The San Silvestro Archaeomineral Park: discover a real mine!

Have you ever thought about visiting a real mine with your children? Well, at the San Silvestro Archaeological Mining Park, just 10 minutes by car from San Vincenzo, you really can! Let yourself be guided along an underground itinerary, through tunnels carved into the rock, minerals in astonishing colours and stories of the men who worked underground for centuries. And hop aboard the iconic mining train to explore the tunnel once used to transport the extracted minerals.

But the San Silvestro Archaeomineral Park is also a place where nature, archaeology and adventure intertwine: the Museum of Archaeology and Minerals, the Museum of Mining Machinery, the Museum of Miners, the panoramic trails leading to Rocca San Silvestro, the ancient medieval village built specifically to house miners and craftsmen, offer your family an original experience, different from the usual.

Let’s set off to discover this incredible underground world!

What to see with children at the San Silvestro Archaeomining Park

For centuries, the hills of the Val di Cornia, around 5 km from San Vincenzo, have guarded a hidden treasure underground. Today, that chest has been opened, unveiling the San Silvestro Archaeomineral Park in Campiglia Marittima: a heritage of minerals, stories, places and testimonies that narrate the lives of miners and the communities who inhabited this area.

The Museum of Archaeology and Minerals

Before venturing into the heart of the earth, it’s well worth visiting the Museum of Archaeology and Minerals. Here you can discover how the minerals found beneath the Val di Cornia were formed and learn about the long history of mining activities that have shaped this region.

Through archaeological finds, mineralogical samples, reconstructions and tools used over the centuries, the museum helps visitors gain a deeper understanding of what they will encounter during the mine tour. An engaging journey that allows both adults and children to closely observe minerals with surprising colours and shapes, and to understand how human labour has shaped these hills over time.

The mine train, Miner Museum, Mining Machinery Museum

The adventure continues in the Pozzo Earle area, one of the iconic sites of the San Silvestro Archaeomining Park. Here you can discover how minerals were transported, get a closer look at the life of the miners, and observe the enormous machinery used in mining activities.

  • The mine train. The experience children love most! The train travels through the Lanzi-Temperino Tunnel, once used for transporting extracted minerals. An exciting journey that lets you cross the mountain and get a close look at one of the lesser-known aspects of mining work.
  • The Miner’s Museum. What was daily life like for those who worked in the mine? Through photographs, first-hand accounts and original artefacts, the museum tells the story of working conditions, the tools used and the stories of the people who, for generations, made their living from mining.
  • The Museum of Mining Machinery. An opportunity to see up close the large machines used in the mines of the Val di Cornia. An exhibition that helps visitors understand how mining activities have evolved over time and which is especially captivating for children eager to see unusual vehicles and equipment.

Useful information

  • Park area: Earle Shaft.
  • Recommended visit duration: approximately 30 minutes for the 2 museums and 50 minutes for the train.
  • Recommended clothing: comfortable shoes and a sweatshirt or a light jacket, even in summer.

Rocca San Silvestro: the miners’ village

If the Temperino Mine tells the story of where people worked, Rocca San Silvestro tells the story of where people lived. This ancient medieval village – built between the 10th and 11th centuries to house miners, craftsmen and their families – remains today one of the park’s most captivating locations.

For children, Rocca San Silvestro holds something truly magical. The panoramic location, the path leading to it, and the atmosphere of an abandoned village nestled in the heart of nature turn the visit into a little adventure, blending history, exploration and discovery. Even today, you can admire ancient buildings, production areas, church and cemetery, imagining the daily life of men, women and children who once lived on these hills, whose existence was closely tied to mining activities.

Useful information

  • Park area: Lanzi Valley.
  • How to get there: on foot, via the equipped uphill path connecting Valle Lanzi to Rocca San Silvestro.
  • Journey duration: approximately 40 minutes each way.
  • Recommended clothing: trekking or sports shoes and a water bottle, especially during the warmer months.

The trails of the San Silvestro Archaeomineral Park

If your family loves walking, at the San Silvestro Archaeomineral Park you’ll be spoilt for choice. A network of trails connects the different areas of the park, allowing you to alternate between archaeology, nature and views over the Val di Cornia. Here are the routes best suited to families.

The Way of the Penknife

It is one of the easiest and most accessible routes in the park. An itinerary surrounded by greenery, which gradually introduces visitors to the discovery of the mining world, along the route of the ancient railway line.

Useful information

  • Difficulty: easy.
  • Travel time: approximately 20 minutes.

The Path of the Springs

This route connects Campiglia Marittima to the archaeological park, passing through woods, nature areas and following the ancient water supply points used over the centuries.

Useful Information

  • Difficulty: easy.
  • Travel time: 1 hour.

Other routes for families who love walking

Via delle Ferruzze, Via dei Lanzi, Via dei Manienti, and Via dei Fornelli di Monterombolo are trails that allow you to explore the natural and mining heritage of the Val di Cornia in even greater depth. These are moderate to challenging routes, each lasting around 1 hour and 10 minutes or 1 hour and 30 minutes.

San Silvestro Archaeomineral Park: plan your family visit

To visit the San Silvestro Archaeomineral Park with children, we recommend allowing at least half a day. If you want to add one or more hiking trails, it’s best to plan for a full day.

  • LOCATION. The park is located in Campiglia Marittima, about a 10-minute drive from San Vincenzo. Calculate the route to reach the site.
  • TICKETS AND OPENING HOURS. Various types of tickets are available, allowing you to visit one or more areas of the park. Opening hours vary throughout the year and according to the season. Before your visit, we recommend checking the official website for up-to-date prices and opening times: parchivaldicornia.it.
  • FAMILY TICKET. Available for up to 2 adults and 3 minors under 18 years of age.
  • TEMPERINO PARKING AREA. Free of charge and located in the immediate vicinity of the Visitor Centre.
  • MADONNA DI FUCINAIA AREA CAR PARK. Free of charge, located along the SP20, about 800 metres from the Temperino Visitor Centre.
  • VALLE LANZI AREA CAR PARK. Located at the foot of Rocca San Silvestro, on via Benedetto Lippi.
  • RECOMMENDED CLOTHING. For the mine visit, closed shoes and a sweatshirt or a light jacket are recommended: inside the tunnels, the temperature remains around 14°C throughout the year.

Photo credits Val di Cornia Parks Archive