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VIAREGGIO

The popular seaside town of Viareggio is situated on the Tuscany coast. Viareggio and the resorts “Torre del Lago Puccini”, “Lido di Camaiore”, “Marina di Pietrasanta” makeup about 20 kilometers of the Versilian Riviera (or Riviera della Versilia).
Viareggio has most of the usual attractions of a typical Italian seaside resort.
The town’s symbol, heart of its history, is the “Torre Matilde”, built by the Senate of Lucca in 1550. In 1601 Viareggio, that was already a township, was declared a free port, and in 1617 it became the chieftown in the Vicaria del Litorale (the coastal viacariate).
The birth of the first bathing establishment dates back to 1823. We owe the building of Viale dei Tigli to Maria Borbone, through which she could reach the centre, leaving from her villa situated in the East pinewood. In fact, the touristic activity began in Viareggio right in this period. Many men of culture stopped for a time in this area: the poet Percy B.Shelley, Lord Byron, Manzoni, Puccini and D’Annunzio.
The city is 23.76 miles to Pisa, 17.67 miles to Massa, 29.87 miles to Livorno, and 59.5 miles to Firenze.
The 3 Km modern promenade, where the parade takes place, is one of the focal point of the city, characterized by shops, cafes, refreshment points and Liberty style buildings.
Viareggio is now a tourist seaside resort with beaches and hotels boast ancient tradition.

Carnival of Viareggio 

Carnival of Viareggio celebrating 139 years of life and activity under the sign of a vivid tradition such as the long – established European tradition of Carnival festivals, is no doubt one of the best known events in Italy.
Carnival of Viareggio since it was born it has been acquiring a strong touristic value and attracts every year more than one million spectators gathering to attend the magic of the great parade of big floats in papier – maché.
In 2012, the usual five carnival masked parades are planned for February 5th, 12th 19th 21th 26th and March, 3th, on the extraordinary Liberty style staging along the seaside avenues of Viareggio. Every evening, there are carnival celebrations in all of the city’s different quarters.
Real travelling theatres – the allegorical papier-maché floats are the product of the unequalled creativity, of the extraordinary sculpture and painting skill of Viareggio ‘magicians’, and are the highest example of this popular art whose language has spread all over the world.
The parades take place in a ring-like circuit 2 km. long, on the seaside avenues of Viareggio, best known as La Passeggiata.
Here the floats move among the spectators, who can attend the show with no barriers, becoming in turn the protagonists of the parade.
During the Carnival period, Viareggio and his Passeggiata change into a true open air Museum where people coming from all over the world meet to enjoy together.
The parades also include folkloristic bands and performers with the most original masks, offering excitement, culture and tradition in a wide programme of entertainment and fun for children and adults

Applied Rates 
Cars

Daily ticket to pay in advance € 8 per car, from 8 am to 7 pm. By:

• Terrazza della Repubblica: parking spaces next to Viale Belluomini , included parking space facing north bounded by Fosso dell’ Abate and on south by Terrazze parking space.
• Via Bixio: parking areas situated in seaside parking space.

Tourist Coaches
Daily ticket to pay in advance € 40,00 per coach, from 8 am to 7 pm, by Piazzale Paolo VI. The stop is allowed only for tourist coaches.

Caravan and Autocaravan
Daily ticket to pay in advance € 12 per vehicle, from 8 am to 7 pm by seaside piazzale Via Bixio.
The stop is allowed from 4 pm of the day before the parade till 10 pm of the day of the parade.
Via Bixio, facing mountain: not allowed to stop for the 2 m higher vehicles.

Parade Programm – Masked Parade

5th February
at 3 pm

12th February
at 3 pm

19th February
at 3 pm

21th February
at 3 pm

26th February
at 3 pm

3th March
at 7 pm

Ticket prices

Daily ticket € 15,00

Groups ticket (min 25 pax)
€ 13,00; every 25 persons, one free entrance.

Military and Children age 11 – 13 -€ 10,00
Numbered seats
€ 15,00 – (in addition to entrance ticket)

Children till 10 years old – free entrance