San Silvestro Archaeological Mining Park and Rocca San Silvestro: a visitor’s guide
Mines, a train through the tunnels and a medieval miners’ village in Campiglia Marittima
The Parco Archeominerario di San Silvestro (San Silvestro Archaeological Mining Park) tells three thousand years of mining history in the Val di Cornia: from the first Etruscan workings to the medieval village of Rocca San Silvestro and the industrial plants of the 20th century. You put on a helmet to enter the tunnels, ride a little mining train deep inside the hill and wander among the ruins of a miners’ village abandoned centuries ago.
It is one of the most unusual visits in Tuscany, ideal for families, history lovers and walkers.
Where is the San Silvestro Park?
The park covers around 450 hectares of the hills north of Campiglia Marittima, in the old Campiglia mining district, between the Valle dei Lanzi and the Valle dei Manienti. It is part of the Val di Cornia Parks.
Approximate driving times: a few minutes from the historic centre of Campiglia, about 10 minutes from Venturina Terme and 15 from San Vincenzo.
Request a quoteWhat to see in the San Silvestro Park
The park combines museums, tunnels and open-air trails. The main highlights are:
- The Museo dell’Archeologia e dei Minerali (Museum of Archaeology and Minerals), at the park entrance.
- The Miniera del Temperino (Temperino Mine), a tunnel of about 360 metres that you explore wearing a helmet.
- The mining train through the Galleria Lanzi-Temperino tunnel.
- The Pozzo Earle (Earle Shaft), home to the Mining Machinery Museum and the Miner’s Museum.
- Rocca San Silvestro, the medieval miners’ village.
- The trails through the mining valleys, with views over the coast.
The Temperino Mine and the mining train
The Miniera del Temperino
After the museum you head into the Miniera del Temperino: a tunnel of about 360 metres that you walk through with a guide and a protective helmet. Along the way you can see the mineral veins, ancient Etruscan workings and the extraction techniques used right up to the 20th century.
The mining train
The mining train runs through the Galleria Lanzi-Temperino, following the route once taken by wagons loaded with ore on their way to the processing plants in the Valle dei Lanzi. It is the children’s favourite part of the visit and one of the most evocative ways to understand life down the mine.
Rocca San Silvestro, the miners’ village
Rocca San Silvestro is the archaeological heart of the park: a fortified village founded in the Middle Ages, around the 10th century, to exploit the copper, lead and silver deposits of the Campiglia hills. Abandoned at the end of the Middle Ages, it is now a rare example of a medieval mining village, thoroughly studied by archaeologists and open to visitors along a route through its remains.
The village stands on an isolated rocky spur between the Valle dei Lanzi and the Valle dei Manienti. The visitor route takes you through:
- the houses of the miners and smelters;
- the church and cemetery;
- the lords’ quarter with the castle, at the highest point;
- the industrial area, where the metals were worked.
From the top the view sweeps across the Val di Cornia to the sea and, on clear days, as far as the island of Elba.
How to reach Rocca San Silvestro
From the park’s entrance area you climb up to the Rocca on foot, choosing from several waymarked trails, or, when it is running, with the park’s internal shuttle service. Wear comfortable shoes: the last stretch is uphill on an unpaved surface.
The park’s museums
Museo dell’Archeologia e dei Minerali
At the park entrance, this museum (Museum of Archaeology and Minerals) sets the scene for your visit: the minerals of the Campiglia area, finds from the excavations at Rocca San Silvestro and the history of metal extraction from Etruscan times to the present day.
The Pozzo Earle
The Pozzo Earle is the only one left of the five extraction shafts of the modern mine. Inside are the Museo delle Macchine Minerarie (Mining Machinery Museum) and the Museo del Minatore (Miner’s Museum), which tell the story of work and daily life in the 20th-century mines.
How long does the visit take?
For the full route, with the museum, mine, train and Rocca San Silvestro, allow at least half a day. If you also want to walk the trails through the mining valleys, you can easily spend a whole day.
How to get to the San Silvestro Park
- From Campiglia Marittima: take the road towards San Vincenzo and follow the signs for the park, just a few minutes from the village.
- From the Variante Aurelia (SS1): take the San Vincenzo Sud exit, then head towards Campiglia Marittima following the signs for the Parco Archeominerario.
- Parking: in the entrance area, near the visitor centre, where the routes begin.
Practical information
- Opening hours and tickets change during the year: check them on the Val di Cornia Parks website before you set off.
- The mine and the train are visited on guided tours at set times: booking is advisable in high season.
- Inside the tunnels it stays cool all year round: bring a sweatshirt, even in summer.
- Comfortable shoes for the trails and the climb up to the Rocca.
- Facilities: visitor centre, bookshop and refreshment point.
When to visit the park
Spring and autumn are the ideal seasons to combine tunnels and trails. In summer, plan the climb up to Rocca San Silvestro for early morning or late afternoon.
A perfect stop on your holiday
The park is just a stone’s throw from the village of Campiglia Marittima, so you can easily combine it with a visit to the Rocca di Campiglia (Campiglia’s castle), Palazzo Pretorio (the old magistrates’ palace) and the Pieve di San Giovanni (the Parish Church of St John).
To complete the story of the mines and metals of this land, the next step is the Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia, where the Etruscans worked iron, or the Montioni Park with its alum quarries. And after a day in the tunnels, unwind with a dip in the thermal waters of Venturina or in the sea at Rimigliano.
Plan your stay
Plan your experience with Ama Campiglia Marittima
On the Ama Campiglia Marittima portal you can find out where to stay, where to eat and which experiences to enjoy in Campiglia Marittima and the Val di Cornia, just a few minutes from the San Silvestro Park. For more ideas, see our page on what to see in Campiglia Marittima.
Get a quoteFrequently asked questions about the San Silvestro Park
Where is the San Silvestro Archaeological Mining Park?
In the municipality of Campiglia Marittima, in the province of Livorno, on the hills north of the village, a few minutes from the historic centre.
What is Rocca San Silvestro?
A fortified medieval village, founded around the 10th century to mine and work copper, lead and silver, and abandoned at the end of the Middle Ages. Today it is the archaeological heart of the park.
How do you get to Rocca San Silvestro?
From the park’s entrance area, on foot along the waymarked trails or, when it is running, with the park’s internal shuttle.
How much time do you need to visit the park?
At least half a day for the museum, mine, train and Rocca San Silvestro; a full day if you add the trails.
Do you need to book?
The mine and the train are visited on guided tours at set times: in high season it is advisable to book on the Val di Cornia Parks website.
Is the park suitable for children?
Yes, the mining train and the tunnel visit with helmets are among children’s favourite experiences.
What should I bring?
Comfortable shoes, water and a sweatshirt for the tunnel, where it stays cool even in summer.
