Riotorto
Riotorto: a Tuscan hamlet in the Maremma
Riotorto is a hamlet of the municipality of Piombino, located in the province of Livorno, in Tuscany. It is located in the Maremma, a vast hilly area south of Venturina Terme and north of Follonica, along the SS1 Via Aurelia. This small town is in fact the last inhabited center of the province of Livorno before the border with the province of Grosseto. The town is situated on a hill overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, just 4 km away.
History of Riotorto
In the past, the area where Riotorto is located was swampy and sparsely populated. However, during the nineteenth century, the area was reclaimed and numerous agricultural estates dedicated to viticulture and olive cultivation were developed. The first settlement in Riotorto was the medieval castle, which was destroyed in 1360 by the people of Piombino. Some remains of this castle are still visible today, such as the walls, the defensive moat and the remains of the church of San Giovanni.
Monuments and landmarks in Riotorto
One of the main attractions of Riotorto is the church of Sant'Antonio Abate, which inherited the functions of the previous church dedicated to Santa Maria, located in Riotorto Vecchio. The parish of the church dates back to 1829. Along the coast, instead, there is the Torre Mozza, built in the sixteenth century by the lords of Piombino as a defensive tower to oversee the arrival of minerals from the island of Elba. Today the Torre Mozza is a tourist destination, famous for its sandy beaches.
The anthropic geography of Riotorto
The hamlet of Riotorto includes several inhabited centers, including Carbonifera, Riotorto Vecchio, Vignale and Torre Mozza. The latter inhabited center has an important role in the history of the area, as the seat of an estate with a castle and a medieval community.
Economy and tourism in Riotorto
Riotorto is mainly known for the presence of the headquarters of Unicoop Tirreno, one of the oldest consumer cooperatives in Italy and one of the largest. However, tourism is another important resource for the hamlet, especially for its stretch of coastline with numerous beaches. Tourism is a highly developed activity in this area, thanks to the beauty of the landscape and the proximity to important cultural and historical centers.
Infrastructure and connections in Riotorto
Riotorto is served by the SS1 Via Aurelia, which passes through the hamlet at kilometer 237, and by the Tirrenica railway, which has a railway station (Vignale Riotorto station) in Vignale.
Photo gallery of Riotorto
Riotorto is a small Tuscan hamlet that preserves numerous beauties. Among these, the church of Sant'Antonio Abate and the entrance to the town.
Bibliography
The territory of Riotorto, rich in history and culture, inspires numerous studies. Among the works that tell the history of Riotorto is the essay by Angelo Biondi, "Nuovi villaggi e nuove parrocchie nella Maremma toscana in età lorenese", contained in "Studi in memoria di Ildebrando Imberciadori".
Related articles
Piombino, Dalmine (company), Principato di Piombino, Carbonifera tourist port.
External links
The page on Riotorto on Wikipedia, with numerous information about the hamlet and its history.
