The capital of the Versilov resort area, the town of Viareggio, is located on the Tuscan coast of the Ligurian Sea. The natural environment in the city is incredible: there is the sea, and many green hills, and a pine forest with bike paths, and, of course, palm trees.
Viareggio – Italy, Tuscany region
The town is a perfect vacation destination for those who like everything to be of the highest quality. It is here that the world’s most expensive yachts are produced, and locals and tourists alike know how to spend money with taste. Viareggio will also appeal to those who are looking for nightly coastal parties – it is full of cool nightclubs, many of which have already become quite famous. The city is also popular among surfers and sailing fans. And of course, shopping – Viareggio has many shops and malls where you can dress in the latest Italian fashion.
Beach
The beaches in Viareggio are sandy, soft, and endlessly long – no wonder the city is considered the most popular resort in Tuscany. And most importantly, they are all awarded the Blue Flag. This means that the sea and the coast are guaranteed to be clean and meet the highest European standards.
Beach areas are traditionally divided into private, which are the majority, and municipal, which are much smaller. If a day on a private beach will cost about €15, then you will pay about €3 to enter the city beach. You will have to lie on the sand, and there will be less entertainment around, but in general, the municipal beaches of Viareggio are quite decent and have a good smooth entry into the water.
If you want to be with the sea almost alone, without crowds of tourists, pay attention to the beach Lecciona, which is part of the Leccionia Natural Park and is located on the outskirts of the city. The beach is wild – without any infrastructure, sun loungers and other paid pleasures. But it is a piece of real nature. The sand here, of course, is not cleaned every day, but the sea is still very clean – swim as much as you want.
Private beaches, as in other cities, are divided mainly between coastal hotels and are not too different from each other – they are all comfortable. To save money on your visit, buy a season pass for a week or more at a time. Housing on the first coastline in Viareggio will cost about € 70-100 per day, but if the sea from the window is not important, it is quite possible to find more affordable options away from the beach in the region of €30 per night.
What’s to wonder
Viareggio differs from other cities in the country in that it has much fewer attractions. Let’s make a reservation – less, by Italian standards. But this is Italy! So there is still plenty to see in the city.
The largest and oldest monument in the city is the tower Matilda (La torre Matilde), which was built in the 16th century. According to legend, a castle once stood on this site, and after its destruction in the Middle Ages, a tower was built from the ruins of the same castle. In different years, it served as a defensive structure or a prison. Today, cultural events are increasingly held there.
One of the most beautiful buildings in the city is the Villa Borbone, which today houses the Art Museum. The building itself is surrounded by a pleasant shady garden.
Just five kilometers from Viareggio is the town of Torre del Lago, where the famous Italian composer Giacomo Puccini lived and worked. Now there is a museum in the Villa Puccini (Villa Puccini), where the composer wrote his most famous works Turandot and Madama Butterfly. Here you can learn more about the life and work of the composer, whom the Italians are proud of.
A special reason to go
One of the main summer events in Tuscany is the Puccini Festival, which is organized in the Torre del Lago, very close to Viareggio. This year’s festival will be held in July and August, and the lucky ones who get to it will be able to watch the most striking opera performances based on the works of Giacomo Puccini. Real opera shows are staged on an open stage in the warm Italian air and under the starry evening sky – the atmosphere is simply magical! 
