As the last outing of our Earthwatch trip the volunteers were taken to the Castle of Populonia and the Etruscan Museum of Populonia: Gaspari Collection
The Castle of Populonia was born as a real fortified complex, equipped with a watchtower and defensive walls, on the hillock where in Etruscan times stood the upper town of Populonia, of which some evidence remains on the northern side of the hill.
The fortified centre was built at the beginning of the 15th century by the Appiani, Lords of Piombino, as a defensive bulwark along the northern border of the nascent state of Piombino.
Set above the entrance door to the town, it preserves the family coat of arms, with winged dragon, chivalrous helmet and allegorical ribbons, the work of the Florentine sculptor Andrea Guardi (ca. 1405 - 1476).
In order to encourage the population to move to Populonia, the Appiani provided the village with defensive walls, thus creating the Castle itself, a rather common phenomenon in the late Middle Ages.
Above is a video from the top of the castle.
Above is a photo of the Castle of Populonia
Photo of the view from the top of the castle.
Photo of the view from the top of the castle.
Etruscan Museum of Populonia: Gaspari Collection
The Etruscan Museum of Populonia represents the oldest museum institution in the Val di Cornia. Inaugurated in 1943, according to the wishes of Giulia and Tommaso Gasparri, it hosts the archaeological finds belonging to the family's private collection. In the first half of the 20th century, the Etruscan necropolises of Baratti and Populonia were discovered on Giulia and Tommaso Gasparri's property. Since the archaeological discoveries were found on properties in their possession the Superintendence of Etruscan Antiquity gave a finder's reward (equal to a quarter of the value of the finds) to the Gasparri family.
In the 1950s and 60s, the collection was enlarged with finds coming from government excavations of the necropolises, as well as objects found out of their original context in the fields and sea of Baratti.
Photo of artifacts on display at the museum.
The cups on the top shelf were wine cups where Etruscan‘s used to have a beverage of wine, cheese, and water mixed together. Each wine cup was meant for one person.
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