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The Territory
Pietrasanta
Pietrasanta has always been an important cultural centre in Versilia. The important artisan tradition has been kept alive by the local workshops and atelier, by the firms specialized in the artistic-mosaic sector and by many artistic-foundries. The rich artistic context has functioned as catalyst for many italian and foreigner artist that have chosen Pietrasanta as the land where to work and have participated to the urban fittings with the works and deeds of gifts. Among these artists is Fernando Botero, the Spanish artist whose paunchy warrior guards the entrance to the village. The best observation-point to watch Pietrasanta's town-planning plant is Sala fortress.
Marina di Pietrasanta
As a seaside resort Marina di Pietrasanta has a peculiarity: it owns, in an harmonious whole, the most beautiful natural beauties. Each of these, if considered by itself, could be vaunt of every tourist resort. The sea, the beach, the pinewoods and the mountains are the elements that, in a range of few kms, offer a wonderful landscape in an atmosphere of quite relax. Marina di Pietrasanta comprehends Focette, Motrone, Tonfano and Fiumetto (from the south to the north).
Seravezza
It is a city located and delimited by the Serra and Vezza torrents, at the bottom of the Apuan Alps and at the bottom of a rather steep valley. The territory of the city borders with Stazzema on the North-East and with Pietrasanta on the South-East. It is 7 Km from Forte dei Marmi, 3 km from Pietrasanta and 12 km from Stazzema, with which it is connected by bus lines. The nearest train station is at its hamlet Querceta. It is also close to the motorway A12, through its Versilia exit.
Forte dei Marmi
A seaside resort among the most popular Tyrrhenian ones, Forte dei Marmi is located around a jetty set up during the sixteenth century to ship the apuan marbles. Since 1788 this has been sheltered through an outpost which had been built by Leopoldo I and is still visible in the middle of Garibaldi Square. Just about every european noble but also diplomats, businness-men and managers, artists and V.I.P.s had their bautiful villas, protected by the greenery of the pinewoods, built in this zone. Moreover they chose its sandy beaches to spend their holidays and to relax themselves.
Lucca
The city of Ilaria, the unfortunate bride. Lots and lots are the definitions of Lucca, one of the more distinguished italian cities comparable to a costly case containing invaluable historic and artistic treasures. Mario Tobino's is the definition we prefer: "Why do you love Lucca so much? Because it is a village. Although its marbles, its sky is light.". These two lines underline the integrity of a historical-centre perfectly enclosed by a town-wall that has always been kept intact. Moreover this definition stresses the quality of the monuments characterizing this place and the strong emotion they arouse with their vertical and silhouetted against the sky profile. St. Martin Cathedral, St. Michael in Foro Church ( the heart of this town) or St. Frediano Church are examples of the architecture typical of Pisa and Lucca.
The Five Lands
The charm of the hill overhanging the sea, a wonderful choreography that seems to have been designed by a romantic painter who traced an extremely intense painting, a treasure, vaunt of the Province of La Spezia, destination for tourists from all over the world. Houses and paths suspended between the earth and the sky, make it a natural beauty unique also because kept intact and faithful to the nautical tradition. Our journey in the beautiful places characterizing The Five Lands, starts from Brugnato motorway's exit. Then, trespassing Borgetto Vara, Pignone, we'll reach Monterosso, the first of the five little villages. The arrival is made much more suggestive by the peculiar nature of this place, got out of the rocks. The tourist is welcomed by the Statue of the Giant (a Neptune rested to the cliff to guard the sea). Then Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Rio Riomaggiore. These places are jointed by the so called "The Lovers' road": this is the most romantic and suggestive image of an extremely fascinating natural fresco.