Established as a Dominican friary in 1225, the Black Abbey has seen plagues, sieges, and upheaval. Restored and opened as a public place of worship in 1864, the friary boasts stunning stained glass windows and interesting interiors.

This 9-hole golf course is located in beautiful green surroundings between Pisa and Livorno. The course, one of the oldest in Tuscany, is not too difficult. The service is warm and friendly and the restaurant is well-reputed. There is also a small adjacent hotel.

The picturesque regional park covers over 23,000 hectares along the coast from Viareggio to Livorno. The grounds feature estates and historic buildings, forested walking trails. You will come across organic farms, apiaries and dairies, an archeological area, the Navicelli canal and multiple natural reserves with distinct natural environments. Of course, there is a beach area to swim and cool down after a hike. You can find handy booklets and brochures at the Visitor Centre of Cascine Vecchie. The official website has an exhaustive list of attraction and their opening hours, plus a list of official guides.

Phantasea Tropical Botanical Garden is a superb place to hide from the intense heat of the Caribbean sun. Stop here on your way to Crown Mountain and explore the work of Patsy, the garden's owner. She has worked tirelessly for over 20 years to assemble a vast collection of orchids, bromeliads, palms, succulents and air plants. Kids will surely love the petting zoo with a peacock and parrot, while "plant parents" can buy some gorgeous flowering plants to bring home.