Going to Italy in July after a river cruise spending several days in Florence.
What is the best beach close to Florence on the Mediterranean side?
What are the best side trips from Florence? I'm thinking about avoiding Rome how is it in July?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34350 posts
It is all Mediterranean Sea around Italy, with different names for different areas.
Do you mean the Ligurian Sea, to the west of Italy in those parts, or the Adriatic Sea to the east?
Rome in July is stinking hot. That's why all the locals leave in July for the mountains.
Posted by
Boston
1817 posts
Florence's beach is the Versilia lido, about 20 miles of level fine sand running from Viareggio north to about Marina di Massa. Viareggio is the largest and most active and has the best transport connections. Forte di Marmi is the poshest. Lido di Camiore is family oriented.
From Florence good side trips are Lucca, Pisa, and Siena.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16242 posts
Nigel is correct.
It's all Mediterranean sea.
However the Mediterranean is divided into smaller subdivisions, all recognized by the International Hydrographic Organization based in Monaco:
Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, Alboran Sea, Balearic Sea, Ionian Sea, Ligurian Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, and the Strait of Gibraltar.
There are also additional names by which some parts of the Mediterranean are known, however not recognized by IHO treaties, for example the Sea of Sicily, the Sea of Sardinia, the Sea of Crete, etc.
The closest and easiest to reach (by rail) beach town from Florence is Viareggio.
Quercianella and Castiglioncello are also easily reachable by rail and very pretty, albeit smaller and quieter than the more vibrant Viareggio.