WHAT TO DO
Marina di Castagneto Carducci is the tourist and bathing resort of the mediaeval village of Castagneto Carducci. To the East pines and olives trees form endless forests up to the edge of the plain area, while to the West the green of the nature mixes up with the seaside blue: this is “La Costa degli Etruschi”. 
The natural paradise of the Maremma is by now a place, far from modernity, in which everything comes up to your mind about Tuscany is in front of your eyes: sweet and green hills, vineyards, olives groves and countryside villas.In the last years, the strong impulse to tourist sector has started to change our traditional image of Tuscany: olives trees have made room for vines and their steel stakes glitter by the light of the sun, as it never happens before; restaurants, goal of only tourists and truck drivers ten years ago, are often become fashionable restaurants; have a dinner can be sometimes too expensive.
But Tuscany is remained Tuscany and luckily in many cases both the landscape and the people have preserved such unforgettable taste that will induce you to retrace your steps every year.
The best beaches to visit by bicycle or on foot from Villa Tracina
Public beach: except the beach in front of Marina di Castagneto Carducci, all the others are without bathing establishments. The nearest beach is that of Seggio at only 1,4 km from Villa Tracina, you can reach it following “il Viale delle Palme” (the avenue of palms). The depth of the sea near the shore is not steady and it is necessary to reach those points where the water level is shallow thanks to some sandbanks. On the right, crossing on foot the stream that follows into the sea, you will find only dunes and pinewood for many kilometres. Also the public beach after the equipped beach of Marina di Castagneto Carducci, towards San Vincenzo, has shoals in many points and a pure nature behind. By both the equipped beach and the public one, to the stream of Seggio, there are first-aid stations with bathing-attendants. Anyway pay attention to streams and water depth in particular for children.
Equipped beach: for families with children, we recommend the Schangrillà at 1,5 km from Villa Tracina (through the pinewood at the end of the equipped beach, towards Marina di Bibbona) and the Zattera, at the beginning of the equipped beach of Marina di Castagneto Carducci towards San Vincenzo. In both of them it is possible to have lunch and dinner.
Castagneto Carducci countryside: This is the real Tuscany, remote from tourist routes. We recommend the road that reaches Castagneto Carducci, leaving from the street of Bolgherese (towards Bolgheri). Directions for reaching those countries: turn on the left of the provincial road for Castagneto Carducci, coming from SS1 Aurelia to the restaurant Zi’ Martino, then again on the right, towards Castagneto Carducci.
For families with children: we suggest to go to the horsemanship of Cavallino Matto, at 250 metres from the villa.
The best beaches to visit by car from Villa Tracina
For the lovers of sea and nature we suggest Baratti Gulf, cradle of Etruscan civilization, at only 30 km from Villa Tracina. The beach is of white thin sand with tracks of Etruscan working of iron. The sea is clean and the soundings are white. The sea is not deep and so also children can swim in security. Thanks to the bay, the water is not very rough and warm also in May and October. In the gulf the nature is pure and the pinewood behind the beach is an ideal place to relax during the hottest hours of the day. As regards the historical point of view, we suggest to visit the remains of Etruscan necropolis and the tower that dominates the gulf of the ancient city of Pupulonia. In 2006 the akropolis of the Etruscan and Roman Populonia was open to the public after interesting discoveris: very interesting the panels explaining the tour. Well recommended.
For the lovers of the sea we suggest to visit Cala Violina, by the road n.322 that leads from Follonica towards Castiglione della Pescaia, at about 8 km from Follonica and before the crossroads to Punta Ala, in all at about 40 km from Villa Tracina. A blue road sign indicates the resort of Cala Violina, after Puntone on your right. It is easy to find this resort thanks to a modern parking area that it will call your attention. 
After a walk of about 15 minutes in the wood, you will be in the most beautiful beach of Tuscany (also according to the weekly Espresso) called Cala Violina because the sound of its sand, very thin, is like the sound of a violin. There are not tourist constructions and equipments, but only wood, beach, sea and sand. You have to avoid to come here on Saturday or on Sunday, because it is destination of local tourism. Also Cala Martina and Cala di Terra Rossa (north of Cala Violina) are very pleasant, you can reach them thanks to a closed road to traffic that from Cala Violina leads to Portiglione (near Follonica) and skirts the sea.
You can reach Piombino by car in half an hour From Piombino’s harbour you can sail for Isola d’Elba in only 1 hour. Here it is better to rent a motorcycle or a car and choose a beach to pass the day. The island is little and you can travel all over it in few time.
Do not forget the long Cipressi avenue in Bolgheri, a spectacular landscape which was the heart of the poem “Davanti a San Guido” written by the Italian poet Giosuè Carducci, winner of the Nobel prize.
We suggest also to visit Castagneto Carducci, a little mediaeval village and the castle of the counts Guidi della Gherardesca. In the hinterland, the town of Suvereto, a mediaeval village, is untouched inside its walls.
For your physique wellbeing, you can reach the town of Venturina, well-known for its thermal bath, the Calidario at 15 minutes (20 km) from Villa Tracina. There are 2 thermal baths in Venturina, but we suggest the old waters of Caldana in the center of Venturina and not by Aurelia road. The big bath of warm water is very pleasant. The entrance is quite expensive, but it is worth.
You can visit Parco della Sterpaia where the water is transparent and the beach clean, even if the view is ruined by the funnels of Piombino. Also the naturalistic and faunal oasis of Bolgheri is unforgettable.
Do not forget to visit the dead mediaeval city on a rocky hillock in Parco Archeominerario of San Silvestro and the mine which is possible to visit with a safety helmet.
For the lovers of archaeology, the Etruscan museum of Piombino is an obligation.
Sports and entertainment
It is possible to attend sailing courses at “Circolo Nautico di Donoratico” (Naval Club of Donoratico) which have not still organized windsurf courses (tel. 0565.744590).
It is possible to play tennis on different courts. At 700 metres from Villa Tracina you can find those of Bar King (for reservations 0565/745828) but they are not in good conditions, while the best tennis courts are:
A)At the luxurious farm holidays “Campastrello” on the road to Castagneto Carducci on the right, after the sporting centre. You have to follow the brown directions Campastrello Sport, 10 euro during the day and 14 euro during the night, (tel. 0565 765128); it is worth at least to have a look around.
A)At “Circolo Tennis Donoratico” (Tennis Club Donoratico) where all local players are used to go, always near the sporting centre on the right on the street to Castagneto Carducci, (for bookings 0565 / 777717), it is signal by different directions with the image of a racket, summer shift 10-12,16-12, one hour 9 euro.
Horse riding and tours on horseback in the horsemanship “Lo sperone” at less than 250 metres from the villa (for reservations and information 335 5249216).
Bicycles-hire in the centre of Marina di Castagneto Carducci.
Camping Etruria at about 700 metres in the pinewood.
The Cavallino Matto” (Crazy Horse)is one of Tuscany’s biggest entertainment parks and it is at only 700 metres from Villa Tracina.
For young people, the night life is lively even if there is only the discothèque “La Zattera” (the Raft), while in San Vincenzo the night is more vivacious thanks to different entertainments.
Restaurants
Unfortunately, it is difficult to make a list of the best restaurants because it is impossible to verify in advance when the management changes. So, we will try to give some tips, taking in consideration the relation between quality and price. Obviously, we don’t take upon ourselves the responsibility for the following information.
Restaurant ZI’ MARTINO: 57022 Castagneto Carducci (LI) – Place S. Giusto, 262 tel. 0565.766000 0565.763666. Located on the left of the street that from the old Aurelia road leads to Castagneto Carducci, it is a historical restaurant by now, managed by two brothers and the son of one of them. You can eat well and at a cheap price. The house wine is paid for according to consumption. We suggest to taste : chicken on the spit, pickled wild boar, “pappardelle” with rabbit, Tuscan canapés.
Restaurant DA UGO: 57022 Castagneto Carducci (LI) – Via Vittorio Emanuele 25, tel. 0565.763746 0565.766006, located in the historic centre, in the mediaeval village, it is a famous restaurant, which is cited in the guide to Italian restaurants called “Slow Food”, with acceptable prices. Wonderful view. Various menu and assorted with local specialities. It is necessary to book.
Restaurant Il Castagno: 57020 Sassetta (LI) – Via Campagna Sud, 5 0565.794219. It is a secluded restaurant in the chestnut woods of the hills behind Castagneto. You can find it on the street to Sassetta, there are a lot of directions. During the summer, it is possible to eat outside thanks to a fresh temperature. The restaurant offers a menu based on wild boar meat.
Restaurant Albergo Roma: 57024 Donoratico (LI) – Via Aurelia, 183 0565.775134. Even if its dislocation is not particularly attractive (at the end of the town of Donoratico, by the side of Aurelia) the relation between quality and price is very moderate.
Pizzeria King: viale delle Palme, Marina di Castagneto Carducci. You can eat wonderful pizzas and spaghetti at a ridicolous price. Recommended when you do not feel like to lose your time in the kitchen …
A tip for real gourmands: during the summer, the Costa degli Etruschi is full of gastronomic fairs. We suggest to go to the summer festival of the Communist Party of San Vincenzo by the middle of July. You can eat delicious dishes (such as fish soup, fish “pennette”) at a cheap price.
For shopping, we suggest you Conad and Coop of Donoratico, but for the meat it is better a old shop by Aurelia road in Donoratico (pepper sausages are wonderful): Macelleria Frolli (butcher’s shop Frolli) 57024 Donoratico (LI) – Via Aurelia, 22 0565.775131. If you want to buy fish, you should got to the fish market in Piombino, where ships full of fishes are unloaded. On Tuesday in Cecina is recommended the public market in downtown.