versilia toscana tuscany italy italy page
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 Tel 0039. 0584. 66103 Fax 0584.66104
Versilia Coast Hotel Villas,Sea Coast Versilia,Tuscany,Italy is without doubt one of the localities best known in Italy and abroad. It's fame derives from a rare combination of factors that together constitute the ideai situation for all types of touristic desires. |
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| Description |
Hotel or Villas in versilia tuscany
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Hotel of Charme i Pini 
Versilia Seaside Area |
Versilia Hill Area |
Tuscany-Versilia-town:Camaiore
is your destination, in the foothills of Apuan Alps, with lovely views of the coast and the sunset right from the house and its terrace. You are not in the middle of nowhere, however! The area is a wonderful blend of tranquility in the villages and hills, and cosmoplitan culture in the valley and coastal towns, all within a short drive. Goats are still being herded high the hills (and their cheese is sold at a premium in the local delicatessens) while Andrea Bocelli is singing Puccini nearby. People have returned to live in the traditional villages, which nestle in the mountains. The area is vibrant.
Lucca, the nearby provincial capital, is a wonderfully preserved mediaeval city, known for its olive oil and wine, produced in the low hills (Colline Lucchesi) in the countryside surrounding the city (APT can help you set up tours). The Italian Riviera nearby has sandy beaches extending for miles, with public beaches and dozens of clubs offering loungers, sun canopies, pools, restaurants and water sports. You'll be close to cultural centers in Pisa, sculpture and art in Pietrasanta, and can drive to Florence in less than 1 hour. And yet you are also within reach of the spectacular Carrara marble quarries, with glistening white marble on the 3000m peaks, visible from the beaches! Souvenir shops near the quarries offer unique marble chess sets, bowls and sculpture. You can hike in the Apuan Alps and see eagles soaring overhead, in wild places less than an hour's drive away. Drive across the Alps into the Garfagnana, and visit the incredible Cave of the Winds at Fornovolasco.
The Tuscan cuisine is marvelous, with hearty pastas, prosciutto, cheeses, grilled meats and game, and the people are unfailingly charming. The Forte dei Marmi market on Wednesdays is the best clothing market in the area, with designer shoes, cashmere, and clothing (and this elegant town has some wonderful clothing and design shops well worth a look). Local outdoor food markets are the best place to get fresh cheeses, barbecued chickens, fresh honey and just-picked local fruit and vegetables.
La Versiliana is the cultural center of the Lido, with theater, ballet and concerts. Local antique markets are held regularly in Lucca and Camaiore. Pietrasanta is nearby, the haunt of famous and aspiring sculptors and established artists (such as Botero). You can sit in the same bar, overlooking the Piazza, where Michelangelo signed contracts, or visit foundries to see bronze sculptures being cast. Outdoor sculptures are frequently shown in the square and in the museum, a converted church. The city of Genoa is about 2 hrs away, with the historic center, harbor and fabulous aquarium. The Cinque Terre towns are waiting to be explored, linked by ferry or train, their beaches and rocky covers with crystal clear waters: an great day trip. Altogether a wonderful place to spend a holiday, just relaxing on the beach or taking day trips, as much or as little activity as you want.
 The village of Pedona is located on a hilltop to the south of Camaiore, an ancient Roman town in the valley leading to Lucca. The village, at 300m above sea level, was originally the site of a watchpost and mediaeval castle, long since gone, its stones used to construct the village homes perched along the ridge overlooking the coast, and the mountains to the North. The village is recommended as part of a scenic drive by the Versilia tourist board. An annual cycle race from Viareggio to Florence passes through every August with huge fanfare, and you can see the action from the terrace. You can enjoy the Carnival in VIareggio, St Lucia festival in September, Lucca, with crossbow and archery competitions, when the local people dress in traditional costume and appear to have stepped out of renaissance paintings! Rowing competitions are held on the Arno at Pisa. Visit the cathedral in Lucca, and cycle around the walls. Climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Florence, and the Cinque Terre towns are an easy day trip. Drive into the Apuan alps and Garfagnana, stopping to see the Devil's Bridge, picnic in sweet chestnut groves in the nature reserves, hike on well marked trails, or try birdwatching and boat trips at Lago di Massacciucoli, Tuscany's second largest lake and also site of Roman baths. A large archaeological site is located at Luni, a short drive to the north, and additional artifacts are on display in the museum at la Spezia nearby. VIsit the pine forests and wildlife reserves on the coast. Puccini's villa is nearby, and the Puccini opera festival is held annually in August. Swimming and water sports are available on the Riviera beaches. Plenty of bars and nightclubs are located along the shore. Lucca, in addition to the attractions of the city, also has some wonderful villas with Italianate gardens well worth the visit. Collodi, the home of Pinnochio's creator, a short drive E from Lucca, has lovely ornate terraced gardens, a castle, and a quirky 60s theme park dedicated to the puppet.If you Dream the best vacation or holiday catch your hotel in Versilia |
The
territory of Versilia
set in Tuscany's north west coast,
covers an area of about 160 square kilometres extending
from Lake Massaciuccoli in the south, to the fashionable
beach resort of Forte dei Marmi in the north. Many traces
of prehistoric man were left here, followed by the Etruscans,
who left little to indicate their presence. Then came
the Romans, who first built roads, most notably the
Aurealia which links Rome to the north, via the coast.
The Longobards occupied the Roman hamlets and villages
after them, and are responsible for the layout of the
territory as we know it today. The largest town is Viareggio,
and the area also includes Massarosa, Camaiore, Pietrasanta,
Stazzema, Seravezza and Forte dei Marmi. The region
is bordered by the Apuan Alps, the highest peaks in
the area, and part of a beautiful nature park that attracts
hiking and climbing enthusiasts alike. Versilia encompasses
a broad spectrum of natural elements, and in this, the
area is unique in the world: from coastal pines, to
lakes, marshes and ocean, to soft sandy beaches, to
the mountains of marble, this region can not be equalled
anywhere for its wide array of geographical and geological
aspects which give rise to a variety of species of flora
and fauna, many of them ancient and surviving no where
else but here. The pine woods were originally planted
by man and date back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
They consist of cluster pine, a species imported to
Italy by the Romans, as much for the wide range of products
the tree offers as anything else-apart from timber,
the pine yeilds resin which is used in producing dyes,
and the production of the seed, the pine nut, has grown
into a important industry since the 1930's, making Versilia
today one of the largest zones of pine nut production
in Italy. However, the greatest value of the pinewood
today remains above all naturalistic, and a fine example
of a pinewood can be explored at the Park of Versiliana,
with its entrance on the sea front at Marina di Pietrasanta.
Both the coastal and the interior habitats abound in
fauna, the swamp system of Massaciuccoli harboring many
migratory birds along their route. Many non-migratory
birds nest in the woods of the hills and mountains,
and a rich variety of marine mammals live in the coastal
waters.
The beaches of the Versilia have been popular with bathers
since the early 1900's, and today beach clubs of all
levels, from basic to sophisticated, line the coastline,
offering shade, comfortable lounging, parking, restaurants,
private changing huts, showers and the right to swim
in the ocean to their customers. Each city also has
its "free beach", where bathers can go just to swim
and lie on the beach (no facilities). Life in the Versilia
today is marked by traditional seasonal festivals, the
grandest of all being Viareggio's Carnival, held each
year in February. Other festivals celebrate different
foods in season (sagras) and still others have religious
connotations. In the autumn, village food fairs celebrate
porcini mushrooms, the harvest of olives and the falling
of chestnuts from the trees that cover the hilly regions
inland; in the summer other gastronomic specialties
are prominent on the dietary calendar, but it is clear
that this region with its mild climate and fertile soil
yeilds all kinds of food in abundance which the people
still enjoy today. Culinary specialties of the area
include a wide variety of seafood, particularly crustaceans
and shellfish, which are prepared as simply as possible,
often with just a little garlic, parlsey and white wine.
Chestnuts enrich the local diet and are eaten boiled
or roasted, or ground into flour from which the delicious
castagnaccio or chestnut tart or cake is made. Farro
(spelt or wheatberries) is a winter staple, found most
often in soup, the delicious zuppa di farro; another
regional soup is zuppa frantoiana, made from the olive
pressings in the autumn and winter. Bread of all shapes
and sizes is abundant, found in every corner store or
panetteria, and salads and green vegetables, steamed
or lightly sauteed in olive oil, are added to every
meal. Wonderful shopping is to be found in Forte dei
Marmi, where famous brands such as Gucci and Enrico
Coveri often have signature stores. Lucca and Viareggio
also provide exciting shopping opportunities and Pietrasanta,
although smaller, has an interesting selection of small
boutiques offering clothing and home accents to the
discerning shopper. For those who harbour an affection
for old churches,
Versilia is rich in fine examples
of this elegant architecture. The pieve or parish church
can be found in abundance throughout the region, dating
back from the 11th and 12th centuries. Their facades
and side walls are often plain, the portals very simple
and the inside roofed in wood instead of being vaulted.
The basic principle upon which all these churches were
built was proportion: the facades are usually all square,
the height of the side aisles is often a third of the
nave, and even the minor elements like the radius of
the pillars within have a relationship to the overall.
Outdoor activites which can be enjoyed throughout the
Versilia include horseback riding, sailing, kayaking,
birdwatching, golf, tennis, cycling, hiking and climbing,
diving and beach sports to name but a few. The area
is rich in festivals, village fairs, art exhibitions,
antique markets, live music and theatre. Typical of
the region are garden objects and decorations made from
marble and terracota, fountains, statues, pots and vases,
available in a wide array of designs and styles everywhere.
Tourist
Board of Versilia
Tourism in
Tuscany falls under the responsibility of the APT, the
Agenzia Per il Turismo, whose offices can be found,
filled with information, in almost every town in the
region.
APT
Versilia is located in Viareggio , just off
the central part of the passeggiata (the sea front road)
behind Piazza Mazzini in an old palace, Palazzo delle
Muse; website address is www.versilia.turismo.toscana.it
.
Offices of tourism throughout Tuscany can be found by
following the signs marked APT or i
for information. There is abundant information and excellent
resources available for visitors, even in some of the
much smaller towns.
APT Versilia
Tourist Information Office in Viareggio
The
territory of Versilia
The territory of Versilia
set in Tuscany's north west coast,
covers an area of about 160 square kilometres extending
from Lake Massaciuccoli in the south, to the fashionable
beach resort of Forte dei Marmi in the north. Many traces
of prehistoric man were left here, followed by the Etruscans,
who left little to indicate their presence. Then came
the Romans, who first built roads, most notably the
Aurealia which links Rome to the north, via the coast.
The Longobards occupied the Roman hamlets and villages
after them, and are responsible for the layout of the
territory as we know it today. The largest town is Viareggio,
and the area also includes Massarosa, Camaiore, Pietrasanta,
Stazzema, Seravezza and Forte dei Marmi. The region
is bordered by the Apuan Alps, the highest peaks in
the area, and part of a beautiful nature park that attracts
hiking and climbing enthusiasts alike. Versilia encompasses
a broad spectrum of natural elements, and in this, the
area is unique in the world: from coastal pines, to
lakes, marshes and ocean, to soft sandy beaches, to
the mountains of marble, this region can not be equalled
anywhere for its wide array of geographical and geological
aspects which give rise to a variety of species of flora
and fauna, many of them ancient and surviving no where
else but here. The pine woods were originally planted
by man and date back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
They consist of cluster pine, a species imported to
Italy by the Romans, as much for the wide range of products
the tree offers as anything else-apart from timber,
the pine yeilds resin which is used in producing dyes,
and the production of the seed, the pine nut, has grown
into a important industry since the 1930's, making Versilia
today one of the largest zones of pine nut production
in Italy. However, the greatest value of the pinewood
today remains above all naturalistic, and a fine example
of a pinewood can be explored at the Park of Versiliana,
with its entrance on the sea front at Marina di Pietrasanta.
Both the coastal and the interior habitats abound in
fauna, the swamp system of Massaciuccoli harboring many
migratory birds along their route. Many non-migratory
birds nest in the woods of the hills and mountains,
and a rich variety of marine mammals live in the coastal
waters.
The beaches of the Versilia have been popular with bathers
since the early 1900's, and today beach clubs of all
levels, from basic to sophisticated, line the coastline,
offering shade, comfortable lounging, parking, restaurants,
private changing huts, showers and the right to swim
in the ocean to their customers. Each city also has
its "free beach", where bathers can go just to swim
and lie on the beach (no facilities). Life in the Versilia
today is marked by traditional seasonal festivals, the
grandest of all being Viareggio's Carnival, held each
year in February. Other festivals celebrate different
foods in season (sagras) and still others have religious
connotations. In the autumn, village food fairs celebrate
porcini mushrooms, the harvest of olives and the falling
of chestnuts from the trees that cover the hilly regions
inland; in the summer other gastronomic specialties
are prominent on the dietary calendar, but it is clear
that this region with its mild climate and fertile soil
yeilds all kinds of food in abundance which the people
still enjoy today. Culinary specialties of the area
include a wide variety of seafood, particularly crustaceans
and shellfish, which are prepared as simply as possible,
often with just a little garlic, parlsey and white wine.
Chestnuts enrich the local diet and are eaten boiled
or roasted, or ground into flour from which the delicious
castagnaccio or chestnut tart or cake is made. Farro
(spelt or wheatberries) is a winter staple, found most
often in soup, the delicious zuppa di farro; another
regional soup is zuppa frantoiana, made from the olive
pressings in the autumn and winter. Bread of all shapes
and sizes is abundant, found in every corner store or
panetteria, and salads and green vegetables, steamed
or lightly sauteed in olive oil, are added to every
meal. Wonderful shopping is to be found in Forte dei
Marmi, where famous brands such as Gucci and Enrico
Coveri often have signature stores. Lucca and Viareggio
also provide exciting shopping opportunities and Pietrasanta,
although smaller, has an interesting selection of small
boutiques offering clothing and home accents to the
discerning shopper. For those who harbour an affection
for old churches,
Versilia is rich in fine examples
of this elegant architecture. The pieve or parish church
can be found in abundance throughout the region, dating
back from the 11th and 12th centuries. Their facades
and side walls are often plain, the portals very simple
and the inside roofed in wood instead of being vaulted.
The basic principle upon which all these churches were
built was proportion: the facades are usually all square,
the height of the side aisles is often a third of the
nave, and even the minor elements like the radius of
the pillars within have a relationship to the overall.
Outdoor activites which can be enjoyed throughout the
Versilia include horseback riding, sailing, kayaking,
birdwatching, golf, tennis, cycling, hiking and climbing,
diving and beach sports to name but a few. The area
is rich in festivals, village fairs, art exhibitions,
antique markets, live music and theatre. Typical of
the region are garden objects and decorations made from
marble and terracota, fountains, statues, pots and vases,
available in a wide array of designs and styles everywhere.
Tourist
Board of Versilia
Tourism in
Tuscany falls under the responsibility of the APT, the
Agenzia Per il Turismo, whose offices can be found,
filled with information, in almost every town in the
region.
APT
Versilia is located in Viareggio , just off
the central part of the passeggiata (the sea front road)
behind Piazza Mazzini in an old palace, Palazzo delle
Muse; website address is www.versilia.turismo.toscana.it
.
Offices of tourism throughout Tuscany can be found by
following the signs marked APT or i
for information. There is abundant information and excellent
resources available for visitors, even in some of the
much smaller towns.
APT Versilia
Tourist Information Office in Viareggio
They consist of cluster pine, a species imported to Italy by the Romans, as much for the wide range of products the tree offers as anything else-apart from timber, the pine yeilds resin which is used in producing dyes, and the production of the seed, the pine nut, has grown into a important industry since the 1930's, making Versilia today one of the largest zones of pine nut production in Italy. However, the greatest value of the pinewood today remains above all naturalistic, and a fine example of a pinewood can be explored at the Park of Versiliana, with its entrance on the sea front at Marina di Pietrasanta. Both the coastal and the interior habitats abound in fauna, the swamp system of Massaciuccoli harboring many migratory birds along their route. Many non-migratory birds nest in the woods of the hills and mountains, and a rich variety of marine mammals live in the coastal waters.
The beaches of the Versilia have been popular with bathers
since the early 1900's, and today beach clubs of all
levels, from basic to sophisticated, line the coastline,
offering shade, comfortable lounging, parking, restaurants,
private changing huts, showers and the right to swim
in the ocean to their customers. Each city also has
its "free beach", where bathers can go just to swim
and lie on the beach (no facilities). Life in the Versilia
today is marked by traditional seasonal festivals, the
grandest of all being Viareggio's Carnival, held each
year in February. Other festivals celebrate different
foods in season (sagras) and still others have religious
connotations. In the autumn, village food fairs celebrate
porcini mushrooms, the harvest of olives and the falling
of chestnuts from the trees that cover the hilly regions
inland; in the summer other gastronomic specialties
are prominent on the dietary calendar, but it is clear
that this region with its mild climate and fertile soil
yeilds all kinds of food in abundance which the people
still enjoy today. Culinary specialties of the area
include a wide variety of seafood, particularly crustaceans
and shellfish, which are prepared as simply as possible,
often with just a little garlic, parlsey and white wine.
Chestnuts enrich the local diet and are eaten boiled
or roasted, or ground into flour from which the delicious
castagnaccio or chestnut tart or cake is made. Farro
(spelt or wheatberries) is a winter staple, found most
often in soup, the delicious zuppa di farro; another
regional soup is zuppa frantoiana, made from the olive
pressings in the autumn and winter. Bread of all shapes
and sizes is abundant, found in every corner store or
panetteria, and salads and green vegetables, steamed
or lightly sauteed in olive oil, are added to every
meal. Wonderful shopping is to be found in Forte dei
Marmi, where famous brands such as Gucci and Enrico
Coveri often have signature stores. Lucca and Viareggio
also provide exciting shopping opportunities and Pietrasanta,
although smaller, has an interesting selection of small
boutiques offering clothing and home accents to the
discerning shopper. For those who harbour an affection
for old churches,
Versilia is rich in fine examples
of this elegant architecture. The pieve or parish church
can be found in abundance throughout the region, dating
back from the 11th and 12th centuries. Their facades
and side walls are often plain, the portals very simple
and the inside roofed in wood instead of being vaulted.
The basic principle upon which all these churches were
built was proportion: the facades are usually all square,
the height of the side aisles is often a third of the
nave, and even the minor elements like the radius of
the pillars within have a relationship to the overall.
Outdoor activites which can be enjoyed throughout the
Versilia include horseback riding, sailing, kayaking,
birdwatching, golf, tennis, cycling, hiking and climbing,
diving and beach sports to name but a few. The area
is rich in festivals, village fairs, art exhibitions,
antique markets, live music and theatre. Typical of
the region are garden objects and decorations made from
marble and terracota, fountains, statues, pots and vases,
available in a wide array of designs and styles everywhere.
Tourist
Board of Versilia
Tourism in
Tuscany falls under the responsibility of the APT, the
Agenzia Per il Turismo, whose offices can be found,
filled with information, in almost every town in the
region.
APT
Versilia is located in Viareggio , just off
the central part of the passeggiata (the sea front road)
behind Piazza Mazzini in an old palace, Palazzo delle
Muse; website address is www.versilia.turismo.toscana.it
.
Offices of tourism throughout Tuscany can be found by
following the signs marked APT or i
for information. There is abundant information and excellent
resources available for visitors, even in some of the
much smaller towns.
APT Versilia
Tourist Information Office in Viareggio
Offices of tourism throughout Tuscany can be found by following the signs marked APT or i for information. There is abundant information and excellent resources available for visitors, even in some of the much smaller towns.
