City overview

Study Italian in the vibrant seaside city of Viareggio— Its name comes from the word "Via Regia," (King's Road) the road on which Lucca built a defense fortress. Viareggio is one of the most famous and traditional seaside resorts in Tuscany, and is well known for its liberty period architecture, which is marvelous to admire. But that's not the only thing to admire; Viareggio has wide, endless beaches, excellent cuisine and the exciting nightlife with its well-known "Versilian" discos. Add all these features up and you get Viareggio, a popular holiday resort.

The climate is mild both in the summer and in winter. Initially Viareggio was a stopping place for seamen during the middle of the nineteenth century with the building of first hostels and later on the developing of elegant hotels, tourism was initiated. You can access Viareggio by strolling the elegant streets, or float down the avenues the old Burlamacca canal. Be sure to check out the west and east pinewoods by taking the road to Torre del Lago. Or you may decide that the ever-romantic Viale dei Tigli, which runs through the east pinewood is more your flavor. Beach lovers will enjoy the long sea front that has soft sand and green gardens with palms, oleanders and tamarisks. If you are not busy playing at the beach then the place to see all the action is the sea front avenue, the town’s passeggiata. Where there are beach buildings and shops in the art nouveau style. You might also want to visit the historic, Torre Matilde on the Burlamacca canal that the senate of Lucca built it in 1544.

The city dates back to the 12th century. Today it is a fairly large town consisting of 60,000 inhabitants. The economy is based on tourism, trade, craftsmanship, fishing and boat construction. The town is surrounded by a flourishing agriculture that makes the area a great place to explore and enjoy.

Viareggio is the largest and most populated municipality in Versilia, which includes Torre del Lago as well as a vast green area connecting the two resorts. In the south Vaireggio is bordered by Vecchiano to the east by Massarosa which both connect to Lake Massaciuccoli. In the northeast it borders with Camaiore and in the west the Tyrrhenian Sea. This resort town offers an excellent motorway, as well as a rail and bus link to major cities in Tuscany including, Pisa, Florence, Livorno, and Siena. There are also frequent bus services that link to the local towns of Versilia. Viareggio features a colorful harbor where tourists dock their yachts, as well as local fishing boats and cargoes.

A visit to Viareggio means meeting young Italians and enjoying the seafood specialties of Tuscany. During the high season the local tourist office offers a range of activities to guests of the city. Viareggio is the ideal holiday resort for all who love sunshine, the sea and having a good time.