Northern Tyrrhenian
Location
With famous beaches and great culture, there is also the countryside: hills with forms and colours unique to this area, cear skies, and mountains covered in woodland. Finally, the inimitable taste of the food with its ancient flavours. Going to the seaside in the northern Tyrrhenian means choosing a holiday of total immersion in beauty.This is a land where the modern idea of tourism as a complete package of opportunities far leisure, far relaxing in natural surroundings and visiting cultural and artistic sites becomes reality, in the towns, faces, colours and perfumes: this is Tuscany. With its splendid beaches on the coasts of the Tyrrhenian sea and a tradition of welcome and hospitality to visitors that dates back far aver a century, Tuscany can offer an ideal holiday to those who love the sea, but are not content just with beach life and night time entertainment. It is impossible to imagine having a relaxing time on the Tuscan beaches without devoting a few days to visiting the cities of art (Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Siena and many more), exploring the charming medieval townships inland, or making exciting discoveries about the food and the folklore.
Before us, we have the c1ear waters of the Tyrrhenian sea; around us, a spectac1e of hospitality and welcome, and behind us, all the wonder of Italian history, art, culture, ancient Rome and the Renaissance, Dante and Giotto, archaeological excavations, cities and towers, hills and cathedrals. Going to the seaside on the northern Tyrrhenian coast, in Tuscany and Latium, is a unique experience. First of all, there is the famous Versilia, and also the Maremma, and the areas around Pisa and Livorno, the Argentario and the Latium coast. There is also the area inland - a sight far the eyes and the mind, and a treasure-house containing the majority of the art-works of Western civilisation.
Etruschi Coast
Tourists gravitate towards the beaches all along the region"s coastline. For example, there is one corner of Tuscany where everything is reminiscent of its glorious past. This is Costa degli Etruschi in the Livorno area. It is holiday time here all the year round because the sea, the countryside, the art and the history exist together in a unique and harmonious pattern. The sea, first of all, is crystal clear, with broad sands and cliffs. The coastline is dotted with lots of bathing resorts, offering top-class hospitality and services. Then there are the natural surroundings: an exceptionally rich environment with parks and protected areas, botanical oases, animal refuges occupied by rare species, a vegetation thick with pine trees and woodland covering the hills. Running through the countryside is the Wine Trail, where you can find unique wines, such as Sassicaia, that afe famous throughout the world.
Argentario
The Argentario promontory is of great international renown. Long ago, it was an island, and was subsequently "anchored" to the Tyrrhenian coast by the Feniglia and the Giannella tomboli (or strips of sand), which were formed by the accumulation of detritus brought by the rivers and the sea currents. The promontory, rising up 635 metres above sea-Ievel, has high, rocky cliffs and is covered with a thick Mediterranean maquis alternating with olive trees and vines. In the vineyards, created with great effort by terracing the mountainsides, the rare Ansonico and Rimini vines are cultivated. On the northern coast of the promontory, the main resort is Porto Santo Stefano, with a port that carries out intense commercial and tourist activity based on its substantial fishing fleet, on pleasure sailing, and on links to the islands of Giglio and Giannutri. On the south coast, Porto Ercole is a well-equipped tourist harbour looking out onto a bay dominated by impressive Spanish fortresses. In the nearby Cala Galera, dozens of pleasure craft berth each summer attracted by the efficient facilities and services offered by this exclusive mooring.
Maremma
Further south, the area merges into the Maremma. The shoreline, extending far 130 kilometres with alternating beaches, pine-woods, and stretches of superb rocky coasts, is broken by countless coves containing tourist harbours and wide, safe landing-stages: Scarlino, Punta Ala, Castiglione della Pescaia, Marina di Grosseto, and Talamone. Ali these places, along with Follonica and Principina a Mare, are highly-developed tourist resorts, with good quality accommodation and facilities.
Lazio Coast
The far end of the Tuscan Maremma fades into the Tuscia, the ancient land of the Etruscans. We have now come into Latium, and back to the mysterious, magie atmosphere that is a feature of the whole Tyrrhenian coastline. The main resort is Tarquinia, where you can spend time relaxing on the beautiful beaches and enjoying their well-equipped facilities, or alternatively, visit the medieval town-centre, the museums and the archaeological sites. Throughout Latium the sea blends in with history, but this is especially true of the coast around Rome. The coastline from Santa Marinella to Nettuno -Ladispoli, Fregene, Ostia, Torvaianica, Ardea and Anzio - is the beach "just down the road" far the inhabitants of Rome.The wide sands are very popular the whole year round, particularly at weekends. The coast is like Rome"s huge amusement and holiday park, and can be a very refreshing place far those visiting the Eternal City. Moving further south, we reach the gulf of Gaeta, where archaeological remains of great significance tram the Greek and Roman eras are to be found. In the sea off the beaches at Serapo there is a rocky formation which, according to legend, represents Ulysses" petrified ship. This wonderful expanse of sea is protected to conserve the richness of the underwater flora and fauna. The shore is fringed with beaches of very fine sand opening onto the green Mediterranean maquis - ideai far those who lave the sun and water-sports.
Just before you arrive at the seaside resorts of Terracina and Sperlonga you come into the splendid Circeo National Park. This was established back in 1934; it has four coastal lakes and offers a safe refuge far lots of different species of migratory birds. Some valuable archaeological remains are to be found in this protected area: the picturesque village of San Felice Circeo and the little town of Sabaudia - a remarkable example of town-planning, built from scratch during the 1930s on rationalist architectural principles.
Apart tram Gaeta, another noteworthy tourist resort is Formia, with its ruins of Roman buildings. And a trip to the top of Mount Orlando - 171 metres high, right above Gaeta - is not to be missed: as well as the tomb of Lucio Munazio Placco (built there in 22 B.c.), the view from the top is well worth the climb.
Versilia
Whatever activities the tourist wishes to pursue, the Tuscan sea is an attraction that is difficult to resist. The Versilia area is the best-known part of the coast, stretching far aver 20 kilometres of uninterrupted beach, with a temperate climate thanks to the shelter it receives from the Apuan Alps. The coastal area is divided into four resorts next to each other: Forte dei Marmi, Marina di Pietrasanta, Lido di Camaiore, and Viareggio (with Torre del Lago Puccini). Viareggio is a town with a tourist tradition going back to the end of the 19th century, as shown by the many examples of Liberty architecture concentrated mainly along the sea-front promenade. One typical seaside resort is Lido di Camaiore, the extension on the coast of Camaiore town -the site of many historical and artistic treasures. Pietrasanta has some remarkable medieval monuments: Marina di Pietrasanta is a well-known seaside resort with elegant villas, hotels and sports facilities set deep among green cluster-pines. There are famous bars and discos offering young guests the opportunity to have fun, too. And finally, there is Forte dei Marmi, which is exceptional because of its exclusive atmosphere and its very comfortable, but moderately-sized hotels and accommodation in villas surrounded by pinewoods and gardens. The area can also boast a tradition as an intellectual centre frequented by artists of ali nationalities. Highly popular, prestigious events take place in Versilia throughout the year, from the Carnival to the Viareggio Prize far Literature, and from the Puccini opera season at Torre del Lago to the "Versiliana" cultural events at Marina di Pietrasanta. It is not only the Versilia area that attracts people to the seaside in Tuscany, however.
