Like us on Facebook

MENU
Europe
Italy
Central Italy
Ancona
Assisi
Alba Adriatica
Castiglione del Lago
Castiglione Della Pescaia
Fano
Fiuggi
Fiumicino
Florence
Foligno
Forte Dei Marmi
Gabicce Mare
Gaeta
Giulianova
Grottammare
Lido Di Camaiore
Lucca
Montesilvano
Numana
Orvieto
Passignano Sul Trasimeno
Perugia
Pesaro
Pescara
Pescasseroli
Pineto
Pisa
Ponza Island
Portoferraio
Porto Recanati
Rome
Roseto Degli Abruzzi
Sabaudia
San Benedetto Del Tronto
San Felice Circeo
San Vincenzo
Senigallia
Siena
Silvi Marina
Sirolo
Sperlonga
Spoleto
Terracina
Todi
Torgiano
Tortoreto
Vasto
Viareggio
Viterbo
Things to do in Viareggio


PLACE NAMES




Viareggio



Viareggio is a city and comune in northern Tuscany, Italy, on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. With a population of over 62,000, it is the second largest city within the province of Lucca, after 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 of Carnival. The symbol of the carnival of Viareggio and its official mask is Burlamacco, designed and invented by Uberto Bonetti in 1930.

The city traces its roots back to the first half of the 16th century when it became the only gate to the sea for the Republic of Lucca. The oldest building in Viareggio, known as Torre Matilde, dates back to this time and was built by the Lucchesi in 1541 as a defensive fortification to fight the constant menace of corsair incursions.

Viareggio is also an active industrial and manufacturing centre; its shipbuilding industry has long been renowned around the world and its fishing and floricultural industries are still fundamental sectors to the city's economy.

Viareggio hosts the Premio letterario Viareggio RĂ©paci for literature, established in 1929. Amongst the other events organized around the year, it is worth mentioning the Festival Gaber, which has been held every August since 2004 to celebrate the memory of Giorgio Gaber, and is attended by several high-profile Italian musicians.

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 kilometres (6.2 mi) of sandy beaches, of which 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) are managed by private beach resorts and the remaining 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) are public (most of the public beach is part of the Parco Naturale Regionale Migliarino-San Rossore-Massaciuccoli. Viareggio borders the local municipalities of Camaiore, Massarosa and Vecchiano) (PI).

The municipal area comprises the Lake of Massaciuccoli and several canals, the most important ones of which are known as Burlamacca, Farabola, Fossa dell'Abate (bordering the municipality of Camaiore), and Fosso Le Quindici.



leonedgaroldbury@yahoo.co.ukFeel free to Email me any additions or corrections


LINKS AVAILABLE TO YOUR SITE