Spiagge bianche

The White Beaches constitute an approximately four-kilometer stretch of sandy coastline in the municipality of Rosignano Marittimo in Tuscany, between the hamlets of Rosignano Solvay and the center of the hamlet of Vada. Washed by the Ligurian Sea, they are located at the northern end of the Maremma coast.

The unusual color of the sand, which is why the beach is compared to tropical shores, is a consequence of years of processing and discharges of calcium carbonate by a Solvay Group plant located in Rosignano Solvay, about a kilometer from the coast. The sod mill, reported to be the largest in Europe, was built in 1912 near the beach and began operations in 1914, producing, in addition to soda ash, hydrogen peroxide, polyethylene, calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and hydrochloric acid. Access to the beach is provided by a small hill, which until 1983 served as a landfill for manufacturing and household waste.

Because of Solvay's discharges, which include various pollutants, the Spiagge Bianche is among the most polluted in Italy, and fishing in nearby waters is extremely restricted. In addition, this stretch of coastline is among the 15 most polluted coastal sites in Italy according to the United Nations Environment Program. More than 100,000 tons of waste are poured into the sea every year. Nevertheless, even in the years prior to the industry's conversion, this stretch of coastline has been awarded Blue Flag status several times, and the White Beaches still remain one of Tuscany's most popular beach destinations.