Beside the Seaside Italian Style in Viareggio, Tuscany, Viareggio, Italy

Viareggio is a resort in Versilia on the Tuscan Riviera. It stretches for three kilometres along a beautiful, natural sandy beach. Precise rows of coloured umbrellas, each shading two sunbeds on either side of a small table surge towards the gently lapping waves of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is a sight to savour.

Visitors from the nearby towns of Florence, Lucca and Prato began to flock here with the arrival of the railway in 1891. The wide open spaces around the town and the twenty-kilometres of natural beaches were a welcome relief from the busy city streets. Today this lovely resort attracts visitors from all over the world. But it is not simply a seaside resort as Viareggio is a large, thriving town. Its railway station is located on one side of the old town and its long promenade is located on the other. Between the two is a grid of narrow streets many of which lead into Piazza Cavour where its historic daily market takes place. Stalls surround the large, old building that dominates this square and some lurk under its loggia. Continuing towards the sea front visitors will emerge on the wide promenade known as La Passeggiata Margherita.

This wide promenade is punctuated with small flower beds, trees and stone benches decorated by a variety of artists. It starts by the Burlamacca Canal which separates the town from its port and docks. The original promenade was largely destroyed by a disastrous fire in 1917. A new promenade was built featuring buildings in the style of that era, Art Nouveau. Just one of the original wooden buildings remains, Chalet Martini. Built in 1899 the chalet features a series of lowered arches which creates an arabesque appearance. It is worth going inside the shop that now occupies this building to see the art deco style decoration in white maple with mother of pearl. Enthusiasts of Art Nouveau can take a guided tour and self-guided tour leaflets are available from the tourist information offices. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).