Voices from the past

Forte dei Marmi is considered the jewel of Versilia for its beauty. Until 1914 the town was part of the nearby Pietrasanta; its history is relatively brief and its origins as a settlement are tied into Michelangelo Buonarroti's artistic activity. The area was a swampy and uninhabited area for some time, then in the 1500's it started growing economically. From 1513, Leone XIII grants Florence the Captaincy of Pietrasanta forcing the great sculptor to give up Carrara's marbles in favour of the Seravezza deposits. Forte dei Marmi therefore became the main marble deposit in the area. For many years the only buildings in the area were indeed a loading wharf to transport materials and a warehouse. Officially, the city was founded by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo throughout the 1700's, and was famous during those times as a customs house and a defensive centre. The town started to attract the first tourists during the 1800s, and after the second world war it became one of Italy's most exclusive holiday resorts.

Don't miss...

The first, very important construction in Forte dei Marmi is the Marble Warehouse, built by Cosimo de' Medici in 1618 and its remains are still visible on the Strada Provinciale. The most important and representative monument is La Fortezza, whence the town's name, built in 1788 by order of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Leopoldo I di Lorena to make the area safer and favour the forming of a village. Near the Fortezza, in Piazza Garibaldi, there is another work that is much beloved by the local population, a delightful well dating back to the 18th century. In the sea there is still the ancient wharf that was used to send off marble blocks to the most diverse destinations and which extends out to sea for 300 metres offering a splendid view of the city. The overall city structure is quite interesting and the "Roma Imperiale" neighbourhood is particularly interesting, with villas built by the best Italian architects in the 1900s.

Events

Artistic events are held mostly during the summer, when the town is filled with tourists and there is something happening every day. From classic proposals at the Teatro della Versiliana to the Festival Puccini. The open air theatre of P.zza Dante also offers many kinds of shows during the summer. Also interesting is the theatre for children of the Gruppo di Teatro per ragazzi Favolanti which tells classic stories in an innovative way, using puppets and marionettes.