Viareggio
Viareggio is a town in the province of
Lucca situated on the coast of the
Tyrrhenian Sea in the north of
Tuscany,
Italy.
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Channel port of Viareggio. |
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.
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.
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Torre Matilde (1541), a Lucchese fortification against the menace of Muslim pirate attacks.
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.
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The famous carnival parade in Viareggio. |
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Another picture from this colorful event. |
One of the most famous
Carnival celebrations in
Italy is held here, featuring enormous floats that sometimes satirize current political events.
The port city is home and one of the main bases for super-yacht builder
Azimut-
Benetti*
Viareggio official website*
Viareggio's website*
Versilia*
Original photos and comments about Carnival at Viareggio, Tuscany, Italy
