It was founded in 1834 by Grand DukeLeopold II of Tuscany for the workers of a new ironworks plant. However, the area was already settled in Etruscan and Roman times, and a medieval castle (Castello di Valli), whose ruins overlook now the modern town from a nearby hill, existed since at least 884. Until 1923 it was afrazione ofMassa Marittima.
Follonica is a tourist site during the summer, mostly visited by the Italians themselves, lately, it has been visited from other people from other countries, such as Germany, France and United Kingdom. The city has been awarded theBandiera Blu ("Blue Flag") every year from 2000 to 2007 for the cleanliness of its beaches andseawater.
TheVia Aurelia highway (SS 1), which runs fromRome to the Franco-Italian border, passes close by the city.
Train
ThePisa–Rome railway runs through the city, providing direct railway connections to the cities ofGrosseto,Rome,Pisa andLivorno, among others. Thetrain station opened in 1863. The city was also served by a secondary station located at the pier by the sea, theFollonica Porto station on the Massa Marittima–Follonica line, which was closed at the end ofWorld War II.
