Viareggio is the southernmost resort on the Italian Riviera on the Mediterranean coast of Italy and the largest seaside town in Tuscany. Liberty-style buildings housing shops, cafes, and seafood restaurants line its boardwalk, and there are several good Liberty-style villas, including one built by Puccini, in town.
Although Viareggio was at its peak as a resort in the early and mid-1900s, it is still a top-of-the-line Tuscan town for beaches, seafood, and nightlife. It is also known for celebrating one of the best carnevale or mardi gras festivals in Italy.
Things to do in Viareggio
- Beaches: the coast is lined with sandy beaches, most of them private facilities, although there is a free beach area in the southern part of the city. For a price at private beach establishments, you get a beach chair and umbrella and use of facilities like changing rooms and bathrooms. Most of the facilities also have a snack bar. The sea is usually calm and good for swimming.
- Boardwalk – A long boardwalk lined with shops, cafes and restaurants stretches between the beach and the city. The southern end has Liberty-style architecture. The promenade is the place to see and be seen, especially during the passeggiata night.
- Pineta di Ponente – The large pine park, just two blocks from the beach, is a good place to walk and escape the sun.
- Piazza Shelley – One of the city’s squares is named after the English romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. It’s a beautiful green space with benches and a bust of Shelley, who drowned off the coast near Viareggio in 1922.
- Villa Paolina – Located near Piazza Shelley, this villa was commissioned by Napoleon’s sister in 1822.
- Villa Amore – Located on the main street along the sea, this villa was the first of several Liberty style villas that were built in the countryside in the early 1900s where Viareggio developed around it.
- Villino Flore – One of the best examples of the Liberty style, this villa was built in 1912.
- Villa Puccini : The last villa of the composer is located in Via Belluomini, just around the corner from the Grand Hotel Principe del Piemonte.
- Museo Cittadella del Carnevale: The Carnival Citadel Museum has a display of floats, masks, carnival postcards, and other carnival-related memorabilia.
Carnival in Viareggio
Viareggio has one of the largest and most celebrated carnival festivals in Italy, attracting more than a million people each year. The famous parade features elaborate floats, many of which are timely commentary on current political or social issues.
The parade runs the length of the promenade and is generally held on the three Sundays before carnevale , on carnevale day (Shrove Tuesday), and the following Sunday. Admission is charged for the parades. Theater, music, masked balls, and other events are also held during the carnival season. There is even a carnival museum in town.
Where to stay and eat
Many hotels are located near the beach and some have rooms with views of the ocean or private beaches. Villa Tina was one of the first Liberty-style buildings in Viareggio and the 3-star hotel still has period furniture and decor. Grand Hotel Principe del Piemonte, dating from 1922, is one of the historic hotels and recalls the heyday of Viareggio. Il Principino, on the seafront across the street, was Viareggio’s first beach resort built in 1938.
There is a small fishing port in Viareggio and you can expect good seafood prepared with fresh fish in most restaurants, especially those near the port area.
How to get there
Viareggio is located on the west coast of Italy, in the area of Tuscany known as the Versilia coast. It is about 20 kilometers north of Pisa and 30 kilometers west of Lucca.
Fortunately, Viareggio is also on the railway line that runs along the coast between Genoa and Rome, making it relatively easy to reach by public transport. Alternatively, it is right next to the A12 motorway (toll road) that runs along the coast from the French border. Free parking is available outside of the center or there are many paid parking spots in the city. However, the nearest airport is Pisa, about 24 km away.
