CALA MARTINA
Cala Martina Beach
Cala Martina, like Cala Violina, is part of the Bandite di Scarlino Nature Reserve. It is located between Follonica and Punta Ala.
The beach is not very wide, about 600 m long and about ten meters wide. It has a mainly stony bottom, both in the water and as regards the beach. This characteristic makes it very suitable for snorkeling and diving. The water is very clean and crystal clear. Access is only possible from the sea or, via the Via delle Costiere, on foot or by bicycle. This street is closed to vehicular traffic. The access points to reach the beach are number 9 and 10, indicated with “Cala Martina 1” and “Cala Martina 2”. Both paths to get there are steep. For disabled people it cannot be reached by land due to this last part being very steep.
The closest car park is in via Lungomare Garibaldi, at the Scarlino Tourist Port. It is open from 8am to 8pm and offers 440 parking spaces. It is paved, for a fee, but is not guarded.
Cala Martina is a free beach, with no refreshment points. To make the most of it, you need to organize yourself by bringing everything you need for a day spent under the sun. Behind the beach there is a pine forest, but to protect yourself from the sun, it is advisable to bring an umbrella or towels to build a shelter.
For the walk you need to calculate at least 45 minutes of walking. The road winds through the trees and you must not proceed in the sun. A certainly quicker way is to get there by bicycle. We point out to MTB enthusiasts that this locality is part of a 15.6 km ring route, dotted with panoramic points, which starts from Follonica, in the locality of Puntone, and also touches Cala Violina.
The promontory that divides Cala Violina from this beach is called Punta Francese. This place is famous for being the point from which Garibaldi set off into the deep in 1849, aboard a boat of Ligurian sympathizers who were waiting for him, managing to save himself from the Papal soldiers. The monument dedicated to him, on the path leading to the beach, was placed there to commemorate his escape to Porto Venere.
Tips for visiting
It is highly recommended to bring rock shoes. Especially if you have children, but also for adults. In fact, the presence of sea urchins should be noted. About ten meters from the shore the bottom becomes sandy. Given the depth, it is possible to place your feet on the sand and stay in the water to enjoy the fresh air and the view.
There are no refreshment points nearby and the beach is not equipped, so bring with you everything you need to protect yourself from the sun, as well as supplies and plenty of water.
There are about 2 kilometers to go from the port of Scarlino. The path is not difficult and winds mainly in the shade of pine forests. In some places the view is stupendous. Ups and downs follow one another. If you have children with you, perhaps it could be fun to rent bicycles, also to make them less tired. The rental is located near the Cantuccio restaurant.
Even in August this cove is less crowded than the nearby Cala Violina. It is good to keep this in mind when choosing, even if it is an attempt for the most famous location and always worth trying. The two beaches are very close (about a hundred meters) and are separated by a promontory (Punta Francese). Especially if you travel by bicycle seeing them both is perhaps the best thing to do.
In this regard, for MTB enthusiasts, we would like to remind you that the cove is located on a 15 kilometer circular route that starts from Puntone and also passes through Cala Violina.
For those who love exploring the coast with a mask and fins this is one of the best choices ever. The wealth of fish can be seen even just by entering the water. You will immediately be surrounded by curious little fish. Furthermore, in addition to a large variety of fish, there are octopuses, starfish and sea urchins.
When the beach empties, staying to watch the sunset and take some photos will be the best conclusion to a beautiful day spent at the seaside, before going to eat some excellent fish in one of the quality restaurants near the port of Scarlino.
Restaurants nearby
There are no refreshment places near the beach. The closest are:
Il Cantuccio restaurant
Località Terrarossa, 10, 58020 Scarlino GR
Tel. 338 929 9036
Cala Felice beach club
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 58020 Scarlino locality Puntone GR
calafelice.info
Tel. 0566 090080
Otherwise you can try the Port of Scarlino:
Pizzeria Zero Distances
Marina di Scarlino, Via della Dogana, 58020 Portiglioni GR, Italy
pizzeriazerodistanze.it
+39 334 233 9219
Vittorio restaurant
Lungomare Giuseppe Garibaldi, 58020 Scarlino GR, Italy
+39 0566 866164
How to reach Cala Martina
Following the provincial road SP 158 delle Collacchie, which connects Castiglione della Pescaia to Follonica, in Località Puntone, you proceed towards the Tourist Port of Scarlino (taking right). The path, which can only be followed on foot or by bicycle, begins near the “Il Cantuccio” restaurant. After having covered about 2 km, with breathtaking views, you reach Cala Martina.
