Today, we did the most Italian thing - we took the train to the beach. We went to Viareggio. It is located off the Ligurian Sea, West of Florence and South of Cinque Terre. La Spezia is the most southern city at the beginning of Cinque Terre.
The train ride was uneventful - and easy! Viareggio is a lovely town with lots to see. Bonus, they host a pretty interesting Carnavale. They even have a museum! There are images along the boardwalk showing the different floats from earlier this year.
Beaches here are enjoyed a little differently than in the States. Most beaches have 'clubs' where you rent a chair or two and an umbrella. This also normally garners you access to changing rooms, a clean bathroom and generally a bar/restaurant type establishment. Each one in each region is different. They have levels of service. They do have free beach sections, so it is not all pay to play. Since a lot of people enjoy the beach via train, this works out nicely as you don't have to lug a ton of stuff with you. We chose the basic club where you get the umbrella and chairs but you do not get towels or chairside service. For reference, this was under 30euro for the day.
We had a lovely time even tho it was colder than Italians like. We enjoyed the serenity and the sandy beach. A lot of beaches in Italy are pebble or rock beaches. Stay tuned for 2 other beaches on this trip.
Art and culture in and around Viareggio is plentiful. The main streets leading to the beach have these lovely pavers. Because parking is at a premium here - mostly because of Carnivale - you see a number of space saving cars.
I enjoyed the streets and the numerous historic letter boxes which come in a variety of shapes. Some are still used today and others are purely decorative.
Love me some flowing vines. The boardwalk is very large and accommodates pedestrian traffic. There is a bike lane near the street as well.
Translation for the memorial sign below:
NIGO CHAMPIONS
Team Admiral
Gold Medal for Military Valor
Reason for connection:
Governor and Commander of the Armed Forces of the Italian Aegean Islands he found himself, in the crucial period of the armistice, at the head of one of the most difficult, distant and vulnerable chess boards. Having fallen into enemy hands following occupation of the command headquarters, he refused repeatedly to collaborate with it and in any case to join an illegal government.Tried and convicted by an extraordinary tribunal for having followed the orders received from the legitimate authorities and for having kept his oath as a soldier, he maintained a proud and firm demeanor refusing to sign the request for pardon and to give even formal membership to the Italian social republic until the supreme sacrifice of life. He fell commanding the firing squad himself, after declaring that one must know how to offer one's life to one's country at any time, because there is nothing higher and more sacred than the homeland.
CPS Decree, 9 November 1947
Lorenzo Viani is a Viareggio, homegrown, poet, writer, engraver and painter. They have an art gallery here that has the largest collection of his works.
Viareggio has an inlet that goes from the Ligurian to the 'middle' of town. There is quite an extensive number and variety of boats in the harbor as well as statues for remembrance as well as protection.
Along the shoreline, there were a number of remembrance plaques for people who had perished at sea.
Street Art:
All in all, would recommend. 10/10.
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