Versilia, Coastal area in Province of Lucca, Italy.
Versilia is a coastal stretch in northern Tuscany between Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi, where broad sandy beaches meet the Tyrrhenian Sea. Behind the coastal plain rise the Apuan Alps with their bright marble quarries shaping the landscape.
In ancient times, the Via Aurelia and Via Emilia Scauri crossed marshy terrain here between Pisa and Massa. Only in the early 20th century did this coast begin its rise as a seaside resort when wealthy families from Florence and Milan built their summer residences here.
Marble workshops around Pietrasanta have drawn sculptors from across the world for generations, working with local Carrara stone. In summer, the promenades turn into meeting points for families who stroll by the sea until late evening and dine at the beach clubs.
The A12 highway and the railway line connect all coastal towns, with trains running more frequently in summer. The wide beach sections divide into public areas and private beach clubs that rent loungers and umbrellas.
Lake Massaciuccoli sits just a few kilometers (miles) inland and forms a freshwater wetland between sea and mountains. Here Giacomo Puccini found inspiration for his operas and composed in his villa by the lakeshore.
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