Pisa

Pisa is a 30 minute drive from Lucca, and definitely worth a day trip.

Pisa was a maritime powerhouse from 1000-1406, when is was conquered by Florence.

Pisa and Genoa fought for control of the Tyrrhenian Sea after ousting Arab Muslims from Corsica and Sardinia.

Many of Pisa's treasures came from aiding the Normans in their conquest of Palermo in 1063, which they looted to pay for the Piazza del Duomo.

The Pisa Baptistry was built between the 12th and 14th centuries.

The Pisa Cathedral has Corinthian columns looted from the Mosque of Palermo

The Camposanto Monumentale is where the most worthy Pisans were buried. It is covered in disturbing frescoes.

The Last Judgement Fresco from 1336 A.D. by Buonamico Buffalmacco.

An interesting tombstone

The Genoese destroyed the Pisan fleet in 1284 in the Battle of Meloria, marking the decline of the maritime republic. These chains protected the Porto Pisano; they were taken by Genoa, then returned in 1860.

The Pisa Griffin, the largest known medieval Islamic metal sculpture, made in Al-Andalus in the 11th century.

Populonia

Populonia was an ancient Etruscan  port and iron refinery. Iron ore was mined on nearby Elba and refined here, depositing large amounts of slag over the area. An Etruscan noble was buried in the Chariot Tomb, built in the 7th century B.C. Chariot wheels were found in the tomb. These tombs were discovered when Italians tried to mine the slag here in the early 1900s.

Other Etruscan tombs were built here in the 3rd century B.C.

The inside of the Tomb of the Chariot. They played spooky Etruscan music inside to show its acoustic qualities.

The Appiani lords of Piombino built a fortress overlooking this site in the 15th century with stone from the Etruscan settlement.

The Tomb of the Bronze Offering was covered with a 7m thick slag heap when it was discovered.

Some stonework is left in the tombs.

The ground glitters with slag.

A short hike from the tombs on the coast is the Necropolis of the Grotto. Many tombs are also built into the side of the hill.

The Necropolis of the Grotto

A quarry next to the necropolis

Populonia is thought to be named after the Etruscan god Fufluns (Fufluna)

The citadel

Populonia Alta is an Etruscan/Roman city next to the citadel where the rich refinery owners lived.

The citadel is now a cute touristy town.

The Populonia Museum is in Piombino, which was an independent principality from 1400-1805.

Leonardo Da Vinci helped design the city's walls.

Etruscan burial helmets

A 6th century BC bronze bell horse harness.

A 5th century vase thought to be made by the Florence Painter.

Gorgon cups

A luxury Roman vase possibly made in Antioch. Another similar vase has been found in Moldova. The vase has 132 medallions on it depicting characters from the myth of Paris. 

Fish mosaic!

Elba