'I went to the tiny Italian town 2 hours from London that is known as 'the playground for the rich' and it felt like I was in a movie'
09.06.2022 - 23:33
/ msn.com
extremely busy, and one day of exploring is plenty. While most visitors to Tuscany tend to head straight for Florence, Pisa and the Chianti wine country, there is so much more to discover in what is arguably the most-loved region in Italy, and I was on a mission to find the best “unknown” spots.
So, I made my way to Forte dei Marmi, which is 30 minutes on the train from Pisa, or if you are driving, a 40-minute journey. READ MORE: Latest travel rules for France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Greece and Turkey Known as Tuscany’s chicest seaside resort, Forte dei Marmi’s spectacular setting between the majestic, marble-rich Apuan Alps, and the Mediterranean sea is something that separates it from the rest of the Versilia.
And for those that have never heard of The Versilia (just like me before my trip), it forms part of the province of Lucca (a MUST visit for those in the area), set right between the mountains and the coastline in northwestern Tuscany, and includes cities and towns like Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio. I quickly realised that above all else, Forte dei Marmi is a resort aimed at the extremely wealthy, and it is often called ‘the playground for the rich’.
It has become extremely popular in recent years, with royalty, politicians, and celebrities - with the likes of Giorgio Armani, Andrea Bocelli and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy- all owning holiday homes there. In winter the town's population is about 7,000; and in summer, it swells to about 150,000, with most staying in their own private villas.
However, the resort is not just made for those with holiday homes. It is filled with beautiful hotels, Michelin star restaurants, beach clubs, and a beautiful “high street”
.