Cala Martina Beach
Best for. Snorkellers and walkers who want a wild, quiet cove with clear water over rock, a thread of Italian history, and no interest in sunbeds or a beach bar.
Best spot. Walk the coast path in from Puntone in the morning, pass the Garibaldi bust, snorkel the rocky edge among the fish, then eat just landed fish back at the Scarlino marina or up in the hilltop village.
Know this. There is no road to the cove and no facilities. It is a walk of around forty minutes or a boat ride, so carry water, food and water shoes, and treat it as a wild swim.
Cala Martina is a cove for people who like to earn their swim. It sits inside the Bandite di Scarlino reserve on the Gulf of Follonica, a small wild scoop of coarse sand and pebbles with no road to it and nothing built on it, and you reach it on foot or by bike along the via delle Costiere coast path, around two kilometres and roughly forty minutes with the sea glinting through the pines all the way. That walk is the gatekeeper that keeps the cove quiet while the resort beaches a few kilometres south fill to the brim.
The reward is the water. A rocky seabed keeps it exceptionally clear, and the rocks themselves are alive with octopus, starfish, sea urchins and shoals of fish, so this is one of the genuine snorkelling spots on the coast rather than just another pretty bay. Bring a mask. Bring water shoes too, because the shore is pebbles and rock rather than soft sand, and bring shade and supplies, because there is no bar, no lounger and little natural cover. The honest read is simple: this is a wild swim and a snorkel, not a beach day, and anyone arriving expecting comfort will be disappointed while the snorkeller leaves delighted.
There is history threaded into the walk. By the path down stands a half bust of Giuseppe Garibaldi, marking the spot where, on 2 September 1849 and hunted by the papal armies, he boarded a fishing boat and escaped along the coast. It gives a quiet little cove an unexpected weight. For a food and culture day, picnic at the water, then walk back and eat just landed fish at the Puntone marina near Scarlino or around the gulf in Follonica, or climb to hilltop Scarlino for Maremma cooking and the white wines of the Monteregio hills. Cala Martina's gentler, sandier neighbour Cala Violina is a short walk further along the same reserve coast, and for easy family sand head to Marina di Grosseto.
Clubs on this beach
Cala Martina is a wild cove inside a protected reserve, with no beach club, no loungers and no bar on the shore. For a serviced day with a club, the bagni sit on the developed Gulf of Follonica beaches rather than here. Use the Tuscany coast beach clubs guide to find a serviced stretch, and treat Cala Martina itself as a swim and a snorkel.
Photo: Philipp via GoogleNo club on the cove
Cala Martina is a wild reserve cove with no bagno, loungers or bar. For a serviced beach day with a club, look to the developed Gulf of Follonica beaches nearby. Specific operators and opening status to be confirmed.
Scarlino, Tuscany coast
Cala Martina sits in the Bandite di Scarlino reserve on the Gulf of Follonica, in the province of Grosseto, about an hour and a half south of Pisa by car. Park near Puntone by the Scarlino marina, then walk or cycle the via delle Costiere coast path, around two kilometres and roughly forty minutes, to the cove. Boats can also be arranged from the marina to reach it by sea.
There is no road to the cove and nothing to buy there, so carry water, food and water shoes for the pebbles and rock, and take only the essentials. Wear comfortable shoes for the path, come in the morning for the clearest water and the coolest walk, and carry your rubbish back out of the reserve.
Photo: Philipp via GoogleBook a beach club
Cala Martina has no club, but tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a lounger or table at a serviced beach nearby on the Gulf of Follonica. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Cala Martina
Is Cala Martina worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a wild, quiet cove with clear water and good snorkelling, and you are happy to walk in to reach it. Cala Martina sits in the Bandite di Scarlino reserve on the Gulf of Follonica, reached on foot or by bike along a coast path of around forty minutes. There are no facilities, so it rewards the walker and the snorkeller rather than anyone after sunbeds and a bar.
What is the beach at Cala Martina like?
A small wild cove of coarse sand and pebbles, with a rocky seabed that makes the water exceptionally clear and full of life. Snorkellers find octopus, starfish, sea urchins and shoals of fish over the rocks. It is backed by Mediterranean scrub and pine inside a protected reserve, with no built front. Water shoes help on the pebbles and rock, and there is little natural shade, so settle in early.
How do you get to Cala Martina?
On foot or by bike along the via delle Costiere coast path inside the Bandite di Scarlino reserve, starting near Puntone, a walk of around two kilometres and roughly forty minutes with fine sea views. You can also arrive by sea, with boats from the tourist marina at Scarlino near Puntone. There is no road right to the cove, which is exactly why it stays quiet, so come prepared to walk and carry your own supplies.
What is the Garibaldi monument at Cala Martina?
On 2 September 1849, fleeing the papal armies, Giuseppe Garibaldi boarded a fishing boat here and escaped along the coast. A half bust of Garibaldi by the Grosseto sculptor Tolomeo Faccendi stands by the path that leads down to the beach, marking the spot. It gives the wild little cove a thread of Italian history, a quiet reward for the walk in that most beach crowds never see.
Where should you eat near Cala Martina?
Bring a picnic for the cove itself, as there is nothing to buy there, then eat afterwards at the Puntone marina near Scarlino or in Follonica around the gulf, where the kitchens do just landed fish, fritto misto and a cold glass of white. Up in the hilltop village of Scarlino you find Maremma cooking with a view, wild boar, local olive oil and the white wines of the Monteregio hills nearby.
When is the best time to visit Cala Martina?
June and September for warm clear water, the best snorkelling and a cooler walk in than high summer. July and August bring more walkers and boats but the cove still feels wild compared with the resort beaches. Spring and autumn are quiet and beautiful for the coast path even when the sea is cooler. Go in the morning to claim a spot, beat the heat on the walk and find the water at its clearest.
