Description
Topinetti Beach
It is one of the beaches in Rio Marina, and is quite unique in that it has a natural, untouched aspect while at the same time you can see it is looked after, and where there are still evident signs of the past iron extraction in the mines.
This beach is perfect for those who love peace and quiet and wish to spend an enchanting day on a “mineral beach”.
The beach is 180 metres long and exposed to winds from the west. It consists of ferriferous, fine black sparkling sand mixed with tiny lamellas of hematite that sparkle in the sun, that stand out against the brilliant white pebbles.
The water here is turquoise blue and crystal clear, and apart from when the weather is dull and humid – scirocco as it’s called in Italian – it is truly beautiful; the sea bed consists of pebbles, and the water is perfect for swimming because it is shallow till quite far out. The cliffs on the left of the beach are also beautiful because the multi coloured iron dust gives them an almost magical appearance.
You will have no difficulty parking in the free car park behind the beach, where you’ll also find a small bar and sun bed and sun umbrella rental.
From Topinetti beach you can see the tiny island of Palmaiola, as well as Punta Ala and the gulf of Follonica in the distance.
Before you get to the beach you will see a right turning that takes you to another beach – Ripa Bianca – a stretch of coast that is 300 metres long. Since it consists of large stones, it may not be the ideal place if you want to do some sunbathing or go for a swim, but mineral fans will enjoy looking for minerals in between the stones.
After about 2 kilometres along the road from Rio Marina to Cavo, you will see a sign for the entrance to the beach; to get to the beach you will have to go along a road that is initially asphalt, then grit only, for about 250 meters.
Thanks to the white pebbles mixed with fine, black sand, that together create an almost magical, chromatic effect, Topinetti beach is unique; it is only about 2,5 kilometres from Rio Marina.
