Historical-Artistic Tour at the Discovery of Viareggio

The seaside boulevard becomes a stage where the wide variety of architectural styles and motifs offers tourists different attractions to visit. Viale Margherita, inaugurated officially in 1902, represents a spectacular ensemble of art nouveau, characterized by the striking lines and decorations found in the town`s traditional buildings and together with hotels, bathing establishments, cafes, concert halls, restaurants and shops is considered a town to escape to.

The layout of the seaside boulevards presents two parallel roads with the wooden structures of the bathing establishments on one side, (Viale Margherita and Viale Marconi) and the architectural forms of hotel buildings and residential homes on the other side (Viale D. Manin and G. Carducci).

From the Burlamacca canal to Piazza Mazzini on Viale Margherita admire buildings like the Savoia cinema dating back to 1925, the Duilio 48 store which is one of the most outstanding examples of "Liberty Viareggino" and a little further on, the Gran Cafe Margherita, the most symbolic building of the town, the result of an incredible productive collaboration between the architect Alfredo Belluomini (Viareggio 1892 - Florence 1964) and the painter and ceramist Galileo Chini (Florence 1873 -1956), who created the most important buildings in Viareggio.

The Martini chalet dating back to 1899 (constructed in wood) is the only surviving evidence of the original architecture of the Promenade.

Walking along the promenade discover important details in the decorations like the villa at Viale Carducci no. 6, the villa Chizzolini as well as the villa Amor omnia vincit buildings which make the "Passeggiata" an outdoor museum.

Viareggio boasts a long sea-bathing tourist tradition which is enhanced by the presence of numerous characteristic hotel buildings such as the Palace, Royal, Excelsior and the Principe di Piemonte.


At the Discovery of the Macchia Lucchese and the Easterly Pinewood

Proceeding inland from the beach to the San Rossore Natural Park, admire the typical coastal vegetation, characterizing the protected area.

From the sandy shores to the end of the woods, observe the different areas that come one after the other, characteristic of the typical vegetation of the sands, which help to consolidate and preserve the coastal dunes.

Leaving the dunes, cross the first area, a typical habitat behind a dune: during migration time observe water bird species, like the teal and the grey heron that take shelter or feed here.

Further on, enter the first maritime pine forest zone, the result of reforesting in the past, in order to protect the stretch of the inner pine trees from the devastating effects of the salt. In this area, admire the shrub species like the juniper and the prickly cedar, only the former is native of coastal areas but thanks to suitable climatic conditions they are able to coexist.

Heading inland, observe the low lying areas called "lame", (subject to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall), that alternate with the old dunes or "tomboli", with their native pines and ilex oaks. The habitat of the "lame" is especially interesting due to the number of hygrophile plants found there, such as alders, hornbeams, white poplars, and ash-trees, on which the Periploca greca, an oriental rare relict creeper dating back to the Tertiary period, climbs. ... from “Touring Around Versilia” (Versilia, Toscana, Italia)