My Favorite Place in Tuscany
Submitted by Serena, Wish Versilia:
My favorite place in Tuscany is Versilia, best known for its golden beaches, small villages and natural parks in the hinterland, its mild climate and its amazing nightlife and entertainment. What makes this area unique to me is the richness of views and landscapes, tricking the native people into believing that any other part of the world can offer the same colorful abundance.
Versilia is worth visiting in summer as well as in winter time. Its lively towns, from Viareggio to Pietrasanta to Forte dei Marmi and Camaiore are always teeming with events and activities going on all year long to taste, shop and have fun!
Why this is My Top Pick for Tuscany
There are many thematic itineraries in Versilia you may choose:
- Food lovers may start from Viareggio, right on the pier to watch the hectic activities of fishermen in the morning and taste some typical Fish and Chips by the canal; the tour shall then climb up to Camaiore to experience the true fresh pasta making and taste some native wine and salami
- Music lovers cannot miss the Puccini tour starting from Torre del Lago, visiting the native home of the master and the world famous theater where Tosca and Butterfly revive each summer, continuing to the Massaciuccoli Lake rand the historical dwellings whose noble floors hosted Puccini while he was composing his great operas.
- Shopaholics may find in Versilia their kingdom, for all pockets and all tastes, from posh Forte dei Marmi’s boutiques to street markets, to top shops in Viareggio’s deco promenade.
- Sea lovers may enjoy the beach all year long with any kind of leisure and sports: sunbathing, sea water pools, kite surfing, wind surfing, horse riding (in winter), jogging. The sandy beach stretches for over 30 km backed by the massive presence of the Apuan Alps;
- Mountain lovers will have difficulty in choosing among trekking trails, rock-climbing, panoramic views, mountain views and archaic caves.
- Arts lovers will find in Versilia the land of Michaelangelo, Botero, Mitorai and many others who have chosen Pietrasanta and its famous workshops to forge their masterpieces as well as the Carrara quarries to extract the “white gold” to create them.
These are just a few suggestions on what Versilia can offer for a vacation, but there is so much hidden just round the corner. Come and see!
Advice
- Don’t miss Chalet restaurant just on the Belvedere of the Lake in front of Puccini’s native house
- Stay at Marchionni hotel which is a good quality hotel, right in front of the beach and of the promenade in Viareggio, yet affordable for young people and families.
- Have a meal at Osteria Candalla which was built out of water mill and is the right place to rest, refresh in summer and taste the typical Versilian cuisine
- Don’t miss the beautiful panorama from Pieve a Elici village uphills under the shade of cypresses.
- Stop along the Riviera in a beach bar and have drink in front of the sea at sunset.
