Forte dei Marmi, Seaside commune in Lucca Province, Italy
Forte dei Marmi is a commune on the Tuscan coast in Lucca Province with wide sandy beaches along the Ligurian Sea. Pine trees line the waterfront promenade and behind them streets with villas and shops stretch toward the hills of the Apuan Alps.
The name comes from an 18th-century fortress built to protect marble shipments from the nearby mountains to the port. The town grew from a small fishing village to a seaside resort during the 20th century.
The Wednesday market in Piazza Marconi draws buyers from across Europe who walk between stalls selling clothing and local goods. Beach clubs along the coast often remain in the hands of the same families for generations and preserve their own traditions.
The population rises sharply during summer months when visitors arrive from Florence, Milan and other European cities. The beaches are divided into numbered sections with each beach club renting its own chairs and umbrellas.
The old defensive fortress now houses a museum for satirical art with rotating exhibitions. The sculpture of the Marzocco lion in the piazza stands as a replica where the original harbor tower once stood.
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