Arrive on Friday evening and go for a drink at the Bar Impero on the pedestrian area (Via Roma), then take a walk on Follonica’s promenade. Walk towards the North and stop to take in the beautiful sunset, watching as the sun falls below the horizon in front of you. For dinner, book a table at Filibustiere, in the town centre, where you’ll find excellent fish dishes.

On Saturday morning, after a lavish breakfast, go to Prato Ranieri in the North of Follonica, certainly the best sea area of the city. Here you’ll find sandy beaches and shallow waters. For dinner, you can choose whether to have an excellent pizza in either Caribia or Pulcinella. After dinner, go and see the wonderful Museo Magma, a journey along the history of the area’s ironworks from Etruscan times to today.

Once you’ve had a relaxing Sunday breakfast, go and visit Torre Mozza, where clean beaches and clear waters await you. Here you’ll find paid parking and a bar-restaurant on the beach. You can choose between just sitting on the beach or under a beach umbrella rented from the facilities you’ll find near the tower. If you stay until sunset, you’ll see that it has a unique beauty.

Once you arrive on Friday evening, go straight out for a drink at Marina di Scarlino and go for a walk among the port jetties and the masts of the sailing boats. Then go to restaurant Mama or, alternatively, to restaurant Cala Felice where you can enjoy a meal with a memorable sunset.

After a generous breakfast on Saturday morning, go to the beach at Casetta Civinini, near Punta Ala. Here you can relax on 4km of beach, take an enchanting walk up to Punta Ala and back. This part of the gulf is characterised by white, sandy beaches with clean and shallow waters. For dinner, I advise going to Villa la Boccia or Vecchio Borgo, near to Massa Marittima and, afterwards, go and explore the small streets of the historic centre of the city, a fantastic jewel of the Maremma. Don’t forget to see the Tree of Fertility, a short distance from the cathedral.

On Sunday morning, go and visit Puntone di Scarlino, stop a while and have some lunch (paninis and Tuscan schiaccia sandwiches), then go along Punta Ala and, after about 2km, follow the signs for Cala Violina. Remember that on a Sunday, Cala Violina will be packed, so I advise you to go early and if Cala Violina is too busy, then you should keep going until you get to Cala Civette, which is less well-known and more unspoilt.

On arriving Saturday afternoon, go for a little ride to Castello di Scarlino, from where you will have spectacular views over the Gulf of Follonica (Golfo di Follonica). Have a walk round the town’s streets, passing by the Town Hall and on to the main street. Alternatively, go straight to the coach, I advise going North of Follonica to Prato Ranieri, for amazing waters and sandy beaches. For dinner in Follonica, you can go to Limonaia; in Scarlino, you should book a table at Valentini or at Zero Distanze at Scarlino’s Marina.

On Sunday morning, after breakfast, go to Punta Ala and stop at Casetta Civinini. Here you can relax under a beach umbrella, the sunbeds are very comfortable, and the beach is really beautiful. Come back and get ready for the evening. Go to Massa Marittima, take a pleasant walk in the historical centre and go for dinner at Taverna del Vecchio Borgo.

On Monday morning, go and visit Puntone di Scarlino, stop a while and have some lunch (paninis and Tuscan schiaccia sandwiches), then go along Punta Ala and, after about 2km, follow the signs for Cala Violina. Remember that on a Sunday, Cala Violina will be packed, so I advise you to go early and if Cala Violina is too busy, then you should keep going until you get to Cala Civette, which is less well-known and more unspoilt. In the evening, go for dinner at the Filibustiere restuarant in Follonica or La Baracca restaurant, right on the beach – ask for a table with a sea view. After dinner, take a delightful stroll through the alleyways of Castiglione della Pescaia.

On Tuesday, go to Torre Mozza, around 3km to the North of Follonica. Here you’ll find a very well-kept beach, white sands and clear waters. The best place to stop is just to the South of the tower, which is less crowded with tourists. If you don’t fancy that beach, just go a bit further along to Prato Ranieri, the best beach in Follonica. For dinner, go to Follonica and visit Sottomarino, Bagni Cerboli or Bagni Oasi and choose from their numerous fish dishes. Then take a lovely walk along the promenade, but don’t forget to get an ice cream from the Pagni gelateria, which is the oldest in the city. To finish the evening, visit Follonica’s Museo Magma.

After spending the previous few days by the sea, on Wednesday you should do something different and go and visit the Baratti and Populonia Archaeological Park. Spend a bit of time with nature and see the ancient Etruscan Caves, then go to the little town of Populonia, where you can enjoy a beautiful sea view. In the afternoon, go for a swim in the Buca delle Fate. Going for dinner at Garibaldi Innamorato in the centre of Piombino is an absolute must. If you do, I recommend the antipasti and the Zuppa Corsa. After dinner, go to the Piazza Bovio, where you can view the Island of Elba.

On Thursday, go in the direction of Castiglione della Pescaia and stop at the beach at Rocchette. Here, you can relax on this beautiful beach, overlooked by the Rocchette headland with its old observation tower. I recommend climbing the northern rock and reaching the small cove to the North, right under the tower.

Stay here all day until sunset and then go for dinner in Terra di Nello at Castiglione della Pescaia. On your last day, Friday, go to Cala Martina, without question one of the least known coves, an untouched shingle bay. For you last dinner here, go to Attortellati at Principina, near Grosseto. This is a typical restaurant where you can sample traditional Maremman dishes.