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VIAREGGIO
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As
to the town itself, Viareggio is a sprawling
area comprising several districts including the
commercial port, central shopping area and
tourist attractions and accommodation mainly
along the seafront and adjoining streets. To the
south is the area of Torre del Lago (separated
from Viareggio by an area called "La Lecciona",
which is a natural reserve area inside the Parco
Regionale di Migliarino, San Rossore e
Massaciuccoli).

To
the north is the resort of Lido di Camaiore.

In June 2002
work to install new service pipes was
disrupting the main shopping area. There is
a large outdoor (partly covered) mercato
that operates on several days each week.
This includes a fresh fish market. In the
surrounding area is a cluster of small
streets with a variety of individual shops.
There are no large department type stores
although one has just
opened on the sea front on the Viale
Carducci. Similarly there are no large
supermarkets. Going out of town towards
Torre del Lago there is a Coop.

The
working port area is commercial and provides the
harbour for many large luxury yachts
as well as numerous other small craft. On the
harbour wall there are a few small stalls that
daily sell freshly caught seafood.

To the
north of the port is the main tourist beach
and promenade. The whole length of of the
beach up to Lido di Camaiore (and beyond) is
occupied by private establishments providing
umbrellas, deckchairs and sun beds available
for hire. These are called "bagni" and are
kept immaculately clean and have floral and
water displays and other features to attract
clients. Some of the more exclusive "bagni"
are for members only. Average price for
renting an umbrella. loungers and deckchairs
is about 13 Euros per day.
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At the southern end of the promenade
are some of the most interesting
buildings. Dating from the early
part of the century they have an art
deco appearance and are generally
well maintained. Mostly they contain
restaurants, cafes, gelateria and
bars, which also have substantial
outdoor seating areas on the
marble crazy paved promenade.
There is a wide range of up market
designer type shops and a chic
cinema complex. This certainly gives
this part of town a feeling of great
affluence and it can become very
busy. Further north along the
promenade it becomes much quieter.
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On the inland (east) side of the promenade are
many grand hotels which are separated every so
often by grand Piazzas such as Piazza Mazzini
which is a pleasant green space with palm trees,
an impressive water feature and plenty of
benches to sit on!

South
of the port is the Viale Tigli. Although this is
one of the main routes to and from Torre del
Lago it should be noted that no bus service
operates along this road. However to the west of
the Viale Tigli is a pine forest and
beyond that a range of low sand dunes
and then the
spiaggia levante. A free beach with clean white
sand. Uncommercial and what seems to be a world
away from the beach on the north side of the
port. Apart from the sound of the birds, the sea
and the wind the only interference with complete
solitude is the occasional hawker.
The
walk from the Piazza D’Azeglio to this beach is
a good 45 minutes to 1 hour. Alternatively take
the number 9 bus as far as its terminus on the
Viale Europa and then a short walk south. This
service is infrequent (sometimes less than 1 bus
an hour in each direction) so make sure to check
the timetable! The bus also passes the only
public swimming baths, which is located just off
the Via Salvatori.
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Distance to:
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Km
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Pisa
S.Giusto Airport |
Km 18
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Firenze Peretola Airport
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Km 90
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Lucca
|
Km 20
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Genova |
Km 150
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Milano |
Km 280
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Torino |
Km 320
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Roma
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Km 350
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Livorno |
Km 30
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