Following our conversation with the girl in the Tourist Office on Saturday we took her advice and headed for the coast where the weather was likely to be a bit better than in Montieri. We had been to Follonica so many times that the opposite direction seemed to be a good idea. So we headed for Livorno hoping to take the coastal route rather than the motorway. Nuvi, of course, had other ideas and was intent on sending us to the S1. She was foiled for a time and we managed to reach Populonia a little seaside place situated on a headland in the Baratti Gulf. The road skirts pine-shaded dunes - the pines look like huge umbrellas - along the gulf. Just before arriving at Populonia there is a 7th - 6th century BC necropolis site, the only large Etruscan centre right on the sea.

We managed to reach San Vicenzo without any interference from Nuvi but she finally got her way and we ended up on the S1. However, it was quite close to the sea and the views, particularly as we came into Livorno were really nice. Livorno is the newest city in Tuscany. It was originally created in 1577 by Grand Duke Francesco 1 de Medici. It was built again 400 years later after being destroyed by World War 11 bombing.

We parked along the canal. 

On the return trip we passed through Ardenza on the outskirts of Livorno and admired the 19th and 20th century kiosks and bathing establishments, many built in art nouveau style. The photographer was driving so no photos! At this stage we yielded to Nuvi’s judgement and took the S1.