 Introduction
Forte dei Marmi is located between the Marinas of Ronci and Pietrasanta, in an area known as Versilia. This fashionable seaside resort lies on the Ligurian Sea at the northern end of the Tuscan coast, well-known for the soft contrasts of the sea with its long stretches of sandy beach and its fascinating landscape dominated by the Apuan Alps with their rugged forms and bare faces of the marble quarries. The coast road (Viale Italico; in the broader central section Viale della Repubblica) runs past the town's long sandy beach. The landing-stage, 300m/330yd long, from which the marble was once shipped is now used by the boats sailing to the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. The long beach of fine sand and the shallow water which extends far out to sea make Forte dei Marmi particularly suitable for families.
 Arrival
Plane
The closest airport is the International Airport in Pisa from the airport you can reach Versilia by taxi, bus and train.
Train
The Italian railway system, run by Trenitalia, is connected with the rest of the European rail system so it is easy to reach Tuscany from locations across Europe and Italy.
Car
From Pisa G.Galilei take the highway A12 direction Genova and then the exit Versilia. From southern Italy we recommend you take the highway A11 direction Prato-Viareggio, then the highway A12 direction Genova and then take the exit Versilia. From northern Italy we recommend you take the highway A12 direction Livorno and then the exit Versilia. From the exit Versilia make a right and proceed towards Forte dei Marmi.
 History and Culture
Forte dei Marmi owes its name (Fort of Marble) to the marble-quarries in the Apuan Alps (Carrara). Forte dei Marmi is located around a jetty set up during the sixteenth century to ship the apuan marbles. Since 1788 this has been sheltered through an outpost which had been built by Leopoldo I and is still visible in the middle of Garibaldi Square. Just about every european noble but also diplomats, businness-men and managers, artists and V.I.P.s had their beautiful villas, protected by the greenery of the pinewoods, built in this zone. During the last century Forte dei Marmi has become a famous tourist resort and its value is recognized all over the world.
 Beaches
Forte dei Marmi was one of the first beach resorts in Italy, begun at the turn of the century and becoming instantly popular with royalty and the rich beautiful people who still flock to villas in the pines. The number of bathing establishments is enormous. One beach in particular has been singled out in 2006 as one of the ten top topless beaches in the world: Santa Maria Beach on V. Arenile n. 9.
 Day trips
From Forte dei Marmi it is possible to take boats daily trips to the Cinque Terre, Portofino, Elba Island, Capraia Island; sightseeing tour to Firenze, Siena and San Gimignano, Pisa e Lucca, Marmo Caves of Carrara, Chianti; mountain bike excursions in the nel Migliarino National Park; visit the Villa Puccini and a boat tour of the Massaciuccoli lake.
From Forte dei Marmi a tourist can rediscover many historical and cultural architectural evidences, enchanting villages situated on the numerous valleys or on the hills and enjoy the spell of the Apuan Alps.The Apuan Alps allow the climbers, either traditional or free-climbing, to make very interesting climbs. Moreover the Apuan Alps allow the hiker to cover itineraries in every season and of every level.
 Places of Interest
Weekly Market
Forte dei Marmi's Famous Weekly Market offers its rich villa dwellers a Wednesday market that deals in designer clothing, among other things. It is known to offer bargains, it's the place to go to get cut-price reproductions of expensive designer clothes. The town of Forte dei Marmi is centred around the market and the marble fortress built 1788.
Torre del Lago
Close to Forte dei Marmi is Torre del Lago (sometimes called Torre del Lago Puccini), where Giacomo Puccini lived and wrote his operas. Today there's an open-air theatre by the lake where one can enjoy Puccini’s operas beneath the stars. A summer festival is held here.
 Events
International Political Satire Festival
Forte dei Marmi is unanimously considered the capital of political satire: more than 35.000 visitors every year, more than 200 cartoonists from different countries participate in the exhibition.
Carnevale di Viareggio
Carnevale di Viareggio, or the Viareggio carnival, is one of the largest and most celebrated in Italy; over a million people attended last year. February in the Versilia town of Viareggio.
SUMMER EVENTS: Lectures and performances form La Versiliana Festival ? www.laversilianafestival.it ? while Giacomo Puccini's famous operas, like Madame Butterfly are performed open-air in nearby Torre del Lago, where he composed many of them ? www.puccinifestival.it In September, La Capannina hosts Premio Internazionale Satira Politica ? www.museosatira.it, with awards for international political cartoons. Fireworks accompany the feast of Forte's patron saint, Sant'Ermete, on Aug. 28.
 Links
|