Pomarance

Pomarance is a small town in Tuscany, in the province of Pisa, set within the Val di Cecina amid the Colline Metallifere hills. Its historic centre retains a medieval character, with the Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta and the Palazzo Pretorio standing as reminders of its past. The town is best known for its proximity to Larderello, the birthplace of geothermal energy exploitation in Italy, where visitors can explore a museum dedicated to this energy source and observe the striking natural steam vents. The nearby hamlet of Sasso Pisano, with its sulphurous vapours and small natural hot pools, adds to this distinctive geothermal identity, unique in Europe. The surrounding countryside offers classic Tuscan scenery, with wooded hills, olive groves and vineyards, alongside the Berignone nature reserve, crossed by the Cecina River, ideal for walking and freshwater swimming. The Etruscan and medieval city of Volterra lies around twenty minutes away by car. The area suits rural and thermal tourism, away from the crowds, valued for its tranquillity, unspoilt nature and unusual geological heritage.