VISIT VIAREGGIO
When thinking of Viareggio three things come immediately to mind- the expansive sandy beaches, great selection of shops on the main strip, and its Carnival. It’s true, Viareggio is most widely known for its miles of sandy beaches and availability of surfable waves, but there is also a wide range of cultural elements to enjoy after you’ve had your fill of ocean.
VIAREGGIO DURING WINTER AND SUMMER
There is quite a difference between winter and summer in Viareggio. It is such a well known beach that a great number of people flock to its cooling waves during the summer months where temperatures can reach muggy and uncomfortable heights; however, there is a drastic drop in tourism during the winter when the weather becomes cold and rainy. The city primarily grew because of its wide array of seafood and ease of fishing, but its beaches really saw a rise in popularity when they started being thought of as a great place to ‘see and be seen.’ As you can imagine, there is main strip which features many designer clothes shops and a large night life to go with it.
VIAREGGIO CARNIVAL
The celebration of Carnival has taken place during February and March every year since 1873 in the weeks before Mardis Gras (or Fat Tuesday) as a celebration reigning in the Catholic Easter season during. It is celebrated throughout Italy, but people absolutely flock to the city of Viareggio to kick off its annual festival of ‘Carnevale.’ The streets are flooded by little children and adults alike who take the opportunity to dress in period costumes or wear masks, to eat cenci (a traditional fried crisp treat sprinkled with powdered sugar for Carnival) and enjoy the happy crowd of people gathered to celebrate the season and watch giant, intricate floats drive by. The celebration started in 1873 to reign in the Lenten season- one last string of parties before the 40 day fast leading to Easter – and has since obtained something of a cult following. There are those who are very, very into the festival and some look forward to this celebration all year- taking time to carefully plan and create satirical or fantastical floats that often times poke fun or call attention to politicians and current events.
Read more about Viareggio on AboutVersilia.com
