Versilia

Versilia
From Wikipedia.
The Versilia (formerly Fosse Papiriane) is a part of Tuscany in the north-western province of Lucca, and is named after the Versilia river. Known for fashionable Riviera resorts, it consists of numerous clubs that are frequented by local celebrities.

The most famous and populated part of this area is Viareggio, which extends along the coastline and is at the foot of the Apuan Alps, traveling from South to North, beginning at Stazzema and up to Marina di Massa.
The coastal shelf is sandy sloping gradually into the Ligurian Sea, which stretches from the ligurian coast up to the Piombino promontory, and not from the Tyrrhenian Sea as mistakenly believed, whose name has replaced the historic nomination, The Tuscan Sea.

Climate

The climate is characterised by high levels of humidity (between 60 and 80% of relative humidity in the summer months) and a yearly rainfall off 900 to 1,000 millimetres (35–39 in) as a result of the proximity of the Apuanian Alps to the coast. The main winds are those blowing from South-East, the Libeccio and the Ponente which batter the coast for two to three days in a row and cause severe storms.
Average temperature: 15.0 °C (59.0 °F)
Average high-temperature: 19.2 °C (66.6 °F)
Average low-temperature: 11.0 °C (51.8 °F)
Climatic classification: zone D, 1416 GR/G
Atmospheric diffusivity: low, Ibimet CNR 2002

Historical Versilia

The so-called “Historical Versilia” consists exclusively of four common places: Pietrasanta, Forte dei Marmi, Seravezza and Stazzema. The latter two, because the land is located mainly on hills and mountains of the Apuan Alps, are the so-called “Alta Versilia” or Upper Versilia. From the geographical point of view the “Historical Versilia” extending from the north Cinquale valley to the south Motrone valley, and coincides with what was the Capitanato di Pietrasanta.
A major literary figure who attended the Versilia at the beginning of the 20th century was Gabriele D’Annunzio, who had built a huge villa in the pine forest around Pietrasanta. The poet spent there the last years of his life, composing the most famous verses of Alcyone and Francesca da Rimini.

Viareggio

Viareggio (Italian pronunciation: [viaˈreddʒo]) is a city and comune located in northern Tuscany, Italy, on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. With a population of over 64,000 it is the main centre of the northern Tuscan Riviera known as Versilia, and the second largest city within the Province of Lucca.
It is known as a seaside resort as well as being the home of the famous carnival of Viareggio (dating back to 1873), and its papier-mâché floats, which (since 1925), parade along the promenade known as “Passeggiata a mare”, in the weeks preceding Easter.
The entire area of Viareggio extends over the coastal flooding plain of Versilia. Located on the Ligurian Sea (although traditionally considered to face the Tyrrhenian Sea), it has 10 km (6.2 mi) of sandy beaches, of which 6 km (3.7 mi) are managed by private beach resorts and the remaining 4 km (2.5 mi) are public.

Viareggio is well connected to Tuscany’s inland as well as the rest of Italy. It can be reached by car, from the A11 (Firenze-Mare) motorway, via the A11/”Bretella” Lucca-Viareggio link road or A12 (Genoa-Rosignano) motorway.
Viareggio railway station is located near the city center, with 60 daily trains running along the Rome–Pisa–La Spezia–Genoa line, and the line to Florence, as well as international trains.
The nearest airport is Pisa’s “Galileo Galilei” international airport, just 20 km (12 mi) south of Viareggio’s city center. Florence’s “Amerigo Vespucci” airport is 95 km (59 mi) to the east.

Pietrasanta

Pietrasanta is a town and comune on the coast of northern Tuscany in Italy, in the province of Lucca. Pietrasanta is part of Versilia, on the last foothills of the Apuan Alps, about 32 km north of Pisa. The town is located 3 km off the coast (where the frazione of Marina di Pietrasanta is located).
The Pietrasanta Marina, with golden sand and luxurious equipments is considered one of the best beaches of Italy.
The area, like most of Tuscany in general, has long enjoyed the patronage of artists. Pietrasanta grew to importance during the 15th century, mainly due to its connection with marble. Michelangelo was the first sculptor to recognize the beauty of the local stone.

Forte dei Marmi

Forte dei Marmi is a sea town and comune in the province of Lucca, in northern Tuscany (Italy). It is the birthplace of Paola Ruffo di Calabria, Queen of the Belgians.
The population of the town, amounting to some 7,700, nearly triples during the summer, because of the hundreds of tourist who mainly come from Florence, Milan, Germany, and Russia. Tourism is the principal activity of Forte dei Marmi’s citizens.
In Italian Forte dei Marmi means “Fort of the marbles”. The town takes its name from the fortress that rises in the middle of the main square, built under Grand Duke Peter Leopold, who was to become Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1788. The fortress was built to defend the coast from outer attacks, but in the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century it became the place where the marble quarried from the Alpi Apuane (they are the same mountains of the famous marble of Carrara) was stocked before being sent to the pier for shipping.
Forte dei Marmi’s field hockey team is in the Italian A-league.

Famous residents

Rock singer Zucchero spent most of his childhood here
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and his fiancée Veronica Berti live here, as do Bocelli’s children and his ex-wife.
Tennis players Adriano Panatta and Paolo Bertolucci
The British sculptor and artist Henry Moore had a studio in Forte dei Marmi and took up residence at the Hotel Ritz Forte Dei Marmi.
Italian stylist Giorgio Armani has a villa in Forte dei Marmi.
Italian writer Carlo Mazzoni grew up in Forte dei Marmi.