The Port of Piombino has two major vocations, industry and tourism. In fact, Piombino has always been the site of an important industrial production district, where the main companies are controlled by some of the most important multinational groups in the world. The other historical vocation of the port is closely linked to the tourist sector, i.e. as a port of call for the wonderful islands of the Mediterranean. From the port of Piombino, in fact, it is possible to take ferries to Elba, Pianosa, Corsica and Sardinia, and is increasingly distinguished by the high number of passengers and excellent service. Ferries Piombino Elba are the most popular, the destinations for the island of Elba are Cavo, Portoferraio and Rio Marina.
Where is the port of Piombino?
The port of Piombino is located in Tuscany on the border between the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, and is one of the main Italian ports. From the port of Piombino it is possible to take daily ferries to the islands of Elba, Pianosa, Corsica and Sardinia through the shipping companies Corsica Ferries, Blue Navy, Moby and Toremar.
How to reach the port of Piombino?
Thanks to its central location in Italy, the port of Piombino is easily accessible by all means: car, train, bus and plane.
By car, follow the signs for Piombino Piazzale Premuda – postcode 57025. By motorway from the north, exit at Rosignano Marittimo and follow the SS 1 Aurelia dual carriageway in the direction of Venturina-Piombino-Isola d’Elba. From the south, take the motorway to Civitavecchia and then the SS 1 Aurelia in the direction of Venturina-Piombino-Isola d’Elba.
You can also reach the port of Piombino by train, either by stopping at Campiglia Marittima station and then taking the bus to Piombino. Or by taking the direct train to Piombino Marittima (train station right in front of the port of Piombino).
There is also a quick link from Piombino Centrale station to Piombino Marittima.
The nearest international airport to Piombino is ‘Galileo Galilei’ in Pisa, which is about 100 km (1h) from Piombino. Florence’s ‘Amerigo Vespucci’ international airport is approximately 160 km (1.5 hours) away.
History of the Port of Piombino
The current functional layout of the Port of Piombino has historically been conditioned by the presence of the large steel industries that settled there at the end of the 19th century and developed in the last century in the areas surrounding the port. But the origins of Piombino are attributed to the ancient port of Falesia, whose first records date back to the fifth century when Rutilio Namaziano arrived there.
Piombino was historically the main arrival point for iron, a raw material extracted from the island of Elba. But this port was also a place of exchange for processed products that were distributed by the Etruscans throughout the Mediterranean basin. The port of Piombino was also used by the Florentines for their commercial activities, such as shipping goods to southern Italy and the Levant.
In the 19th Century
Centuries later, from about the middle of the 19th century, the port was also used to carry out postal services in the Tuscan Archipelago and for ports on the Maremma coast. The commercial importance of the port developed when, between 1860 and 1870, two iron-working centres were established and gradually expanded. This led to an enormous growth in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when maritime traffic increased from 28,000 to 323,000 tonnes of traded goods. From that time onwards, plans were drawn up and infrastructures built, which led Piombino to become a commercial port of great national importance.
During and after World War II
The port was almost completely destroyed during the World War II and was rebuilt between the end of the war and 1965. In this year a new Port Master Plan was approved for the new development of the port.
Despite the crisis caused by the war, there was a major upturn in industry-related traffic. They soon reached and surpassed pre-war levels, reaching 4 million tons of goods at the end of the sixties. This was accompanied by the development of tourism and therefore passenger traffic to the island of Elba, which in the early seventies exceeded one million passengers and became the port as we know it today.
The services of the Port of Piombino
Where can I park my car at the port of Piombino? It’s very simple, there are all kinds of car parks next to the railway station. You can choose between free parking for two hours, or long-stay car parks, both guarded and covered, and guarded and uncovered. There are also commuter car parks and free car parks.