Viareggio

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Viareggio is a town in the province of Lucca situated on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the north of Tuscany, Italy.

The town has a population of around 60,000.

Viareggio is a popular tourist resort with a historic fishing harbour. Other industries include the manufacture of luxury motor yachts.

History

The name of the city derives from Latin Via Regis ("Kings' Road"), the name of a road built in the Middle Ages along the coast, and still existing as Via Regia. The city was effectively created in the mid-16th century, when it became the only coastal base of the Republic of Lucca.

Main sights

• Torre Matilde (1541), a Lucchese fortification against the menace of Muslim pirate attacks.

Culture

A Puccini opera festival is held at nearby Torre del Lago, a village that is well known also for being an important gay and gay-friendly summer resort of national and international appeal.

The Viareggio Prize for Italian literature is named after the town.

One of the most famous Carnival celebrations in Italy is held here, featuring enormous floats that satirize current political events.

Industry

The port city is home and one of the main bases for super-yacht builder Azimut-Benetti

External links

• [Viareggio official website]
• [Viareggio's website]
• () () () [Versilia]
• [Original photos and comments about Carnival at Viareggio, Tuscany, Italy]

 

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