the Tuscan coast. On sandy soils, Mediterranean pines often form a wide belt of woodland behind the beaches. Broad crowns sit atop tall, slender trunks. A gentle sea breeze creates a soft rustling sound and sets the trees into a slow swaying motion. In the shade of these forests, campsites, apartment complexes, and holiday resorts have sprung up in many places. This is also the case in the area around Castiglione della Pescaia in the Maremma.

To the south, a kilometre-long bay with a sandy beach and a wide pine grove, the Pineta del Tombolo, stretches out, with campsites and towns like Marina di Grosseto nestled within it. To the north, too, as far as Roccamare or around Punta Ala, you’ll find more magnificent sandy beaches and pine forests, along with the associated tourist infrastructure. Fortunately, some areas are also designated as nature reserves, for example, in the Parco Naturale della Maremma National Park near Albarese or the Feniglia spit between the mainland and the Monte Argentario peninsula. There, nature can be experienced a little more peacefully.

Camping under pines is practical. The trees provide shade in the Tuscan summer and are great for clotheslines and hammocks. However, the dripping tree resin is feared, as it’s difficult to remove from vehicle windows or paintwork, or from caravans. The resin and constantly falling needles mean that campers often meticulously erect tarpaulins over their entire pitch, cover vehicles with rustling plastic sheets, and lay out camping carpets on the ground. This is particularly noticeable with Italian long-term campers, where several family members set up camp with half their household for several weeks at a time.

More pictures in the Tuscany Gallery.