Tucked away in Tuscany's northwest corner, beachside resort Forte Dei Marmi is made up of lowrise 1950s villas shaded in green. Tasteful beach huts, picture perfect sand and acres of bicycle lanes make it an idyllic retreat for Italy's
high society. And despite the recent arrival of nouveau riche Russians, Forte has managed to keep the scene discreet and the superyachts at bay.
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01
Essentials
| 01 |
Forte's beach season runs from Easter to early October. Avoid the August crush, if your schedule permits, and book a beach bungalow and lounger for July or September. |
| 02 |
Forte's full of chic beach clubs but for that extra touch of class, the attentive service of the Maremmani family at Alaide is unrivalled. |
| 03 |
Cycling is the preferred mode of transport in Forte so hire a vintage Umberto Dei bike at Cicli Maggi and blend in with the locals. |
| 04 |
Exercise your legs as well as your credit card and pedal to Bartoli, a family-run clothing boutique with cult labels in nearby Pietrasanta. |
| 05 |
Reward yourself on the return leg from Pietrasanta with some biscotti from Fortini located at Via della Sipe 10. |
| 06 |
Orlando's might advertise itself as a pizzeria, but it's the focaccia that steals the headlines. |
| 07 |
Beat the heat with ice cream from Gelateria Imperiale di Bascherini on via Cristoforo Colombo. |
| 08 |
Escape the seaside chattering classes engrossed in their weekly gossip rags and hire a boat to Portovenere. |
| 09 |
Keep the trek to the beach short: at the Augustus Hotel request a room in the historic Lido villa. |
| 10 |
After a late night of clubbing, get some pre-dawn treats at Anacleto, which serves hot brioches at 5am. |
02
Hotels
Independent and easy
Logos
153 Via Mazzini
+ 39 0584 880 678
logoshotel.it
Boutique
Hotel Franceschi - Villa Mimosa
11 Via G Galilei
+ 39 0584 787 114
www.hotelfranceschi.com
Premium
Augustus Hotel
169 Viale Morin
+ 39 0584 787 200
augustus-hotel.org
03
Dining
Fast breakfast
Caffè Soldi
4 Via Roma
+39 0584 787 277
Leisurely breakfast
Caffè Milano
17 Viale Morin
+ 39 0584 83143
People watching
Caffè Principe
2 Via Carducci
+ 39 0584 89238
Lunch with friends
Pizzeria Orlando
80 Via C Colombo
+ 39 0584 80763
Picnic supplies
Salumeria Dai Parmigiani
1 Via Mazzini
+ 39 0584 89496
www.daiparmigiani.com
Lunch on the beach
Bagno America
2 Via Arenile
+ 39 0584 83996
bagnoamerica.it
Dinner for two
Ristorante L'Orsa Maggiore
29 Via Arenile
+ 39 0584 82219
www.ristorantelorsamaggiore.com
Dinner with friends
Ristorante Enoteca Marcucci
40 Via Giuseppe Garibaldi
(Pietrasanta)
+ 39 0584 791962
Dinner by the sea
Maitò
28 Via Arenile
+ 39 0584 80940
maitoforte.it
Big dinner with friends
Pizzeria Valè
4 Piazza Garibaldi
+ 39 0584 89361
Drinks after dinner
La Capannina di Franceschi
12 Via della Repubblica
+ 39 0584 80169
lacapanninadifranceschi.it
Late drink
Alma Rosa
89a Viale Morin
+ 39 0584 82503
almarosa.it
Late bite
Anacleto
19a Via Olmi
On the tiles
Seven Apples
Viale Roma 108
+ 39 0584 20458
sevenapples.it
04
Reading
Newsstand
Libreria Giannelli
11 Via Mazzini
+ 39 0584 82867
05
Basics
Tonini Sport (swimsuits, flip-flops, etc for men, women and kids)
13 Via Carducci
+ 39 0584 784040
06
Shopping
Something you can't get anywhere else
Homemade biscotti from Fortini
10 Via della Sipe (Pietrasanta)
+ 39 0584 792711
ifortini.it
Lost luggage - where to buy shirts, socks and underwear
Shops in Via Carducci
Something for the kids
Clothes from Zoe Mini
12 Via G Garibaldi (Pietrasanta)
+ 39 0584 70787
Something for someone you love
Jewellery from Gioielleria
Marchi Michele
6 Via Barsanti
+ 39 0584 82082
Something for yourself
Clothes by Bartoli
7 Via Mazzini (Pietrasanta)
+ 39 0584 70353
07
Nearby sights
Boat ride to Portovenere on the Ligurian coast or a day trip to the Tuscan town of Lucca
08
Limousine/car
Car service (to Lucca, Genoa, Pisa, to/from Milan, etc)
Auto Servizi Mariani
8 Via Antonio Pollaiuolo
+ 39 02 697101
autoservizimariani.com
09
Transport
Bike hire
Cicli Maggi
85 Viale Morin
+ 39 0584 89529
ciclimaggi.it
Boat hire
Easy Boat
Club Pennone, 80 Via Arenile
+ 39 0584 250053
easyboat.it
10
Fitness
Beach Club
Alaide
25 Via Arenile
+ 39 0584 89100
Alternative diversions
The bike paths of Forte Versiglia Golf
100 Via della Sipe (Pietrasanta)
+ 39 0584 881574
versiliagolf.com
Tennis Italia
102 Via Dell'Acqua
+ 39 0584 82482