Tuscany, the birthplace of the great Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Michelangelo, is famous throughout the world for its historical and architectural ensembles, wonderful wines, the best olive oil and amazing resorts. One of the best is Forte dei Marmi. Italy has long been chosen by the Russian elite. But it is in this resort that she owns more than 30% of mansions and villas. This resort is in all respects for those who like to relax like a king. Let's take a short walk along its streets, the coast, look at some hotels and shops.
Description of the city
Forte dei Marmi is located on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the Versilia region of the province of Lucca. It is very beautiful, immersed in evergreen vegetation, fragrant with flowers and the sea, ringing with wonderful fountains. But the town is so small that many call it a village. In the center is a pretty square, from which, like the rays of the sun in a children's drawing, pure andpleasant streets in all respects. One of them is called Roma Imperiale. It is here that you can see the mansions of many Russian nouveaux riches. Prestigious expensive boutiques and restaurants are concentrated along the perimeter of the square, and the farther from it, the cheaper and easier it is. On the outskirts of the city there is a good and quite affordable supermarket. There is also a railway station in Forte dei Marmi, which is only 3.5 km from the center. You can get there on foot (about 40 minutes), by taxi and by bus (runs every hour). Trains depart from the station to many Italian cities - Milan, Pisa, Genoa and others. But most vacationers travel by car and bicycles. They are offered for rent in offices located right on the streets.
Location
An important question for those who chose Forte dei Marmi as their holiday destination: "How to get there?". There are several options - by plane, by train, by road and by boat. The nearest major international airport, which bears the name of Galileo Galilei, is located in Pisa. From it to the resort is 20 km (counting from the city limits). At 5 km there is another small airport with grass runways. Airplanes are for sightseeing only. By car, Forte dei Marmi can be reached from anywhere in Europe. This is the way many people come from Russia. You need to move along the A12 highway towards the Versilia sign, after which turn right. After following the third traffic light, turn again, but to the left, and move already to the city itself. Indicative figures: from Lucca to the resort 30 km, from Milan 250, fromFlorence 80, from Rome 300. Each city has its own route. From Milan it is the A1, which is followed to Fidenza, then they switch to the A15 to La Spezia and then to the A12. From Florence take the A11 to Lucca, then turn onto Viareggio. From Rome, take the A1 to the city of Florence, and then follow the above pattern. The port is located in Viareggio, in the same place as the railway station. By sea, the resort can be reached from major Italian cities. It is advisable to clarify the information by the numbers: 0584 444440584, 0584 89826, 0584 320330584 32033.
Weather
Forte dei Marmi gives its guests a wonderful summer holiday. Italy, especially its south, is famous for its generous sun. But at this prestigious resort in the off-season and in winter, rains are not uncommon. But from the second half of May to the end of September, most days are sunny and warm. There is no heat, the air temperature almost never rises above +28. But if there are clouds in the sky and it's raining, the mercury column drops to +20+23. Winter in these places often “spoils” with rainy days, so there are few tourists.
Sea
The beaches of Forte dei Marmi are all well equipped. The shore of the resort is sandy, and the sand is sifted every morning by workers, so there are no “gobies” and beer caps that are common for other beaches. Entry into the water is gentle almost throughout, very convenient for kids. But the water is cloudy (due to local plankton). In windy weather, seaweed can be seen off the coast, and rather biting jellyfish appear from the second half of July.
But the most curious attraction of the local beaches is the price. Free can be found only at a distance of 2-5 km from the city. Their dignity is almost the same sand and water as on all the others. The disadvantage is the huge influx of people. There are so many sunbathers there that sometimes there is nowhere not only to lie down, but even to sit down. In addition to the municipal ones, the beaches of coastal hotels may seem free, of course, for their guests. Why show up? Because rest on them is included in the price of the room. Those who are not lucky enough to check into a hotel on the 1st line are waiting for the elite paid beaches of the resort. A place in the form of a sunbed and an umbrella under the gentle Italian sun costs up to 100 euros per day. A canopy with the same sunbeds plus a table and a changing cabin costs from 300 euros per day. A feature of all paid and free beaches is blacks, who constantly impose their goods. Only on a nudist beach, which has the beautiful name of Santa Maria, this is better. This beach, even in Forte dei Marmi, is considered too elite. It regularly receives the Blue Flag for cleanliness, is well equipped, but not everyone is allowed in, that is, there is a scrupulous face pass.
Restaurants
Forte dei Marmi is a very expensive resort. Accordingly, the restaurants here are not cheap. The menu is different for everyone, but the general background of the dishes is pasta, pasta (the same pasta, only small ones), fish, seafood, vegetables and pizza. Wines are excellent everywhere, the cost is very different, from inexpensive on average 30-50 euros per bottle to elite ones, for which they ask from 500 euros. The most prestigious and most iconicthe Gilda restaurant is considered, where the choice of dishes is somewhat limited, but the taste is excellent. The second most popular restaurant Bistrot.
The small family restaurant Enoteca Brilliant, which is located on the outskirts of the resort, is noted with kind words. The prices are lower there, but the service and food are first class. All catering points in Forte dei Marmi are open in the morning from 12-30 to 14-30, and in the evening - from 19-00 until the last customer, although there are those that close at 23-00. In some restaurants, you have to pay up to 6 euros just for sitting at a table.
Forte dei Marmi Hotels
Here most of the hotels with 5 and 4 stars. There are very few three stars. When choosing, be sure to be interested in beach conditions, as you will have to pay for them. Swimming pools are a good alternative, but not every hotel has them. Room prices vary greatly, from 250 to 2000 euros for 7 nights in a standard room for two people without children. Among three-star hotels, Hotel Franceschi, Hotel Bijou, La Pace enjoy a good reputation. Among the four-star hotels, Villa Roma Imperiale, St Mauritius Hotel, Hotel Goya and many others receive warm reviews. Five-star resort hotels offer exceptional service, luxurious rooms, excellent service. Very popular Principe Forte dei Marmi, located on the very shore of the blue sea, Grand Hotel Imperiale, opened in 2007, Augustus Hotel & Resort - one of the oldest and most respectable. In addition to the hotel, in the resort you can rent a villa for a period of 1 month or more.
Historical background
Many corners of Italy can boast of interesting historical values. Tourists are invariably attracted by Rome, Milan, Pisa, Florence. Forte dei Marmi also has something to show. It traces its history back to 1516, when a pier was built to ship the marble mined in the area. Frequent raids by pirates complicated the conduct of the “marble business”, until in 1788 a defensive fortress was built by Prince Leopold, called Forte dei Marmi, which means “marble”. This material was extremely in demand, so the business developed, and a town gradually grew around the fort. These places, impressive with their extraordinary beauty, were looked after by the Italian nobility. Here they began to build luxury villas for a country holiday. This continued until the Soviet perestroika, after which very we althy Russians appeared who began to develop this resort and actively buy real estate here. Gradually this place became elite.
Attractions
The patron saint of Forte dei Marmi is Saint Hermes (Sant'Ermete), whose church is located on one of the central streets. In honor of this great martyr, every August 28 a great feast is held. It is worth taking a look at the pedestrian bridge, which used to be a pier. Of interest are the remains of a defensive fortress, a museum of humor and satire, ancient marble warehouses, Villa Puccini. There are also interesting architectural structures in the vicinity of the resort. But the most popular are walks along the ApuanThe Alps, which offer fantastic views of the coast and the surroundings of Forte dei Marmi. Photos of these places perfectly demonstrate what cannot be expressed in words.
Entertainment
Those who do not like outdoor activities can offer shopping and dining in Forte dei Marmi. For everyone else, there are plenty of opportunities to have a great time. The resort has the opportunity to play golf, tennis, windsurfing, diving, sailing, climbing, equestrian sports, visit the hippodrome. The city's nightlife is also vibrant and varied. There are a lot of nightclubs offering a wide variety of programs. Among the cultural events, Saint Hermes Day, the Puccini Festival, the Film Festival are especially popular, and famous musical groups often perform in the summer.
Reviews and impressions of tourists
Most vacationers in recent years in Forte dei Marmi, the reviews leave about the same. Tourists admire the beauty of these places, the variety of attractions, but speak coolly about exorbitant prices. There are statements about insufficiently clean water on the beaches, as well as about negro hucksters interfering with rest. Some who have vacationed here in past years note some shortcomings, which, of course, is quite normal, but in general the resort is wonderful and there are much more positive reviews. The restaurants cook very tasty, the hotels try their best to please, the streets are beautiful and perfectly clean, and there are such landscapes around that capturespirit.
