Viareggio
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 6 January 2023
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Situated in northern Tuscany on the Ligurian Sea, the seaside town of Viareggio is one of the most popular resorts in the country.
The city is characterised by its Art-Nouveau/Liberty architecture, prevalent in many of its grand, seafront hotels. Ten kilometres of sandy beaches greet visitors with most activity focused around the three kilometre stretch of promenade: Passeggiata Margherita. Viareggio famously comes to life at carnival time with its legendary parades taking place every Sunday for four consecutive weeks. |
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The carnival is such an important part of life in Viareggio that an area of the city called the "Cittadella del Carnevale" had to be built to house the vast array of equipment used to make the famous papier-mâché models and the floats that they parade around on. The carnival links are further strengthened with the city's Museum of the Carnival, situated in the Cittadella.
Compared to the major cities in Tuscany, Viareggio was fairly late in its foundation. It's currently under the auspices of the Province of Lucca, but the city of Lucca, some 25 kilometres away, was once a republic in its own right that needed access to the sea and a port. They chose the site of Viareggio for it in the 16th century and this period is marked by the city's oldest building, the Torre Matilde which was built in 1541.
In later years, as tourism came to prominence in the 1920's, Viareggio gained fame as one of the most elegant resorts in Italy, underscored by the design of Galileo Chini, the father of the art-nouveau (known as Liberty in Italian) movement in Italy. The greatest representation of Chini's work in Viareggio is the Gran Caffè Margherita which proudly stands along the Passeggiata Margherita, the palm-tree-lined promenade fringed with hundreds of shops, restaurants and bars.
Another famous name is attached to Viareggio from the same historical period: that of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. The legendary composer of Turandot moved to Viareggio in 1919 and was a regular visitor to the Gran Caffè Margherita. Opera fans can gain a greater insight into his life there at the nearby Torre del Lago where an annual festival takes place and the Villa Puccini Museum exists; an area colloquially-known as the Belvedere di Giacomo Puccini.
Viareggio is the main location for the coastal area known as Versilia. North of Viareggio there are further beach resorts such as Lido di Camaiore and Forte dei Marmi, as well as the historic town of Pietrasanta which lies a few kilometres inland. The major resorts of Versilia are all accessible by public transport, either by bus or train. Viareggio's train station is located centrally within the city, just a short walk from the promenade.
Air travel to Viareggio is extremely convenient; Pisa Airport is just 25 kilometres away and reachable in half an hour by car or just 17 minutes by train from Pisa city centre.
Compared to the major cities in Tuscany, Viareggio was fairly late in its foundation. It's currently under the auspices of the Province of Lucca, but the city of Lucca, some 25 kilometres away, was once a republic in its own right that needed access to the sea and a port. They chose the site of Viareggio for it in the 16th century and this period is marked by the city's oldest building, the Torre Matilde which was built in 1541.
In later years, as tourism came to prominence in the 1920's, Viareggio gained fame as one of the most elegant resorts in Italy, underscored by the design of Galileo Chini, the father of the art-nouveau (known as Liberty in Italian) movement in Italy. The greatest representation of Chini's work in Viareggio is the Gran Caffè Margherita which proudly stands along the Passeggiata Margherita, the palm-tree-lined promenade fringed with hundreds of shops, restaurants and bars.
Another famous name is attached to Viareggio from the same historical period: that of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. The legendary composer of Turandot moved to Viareggio in 1919 and was a regular visitor to the Gran Caffè Margherita. Opera fans can gain a greater insight into his life there at the nearby Torre del Lago where an annual festival takes place and the Villa Puccini Museum exists; an area colloquially-known as the Belvedere di Giacomo Puccini.
Viareggio is the main location for the coastal area known as Versilia. North of Viareggio there are further beach resorts such as Lido di Camaiore and Forte dei Marmi, as well as the historic town of Pietrasanta which lies a few kilometres inland. The major resorts of Versilia are all accessible by public transport, either by bus or train. Viareggio's train station is located centrally within the city, just a short walk from the promenade.
Air travel to Viareggio is extremely convenient; Pisa Airport is just 25 kilometres away and reachable in half an hour by car or just 17 minutes by train from Pisa city centre.
Comune di Viareggio
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Province: Lucca
Region: Tuscany Population: 61,045 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 32 km² Highlights: Gran Caffè Margherita, sandy beaches, carnival Water quality: Blue Flag Beach 2021 - 2022 Close by: Pietrasanta, Lucca, Bagni di Lucca, Massa, Carrara Recommended accommodation: Palace Hotel |
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