Viareggio in winter

Viareggio in winter
Viareggio
Nel blu
Magazine: February 2008

Though Viareggio attracts tourists in summer it also has a lot to offer in the “off season”. A sea of relaxation in elegance with all those wonderful Liberty villas, made all the more enjoyable by fine cooking thanks to the generous Tyrrhenian Sea teeming with fish, and some excellent local recipes such as caciucco alla versiliana (fish stew), mixed fry and octopus salad. There are plenty of nice bars and clubs for nightlife. The calm of Viareggio in winter gets interrupted no matter what by the most anticipated event of the year, the famed Carnival, which got its start 135 years ago with a first edition complete with floats made of wood and jute. It is so well loved that a Little Carnival Village of structures has actually been set up where the magnificent floats (today made of papier-mâché), the pride and joy of the event, are built. The event organisation involves all of Viareggio for months until the main centre of Versilia opens its doors to tourists and onlookers attracted by the festivities, which wraps up around 30 days later with a huge fireworks display. The real authentic side of the event can be found wandering around town streets: market stalls, bars all decorated, and food stands offering incredible delicacies…all of it reviving the feeling of a classic village fair.