Forte Dei Marmi – Coastal Culture, Dunes and Art

Forte dei Marmi combines coastal landscapes with history, art and regional traditions. If you are travelling with different interests, you will find a range of contrasting points of interest here: a historic fortification, marble works, museums, protected dunes and a route that begins at the pier.

History and the Pier

The Forte Lorenese, also known as Il Fortino, was built in 1788 at the behest of Leopold I, Grand Duke of Tuscany, as a fortification. The structure gave Forte dei Marmi its name and is now an important reference point for the town’s history. The original pier also dates back to 1788. Giovanni Costantini designed it with a width of five metres and a length of 325 metres. Today, the pier serves as a meeting place for fishermen, artists, residents and visitors. The Fortino Leopoldo I hosts exhibitions and cultural activities throughout the year. The historic building therefore represents not only the origin of the town’s name, but also an ongoing cultural programme. Another cultural focus is the Museo della satira e della caricatura. It preserves, collects and researches materials relating to the global history of satire and caricature, holds an extensive collection of contemporary and historical satirical drawings, and presents changing exhibitions according to an annual calendar.

Marble, Churches and Museums

In Vittoria Apuana, the church was built from 1926 to 1933 and dedicated to Saint Francis. The window frames, floors, columns and altar are made of marble from the nearby Apuan Alps. In front of the Church of San Francesco stands a sculpture by Arturo Dazzi, unveiled in 1962 in the artist’s presence. It was carved from a single block of marble and depicts Saint Francis speaking with the wolf. The Ugo Guidi Museum is also located in Vittoria Apuana, in the artist’s former home, where he lived until his death on 10 July 1977. The collection comprises more than 500 sculptures and drawings and documents Ugo Guidi’s artistic development from the 1940s through the final years of his work. A prior appointment is required for a visit – an important difference from the year-round cultural offerings scheduled in other places. The 19th-century Villa Bertelli in Vittoria Apuana houses the Quarto Platano Museum of Modern Art. It also hosts music series, discussion programmes, book presentations and exhibitions throughout the year. The Fondazione Villa Bertelli also organises indoor and outdoor events year-round.

Dunes, Wetland and a Route

The Dune di Forte dei Marmi combine natural dunes with a dune-back forest. The area is the only flat wetland in northern Tuscany and, at the same time, the only section of the entire Tuscan coast with this combination. The WWF Dune di Forte dei Marmi Oasis is a remaining habitat for typical sand plants of the northern Tuscan coast, which have almost disappeared there. A section near Forte dei Marmi described in the itinerary “Vittoria Apuana, le dune e il lago di Porta” has been part of the protected Dune di Forte dei Marmi nature area since 2008. The itinerary begins at the pier and can be travelled by bicycle or car. The protected Lago di Porta wetland borders the itinerary area directly. Thus, the described route brings together the pier, dune landscape and wetland without requiring these landscapes to be combined into a single natural area.

Regional Traditions

Tordelli are part of the culinary tradition: crescent-shaped, fresh filled pasta served with plenty of meat sauce. In Forte dei Marmi, they are traditionally served on festive days, as they are in Seravezza, Camaiore, Pietrasanta, Viareggio and Massarosa. The patronal celebrations of Sant’Ermete include market stalls and fireworks at the pier. In this way, the central coastal landmark is also connected with a local festive tradition. If you would like to extend your trip beyond Forte dei Marmi, you can also discover [Piaggiori](Piaggiori), [Capannori](Capannori), [Vallico di Sotto](Vallico di Sotto), [Torre](Torre), [Gallicano](Gallicano), [Verciano](Verciano) and [Lucca](Lucca).

More about the destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Forte dei Marmi: Accommodation and Attractions - Versilia - Travel and Living in Tuscany (Italy).

To the higher-level travel overview: Lucca.