Cities of Italy:
FORTE DEI MARMI By:
www.italiapervoi-casa.it
Position Forte dei Marmi is a community of the Italian region of Tuscany, situated on the northern coast of the province Lucca and borders with Massa Carrara. The town is surrounded by the Apuan Alps and belongs together with the cities Viareggio, Pietrasanta, Camaiore, Serravezza and Stazzema to the so called historic Versilia. Forte dei Marmi (in Italian „Fort of the marbles“) is one of the most popular seaside resorts on the Tyrrhenian Sea and takes its name from two important features of the town. The first word „forte“ (fortress) comes from the homonymous military building, the fortress called Fortino, that rises in the middle of the main square, the second word, „marmi“ instead refers to the marble, which has been extracted from the quarries and sent to the pier for shipping. Forte dei Marmi belongs to the most popular tourist destinations in Tuscany, with a high quality of life and many modern clubs, discotheques and marvelous sandy beaches. This is the reason why the town is annual holiday destination for famous people from Italy and abroad.
How to arrive By boat: the closest harbor is in Viareggio with six landings even for bigger boats. Smaller harbors areCinquale and Marina di Carrara. For those arriving from the north: land in the harbor of Bocca di Magra and go on for 20-30 minutes by car (highway or country road) or by train until Forte. By Airplane: The closest airport is Galileo Galilei in Pisa, about 25km from the town.
In contrast to the destinations in Liguria, we recommend to stop over on the international airport Leonardo da Vinci of Roma-Fiumicino, which is closer to Tuscany than the airport of Milan. Furthermore there is a small hobby airport in Cinquale, in the community of Montagnoses (MS), where tourists have the possibility to enjoy wonderful views of Versilia from the air. By car: Forte dei marmi is connected by highways in all directions. The highway exit (Versilia) is on the A12 between Viareggio and Massa Carrara. For those arriving from south: drive on the A1 until Florence, take the Firenze Mare and then Livorno Genova A12 until the highway exit. For those arriving from north: drive on the A1 until Parma, take the CISA A15 to S.Stefano and go on the Genova Livorno until the exit of Massa-Versilia. In high season we recommend to travel by train. It is possible to get of at the stations of Pietrasanta and Forte dei Marmi or one of the nearby stations as Querceta, Seravezza and Stazzema. The direct trains Frecciabianca from Rome or Milan reach Viareggio in only 3 hours.
History The romans called Versilia “Fosse Papiriane“. At that time the whole area between the mountains and the sea was a large swamp, unexplored and worthless land, with only a few exceptions, the iron and lead mines, similar to the island of Elba. Even Forte die marmi was swampy land and for a long time uninhabited. The town developed only in the 16th century, when Michelangelo, by order from pope Leon, planned a street to transport marble from the mountains to the sea. The small village has been for a long time domicile for craftsmen, furthermore the port was very
important fort the marble transportation. The marble store of Cosimo dei Medici is one of the first historically listed building, which can still be visited today on the province street. In the 18th century the land reclamation favored a slow demographic increase, but only in the end of the 18th century, when the fortress (Forte Lorense) a defence point against pirate raids, was completed, the city was settled under the watching eye of the fortress. Thus, the area began to be known as Forte dei Marmi (The Fortress of Marble. The glory of Forte dei Marmi is owed to the tourism which started at the end of the 18th century when the rich families of the inland went to the coast to sunbath. The town of Forte dei Marmi was for a long time under the administration of the community Pietrasanta, but could later declare its independence.
Transport In the ancient narrow alleys of the town, shops for all tastes can be found. This is the reason why it is recommended to leave the car in the hotel, or even better to leave the car at home and travel by train or airplane instead. Especially in high season it is difficult to find free parking spots, moreover they cost a lot. During the day and during the night, the center, where young people from Tuscany, other Italian regions and from whole Europe come together in clubs, is car free. Many pubs and boutiques are open until late at night and invite to a last minute acquisition or a quick drink. Beside its historic monuments, Forte is known for its vibrant nightlife and discotheques. This is the reason why the night busses of the company Vaibus connect all villages of Viareggio to Lucca. During the day the
bus companies Clap and Lazzi connect the center of the village to the suburb. The bicycle lane leads almost without any interruptions toViareggio, passing Marina di Pietrasanta and Lido di Camaiore. It is a perfect possibilty to spend a relaxing afternoon in the nature. A walk at the promenade under pine trees and colorful oleanders offers a great view of the marvelous coast, which has been certified several times with the blue flag .Furthermore we recommend to rent a car to visit the nearby cities as Pisa, Arezza and Florence which cannot be missed during a stay in Tuscany.
Nature After the land reclamation the climate, of the once swampy area in Forte dei Marmi has changed. The completely plain land, directly at the sea, is known for its healthy air in the summer, which is cleaned in the winter by the cold winds sirocco and Mistral. Although there are not many public parks, the town has lots of green areas, because of its wonderful alleys. Forte dei Marmi offers a breath-taking landscape where Mediterranean and alpine flora meet. Characteristic for this area are evergreen marquis, myrtle, lavender, oak forests and durmast oaks. Two-fifth of Tuscany’s land is covered with forest and it is the most densely wooded region of Italy. The farmers hunt wild boars and foxes, but do not neglect the sighting of wolves in the area of Maremma. The ring road, between Stazzema and Garfagnana, passing the cottage Forte dei Marmi in the heart of the Apuan Alps, underlines the closeness of sea and mountains. The Grotta del vento, among smooth rock faces and subterranean rivers in the mountains, is another place worth being seen. From the top of the mountains down to the sea, the beach of Forte dei Marmi which
consists of fine sand and seems to be the perfect continuation of a gentle and soft landscape. The sea is clear and limpid and in contrast to the ligurian Riviera, there are is no deep water close to the coast.
The cuisine of Forte dei Marmi The regional Tuscan dishes are similar to the ones from Liguria, because the traditional food is mostly prepared using simple and fresh, seasoned ingredients from the garden, just as in Liguria. For the first courses in the area of Lucca vegetable and legumes are used, for the second courses instead the main ingredients are rabbits, fish and pork, which could always be easily found on farms. The grain soup with bacon and the spring soup called Garmaugia, made of onions, peas, artichokes, asparaguses and fresh field beans are typical dishes. Tordelli is homemade pasta, filled with beef, pork, bread and spices. The roasted dried cod with chickpeas and the rabbit prepared in a pan with tomatoes and onions are some more traditional recipes which are faithful to the Tuscan cuisine. There are many typical desserts as Castagnaccio, a cake prepared with chestnut flour, nuts, pine nuts, raisins, and olive oil and the Buccellato, a cake from Lucca made of, flour, eggs, anise and raisins. In the Tuscan hills there are lots of oil mills and bakeries, a real paradise for all gourmets. The local wines are made for discerning palates: the red wine Colline Lucchesi should be served with first courses as pasta with ragout or roast pork, the Merlot and the Sangiovese instead accent the tastes of olive oil or cheese as the Marzolino and the sheep’s milk cheese from Peinza.
Monuments and places to see The high quality of life and prosperity in Forte die Marmi is not related to marketing strategies of the last years. On the contrary, thanks to its amazing coast and the hospitable and friendly residents, the city has developed for hundreds of years an elite tourism from whole Europe. Soft sandy beaches, renomated restaurants, relax and glamorous evenings are shortly what Forte die Marmi has to offer. The beach is perfect for those who do not like cliffs and prefer swimming cose to the beach. A holiday in Forte die Marmi is ideal for families with children, who do not expect breathtaking nature scenes on the crowded beaches. Only the beaches of Fiumetto and Lido di Camaiore are a little bit less crowded.The resorts are modern and well equipped, there is a wide range of hotels and convenient restaurants close to the beaches. With the first hot days, the clubs, the trade marke of Versilia, are full every evening. The most popular and ancient discotheque is Capannina di Franceschi, in Viale Repubblica close to the sea, followed by the discotheques Bussola and Seven in Marina di Pietrasanta. The urbanism is exemplified. The fortress, Forte Lorenese, which has already been mentioned before, even called fortino, is an exemplary, four sided military building made of two structures. It was an important defence point against pirate raids, built by the Lorena family in the 18th cen-
tury, together with the fortresses Forte di Castagneto and Forte di Bibbona for sighting and defence. The fortress is now a museum of satirical art, with collections of the most famous Italian illustrators. On the way to Piazza Garibaldi, we meet Arturos Dazzi’s statue of liberty, the marble fountain and the old cistern. On the way to the sea, it is still possible to visit the old crane, which was used for the marble transport from the continent on the big ships, a sight which remembers of ancient times. The exclusive residential area, Roma Imperiale, with amazing villas, has been planned by Giovanni Michelucci and is unique. Among the villas there is even Villa Agnelli, property of the famous Agnelli family, who spent their summer vacations in this area and now part of the Augustus Hotel Lido.
munity gets an award and is allowed to organize the competition of the following year. From the fifties on, during the last week of august, the lifeguards organize another palio, a rowing regatta. Furthermore there are lots of trekking and hiking trails, playing fields, golf courses and football grounds. At the coast you can find lots of sailing schools and it is possible to practice wind- and kitesurf. Kayak and Canoe can be practiced in the inland. This sport is attractive not only for extreme athletes, but even for all adventurous people who want to enjoy the beauty of the nature and forests of Camaiore and Colli di Luni. Another popular sight is the antiques market along the shopping street Vittoria Apuana.
Accommodations, tourism and events
This short chapter of the real estate market of Forte dei Marmi and its possible developments focuses on market analysis studies and not on the general economic crisis of the last years and shows that the real property prices in this area have not decreased. Lots of wealthy northern Italians from Lombardy, Emilia Romagna and Tuscany as affluent Russians have contributed to keep the prices of Villas and apartments high. The market in Forte dei Marmia does not have the same destiny with other Italian regions. On the one hand there are very few families who actually want to sell properties in the town, and on the other hand the international reputation of the town ensures the price stability on the market. This price stability in a financial crisis of the whole real property market, makes an acquisition more interesting. But there is a disadvantage: Demand and supply move in opposite directions, lots of Italian nuclear families are looking for two-,
Forte dei Marmi is even known for traditional folk festivals, which are connected to the local culture. The celebrations of the saints Hermes and Francis reflect the character of the inhabitants. The first celebration lasts for several days. Concerts and competitions are organized in honour of the town’s patron. The second celebration with its market stands is held in honour of saint Francis. Forte dei Marmi takes part at the donkey race, Palio dei Micci, a nice traditional event (less known as Siena’s Palio). During the competition eight donkeys ridden by jockeys, race against each other. The rivals come from eight different districts and participate in honour of their community. The winner com-
Real property market
three-, or maximum four room apartments, while Russians are interested in big villas with large gardens, to hide the swimming pool. The urban norms are not able satisfy those demands. Those disadvantages slow down the real estate market of Forte dei Marmi, which could be much more active. The average price of apartments is around 9000 Euro per square meter and indicates a price decrease of 10 per cent compared to 2 years ago, the average price of the villas instead is 11000 Euro per squaremeter which indicates a price increase of 10 per cent compared to 2 years ago. The prices depend on position, distance to the sea and age of the property. It is important to know that about 75 per cent of the buildings have been built more than 30 years ago. In the rexclusive residential area Roma Imperiale, the prices are very different from each other and often influenced by the special requests of the russian investors: properties with big living space and huge gardens and they are ready to spend big money to satisfy their wishes. This is the reason why even a small estate market, as the one of Forte dei Marmi, is influenced by this new trend.
Surroundings The town Forte dei Marmi is not only known for its fortune in history and the eventful nightlife. Not far from the city, you can find lots of historically important places, which range from Versilia to Lunigiana, the heart of the best preserved medieval castles. Pietrasanta, Lucca and Pisa are at least as interesting as La Spezia and Sarzana, a small town, situated only a few kilometers from the provincial capital. The amazing sandy beaches can be compared with breathtaking cliffs of Cinque Terre. Driving along the Via Aurelia Forte die Marmi or passing Florentine churches, Forte dei Marmi calls the attention of all travelers. No wonder why the fascinating town is visited annually by thousands of tourists.