Enogastronomy and tastes of Tuscany : culinary vacation, cooking classes, wine & oil tours, special tastings

The seaside town of Viareggio and the various resorts of the 'Versilian Riviera' lie but a short distance from Lucca. Viareggio was one of the first seaside resorts in Europe and is still enormously popular today, both with Italians and foreign visitors, particularly those in the yachting community. The coastal strip of Versilia (from Forte dei Marmi to the north and Torre del Lago Puccini in the south) has over twenty kilometres of beaches with countless 'bagni' (bathing establishments), nature parks, pine woods, natural lakes and some splendid countryside.

A stroll along the promenade at Viareggio is not to be missed. You'll find an eclectic mix of architectural styles - from art nouveau and art deco through to mock neo-classical; all of this was started in the 1920's when the original wooden bagni were burnt down.

Home every year to an enormous carnival - the largest in Europe - Viareggio has a unique atmosphere and is worthy of a visit at any time of the year.

There are beaches all along the coast - 'designer' Forte dei Marmi, Lido di Camaiore and Lido di Pietrasanta to name a few; well over a hundred bagni compete for your custom, each offering varying amenities and services (pools, restaurants, waiter service, etc.).

With all of this, and the close proximity of Lucca and the motorways leading to the cities of art, Versilia truly can offer the best of all worlds for your holiday in Tuscany.

Viareggio owes its name to the “via Regis”, the street that connected it to the area’s capital during the Middle Ages. Its foundations date back to 1172 when the Lucchesi and Genoese allied against Pisa, built a famous fortress. The city’s oldest fort, the Torre Matilde, dates back to 1500 and was erected by the Luccesi to defend themselves against pirates. Surrounding the fort it is the city’s original center, which runs along the Burlamacca canal, still today the ideal place for fishermen and other local citizens with boats.

In 1822 the town turned into a tourist center when it became a vacation resort for Napoleon’s sister, Paolina Borghese. In 1828, the first bathing club was opened and the town established itself as a beach locale. The tourist culture of Viareggio is heavily connected to the art found in the Villa Paolina civic museum and in the vestiges of Art Decò and Liberty architecture that decorate the city.

The boardwalk is Viareggio’s showcase: a large avenue over 3km long that runs along the beachfront decorated with Liberty architecture of cafes frequented by Giacomo Puccini.