It is suggested to walk this short itinerary in the center of Forte dei Marmi, or to use a bicycle for the most distant stretch. The walk on the pier, from where you can admire the view of the sea, the coast from the islands of La Spezia to Viareggio and the Apuan Alps, is forbidden to vehicles and bicycles. It is here that on August 28th every year a grand fireworks display is offered, on the occasion of the celebrations of the town's patron saint, Sant'Ermete.

In the circular square at the beginning of the pier, admire the bronze work 'Controvento', created by the sculptor Anna Chromy to represent the helmsman sailing towards the unknown. Crossing the Viale a Mare towards the pine forest, you will come across the remains of the Mancina, the crane once positioned at the top of the pier for loading blocks of marble onto the ships. The name 'Mancina' is due to the fact that the rotation of this machine always turned to the left. During the bombing of the pier in the Second World War, the Mancina was destroyed. It was recovered from the seabed a few years ago, and was placed in this square, dedicated to the workers of the sea.

Continue your walk past the pine forest dedicated to Falcone and Borsellino — where a 'pattìno' is on display, the typical Versilia boat that demonstrates the skill of the local caulkers — along Via Spinetti, the main street lined with palm trees, from which you can reach the shops and boutiques in the center. A few more meters to reach Piazza Garibaldi, the historic center of the town, where the Fortino and the Pozzo stand. The basin, which served as a watering place for the animals that transported stone from the mountains to the sea, is still in the square today and is surmounted by the statue of Victory by Arturo Dazzi. Also admire the beautiful Fountain, donated by the Municipality of Pietrasanta as a source of drinking water; and the work 'La figlia del sole', by the famous sculptor Pomodoro. Musical events and shows are held in the square, including the Focata to celebrate the patron saint Sant'Ermete. Take advantage of the many benches for a pleasant break, or enjoy a breakfast or an aperitif in the famous Caffè Quarto Platano (now Caffè Roma), where at the beginning of the 20th century intellectuals, artists and writers such as Carrà, Dazzi, Pea used to meet.

Continuing from Piazza Garibaldi towards the north, you reach the beautiful gardens of Piazza Dante in front of the building constructed in 1922 and now home to the Town Hall of Forte dei Marmi. In the center of the square, the suggestive sculpture in travertine marble dedicated to the fallen of all wars.

From Piazza Garibaldi, instead, heading south, go past Caffè Principe to reach Palazzo Quartieri. The building is now home to the Tourist Information Office of the Municipality of Forte dei Marmi and the Municipal Library: recently renovated to offer cutting-edge multimedia services and host cultural events, its collection offers constantly updated readings and in-depth local history. Palazzo Quartieri overlooks the characteristic Piazza Marconi, an asphalt ring that surrounds a shaded pine forest, where there are also children's rides. Here, every Wednesday of the year and on Sundays in the summer, the renowned street market of Forte dei Marmi takes place. Continue to a small square: it is a charming corner of the town, where there is a marble sculpture-bench, created by Rosalba Gilardi in homage to the poet and writer Eugenio Montale. From here, head towards the sea and arrive at the famous nightclub La Capannina di Franceschi, a popular meeting place since the early 1900s.

Return to the Pontile along the promenade named after Achille Franceschi, the first owner of the Capannina, who gave impetus to post-war tourism in Forte dei Marmi. Along the avenue, admire the celebratory bust of the local actor Renato Salvatori, who achieved fame on the movie screens.

Un affaccio nel cuore della bellezza

Il pontile di forte dei marmi è una passeggiata sul mare tra passato e presente.

Affettuosamente chiamato il 'Ponte' dai locali, si erge come un'icona maestosa, testimone silenzioso della bellezza intramontabile di questa località costiera. Questa struttura, sospesa tra cielo e mare, rappresenta una sorta di connessione tra il patrimonio naturale e la vivacità della vita cittadina.

Giungendo alla sua estremità, ci si trova di fronte a un panorama mozzafiato, una sinfonia di blu che si perde all'orizzonte nel Mar Tirreno. L'orizzonte aperto invita a sognare, mentre il suono delle onde culla l'anima, regalando un senso di pace e serenità. In questo luogo, il tempo sembra fermarsi, consentendo a chiunque vi si avvicini di immergersi nell'essenza tranquilla del mare.

Rivolgendosi verso l'entroterra, lo sguardo si perde nelle imponenti Alpi Apuane, maestose guardiane che abbracciano il paesaggio e offrono un contrasto affascinante al blu del mare.

Memoria di un simbolo affondato nei racconti del mare

On the Forte dei Marmi seafront, a story shrouded in mystery and the majesty of the sea is intertwined with the ancient 'Mancina', a powerful and iconic iron crane placed on the Pontile Caricatore way back in 1877. This majestic crane, so called because it only turned to the left, represented a fundamental part of the port life of Forte dei Marmi, skilfully used to deposit precious cargoes in the holds of ships.

The epic of the 'Mancina' took a dramatic turn in September 1943, when the German armed forces occupied the area. The 'Pontile Caricatore', considered a possible support for enemy troops, was mercilessly demolished. In this sad chapter of local history, the 'Mancina' met its end, sinking into the sea, as if the waters themselves wanted to guard the memory of a bygone era.

The crane, once the undisputed protagonist of the bustling port activity, thus became a submerged symbol, a silent relic of an era that saw a succession of crucial historical events.

The first recovery initiative took place in September 1986 by divers Giuseppe Lottini and Enrico Boncompagni. On 24 November 1993, Giuseppe Foffa, President of the Association of Sea Workers, resumed the operation in order to create a monument to the memory of the Mancina which was in fact inaugurated on 1 May 1995, designed by the architect Tito Salvatori. Among the promoters are: Emilio Barberi, Gold Medal for Military Valor, Captains Ettore Polacci and Galliano Raffaelli, the Seaman Luciano Figlié and Luciano Luciani.

The monument unites the various finds, half destroyed and broken (the main axis, the gear castle and part of a cogwheel). The marble base, installed by Ennio Bazzichi, a building contractor and Knight of the Republic, reproduces in the three white marble bas-reliefs, created by the sculptor Rino Giannini, the arduous work of transporting the marble from the quarries to the sea.

The last operation of the 'Mancina' took place in January 2017 by Sub Versilia Forte dei Marmi and its president Primo Cardini, with an underwater inspection to locate the arm of the old crane that still lies underwater.

Piazza Garibaldi, the beating heart of history and tradition in Forte dei Marmi, is the custodian of testimonies that date back to distant times. Among its most precious gems stands the well, the pride of the square since 1842, the year in which it was placed with the specific mission of supplying departing ships and watering the working animals that, with majestic toil, pulled carts, carriages and stagecoaches loaded with goods and lives to be transported.

This ancient well, still unaltered in its original position, is a symbol of resilience and connection between the past and the present. Imagine the images of sailors and carters who drew fresh water from this well, preparing for their exploits at sea or on land. The history of Forte dei Marmi is carved into the contours of this square, where every stone tells a story of toil, but also of hope and progress.

Guarding this square, in the heart of the 20th century, stands the 1900 fountain. A majestic work that bears the emblem of the Municipality of Pietrasanta and an inscription that reveals the desire of the Municipality to enrich Forte dei Marmi with abundant and healthy water. The Andreotti project, carried out under the guidance of Mayors Puliti and Frullani, materialized in this fountain that, with its fresh drinking water, became a source of rebirth for citizens and visitors to Forte.

Beyond the fountain, nestled outside the Fortino, stands the Monument to Victory, an imposing sculptural work created in 1937 by Arturo Dazzi. The statue, a symbol of glory and sacrifice, stands on a marble basin that once had a different function. That same basin, at the foot of the monument, was a vital watering hole for the oxen and horses that transported stone from the mountains to the sea, an eloquent testimony to the industriousness of those who, with commitment and dedication, forged the history of this community.

Realizzato dai Lorena, è l'edificio-simbolo di Forte dei Marmi.
Nel centro di Forte dei Marmi si erge il fortino, detto anche Forte Lorenese. L'edificio, nato per ragioni difensive, è diventato un vero e proprio simbolo identificativo della città, tanto che, oltre che nel nome, compare rappresentato sullo stemma comunale.

A volere la strategica fortificazione a fine Settecento fu Leopoldo I, Granduca di Toscana, che vide opportuno incrementare la sicurezza lungo la costa. Fino ad allora, infatti, erano solo due i fortini che tutelavano il litorale della zona – uno a Cinquale e l'altro a Motrone – e, visti i crescenti scambi commerciali dovuti all'industria del marmo, si rendeva necessaria una maggior tutela dello scalo, con tanto di un progetto di dogana.

Il programma di Barbolani, Generale Maggiore dei Presidi del Granducato, prevedeva la realizzazione, a partire dal 1785, di una struttura quadrangolare, sovrastata da una terrazza per gli appostamenti delle sentinelle. Tra i vari spazi si prevedevano una scuderia e una rimessa per il foraggio, oltre alle abitazioni per il castellano, il doganiere e il cannoniere.

Oggi le sale del fortino di Forte dei Marmi rivivono attraverso un nuovo uso, grazie alla realizzazione di mostre ed eventi.

In the beating heart of Forte dei Marmi, Piazza Dante Alighieri, also known as Piazza della Rimembranza, stands majestically, a place steeped in history and memory. This square, dedicated to the memory of the fallen of all wars, is the custodian of a unique emotional heritage, hosting the Monument to the Fallen. The sculpture, a masterful work in travertine marble by the sculptor Mario Figliè, stands solemnly as a tangible symbol of gratitude and recognition towards those who sacrificed their lives for their country.

The monument, in addition to representing the courage and sacrifice of the fallen, is part of a fascinating urban context. The nearby gardens, immersed in a green tranquility, become a dynamic place dedicated to exhibition fairs and antique markets. The square, therefore, is not only a place of commemoration, but a crossroads of life and culture.

Completing this fascinating architectural picture is the majestic building that stands on the square. Built in 1922 and initially used as classrooms for the local scientific high school, the building has stood the test of time, maintaining its grandeur and today houses the Forte dei Marmi Town Hall. A symbol of continuity and transformation, the town hall is the administrative heart of the city, while the square that hosts it becomes a place of meeting and reflection.

Forte dei Marmi è un centro dello shopping di rilevanza internazionale, la meta delle compere per turisti internazionali e vip di ogni derivazione: sport, musica, cinema, letteratura, spettacolo.

Lo shopping al Forte non si limita alle boutique dei grandi marchi della moda internazionale che si possono trovare in ogni angolo di mondo: qui si trovano negozi storici, selezioni di prodotti molto particolari, articoli di nicchia e artigianato locale di altissimo livello.

Fare shopping al Forte non è un'esperienza anonima, l'occhio allenato qui saprà trovare oggetti unici e capi di abbigliamento iconici: zoccoli di legno, costumi da bagno vintage, veri e propri marchi di fabbrica del popolo fortemarmino.

Fare acquisti al Forte significa godersi un'atmosfera unica e rilassante.

Non limitatevi a cercare ciò che avete già visto altrove: qui potete scovare nicchie storiche di commercio, negozi che hanno fatto la storia e commercianti che offrono selezioni uniche da generazioni. Le botteghe del Forte offrono il meglio della moda contemporanea, senza mai scordare il proprio territorio e la propria storia.

Fare acquisti al Forte significa godersi un'atmosfera unica e rilassante.

Non limitatevi a cercare ciò che avete già visto altrove: qui potete scovare nicchie storiche di commercio, negozi che hanno fatto la storia e commercianti che offrono selezioni uniche da generazioni. Le botteghe del Forte offrono il meglio della moda contemporanea, senza mai scordare il proprio territorio e la propria storia.

The Municipal Library, established since 1919 in the current site of Piazza Marconi, represents after the recent renovation in 2018 by the architect Michelangelo Chiti a true jewel in the crown for the city. Inspired by the avant-garde models of the Nordic and American countries, it boasts an advanced technological system with tablets and computers and is able to offer innovative and immersive experiences to its users.

The Library has a collection of approximately 17,500 items of various expressions of contemporary culture, divided into modern collections, monographs, periodicals, sound documents, audiovisual documents, periodicals in foreign languages and for the visually impaired.

Inside there are two reading rooms, one of which is specifically designed for children and teenagers from 0 to 13 years old, with custom-made furnishings and a rich library collection specifically for this age group.

The suspended sculpture by sculptor Emanuele Giannelli overlooks the Courtyard, the vertical garden inside the Library, a dedicated space with a bar and comfortable informal seating, capable of hosting small events, book presentations and readings.

L'Icona di Forte dei Marmi

Nacque nel 1929 dall'idea di Achille Franceschi di ripulire un vecchio capanno sulla spiaggia e dotarlo di un banco bar per servire bevande e pasticcini, un grammofono a manovella per allietare i clienti e tavolini sui quali giocare a carte. Il locale riscosse un immediato successo e riuscì ad attirare clientela da tutta la penisola, contribuendo in modo determinante all'esplosione di Forte dei Marmi come meta turistica d'élite.

Nel cuore di Forte dei Marmi, la Capannina di Franceschi è molto più di un locale, è un mito, un simbolo di eleganza e intrattenimento che da decenni incanta residenti e visitatori.

Entrare nella Capannina significa immergersi in un'atmosfera unica, dove il glamour si fonde con la tradizione. I baristi esperti creano cocktail d'eccellenza mentre la musica avvolge l'aria, regalandoti una serata indimenticabile.