Follonica

Follonica
—  Comune  —
Città di Follonica
Follonica Location of Follonica in Italy
Coordinates: 42°55′08.76″N 10°45′42.76″E / 42.9191°N 10.7618778°E / 42.9191; 10.7618778Coordinates: 42°55′08.76″N 10°45′42.76″E / 42.9191°N 10.7618778°E / 42.9191; 10.7618778
Country	Italy
Region	Tuscany
Province	Grosseto (GR)
Government
- Mayor	Claudio Saragosa (since July, 2004)
Area
- Total	55.84 km2 (21.6 sq mi)
Elevation	4 m (13 ft)
Population (1 January 2008)
- Total	22,009
- Density	394.1/km2 (1,020.8/sq mi)
Demonym	Follonichesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	58022
Dialing code	0566
Patron saint	St. Leopold
Saint day	November 15
Website	Official website

Follonica is a town and comune (township) of province of Grosseto in the Italian region of Tuscany, on the Gulf of Follonica (Golfo di Follonica), about 40 km (25 mi) NW of the city of Grosseto.

It was founded in 1834 by Grand Duke Leopold II of Tuscany for the workers of a new ironworks plant. However, the area was already settled in Etruscan and Roman times, and a medieval castle (Castello di Valli), whose ruins overlook now the modern town from a nearby hill, existed since at least 884. Until 1923 it was a frazione of Massa Marittima.

Tourism

Follonica is a popular tourist site during the summer, mostly visited by the Italians themselves. The city has been awarded the Bandiera Blu ("Blue Flag") every year from 2000-2007 for the cleanliness of its beaches and seawater.

Transports

The Via Aurelia highway (SS 1), which runs from Rome to the Franco-Italian border, passes close by the city. The railway linking Reggio Calabria in the south and Turin in the north runs through the city, providing direct railway connections to the cities of Rome, Turin, Naples, Pisa and La Spezia, among others.

Main sights

• Church of San Leopoldo
• Castle of Valli
• Pievaccia, remains of a large fortified medieval monastery.

Personalities

• Alessandro Saitta

Twin towns

• Charleroi, Belgium
• Kołobrzeg, Poland
• Hedemora, Sweden

External links

• Media related to Follonica at Wikimedia Commons
• Municipality of Follonica (Italian)
• Tecnological and Archaeological Park of Colline Metallifere Grossetane

• Church of San Leopoldo

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