The first historic information dates from the beginning of this millenium when the territory called Lido di Camaiore (then, "Litus Maris") with the rest of Versilia, was the stage of long and bloody battles between Pisa and Lucca.

Although marine lands were unpopulated and marshy, they were very much in demand due to their huge fish reserves intercommunicating with the sea.
A contract dating back to the 3rd of November 1317 has been found, with which the City of Camaiore rented part of the marine land to Nicola Cardini for 13 florins per year. Land reclaimation, already attempted in roman epoch, started in the 1700's and only at the end of the 1800's did people begin to settle the area.

At the beginning of the century the council of Camaiore constructed the Via del Fortino and Viale Colombo; the first hotels and bathing establishments were opened. The place became exclusive: the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio spent long holidays here together with the famous actress, Eleonora Duse in a villa owned by Armanda Consigli, where, on the 4th September 1901 he finished his well-known play "Francesca da Rimini".
Soon afterwards senator Vittorio Rolandi-Ricci bought the Consigli estate (today's Hotel Ariston) and entertained guests like King Victor Emanuel 3rd, Giacomo Puccini, Guglielmo Marconi, Benito Mussolini. Lido di Camaiore became more and more fashionable among artists who chose it either for their holidays or as their definitive residence.
The playwright Pier Maria Rosso di San Secondo lived here: in his house still lives his wife, Inge, careful keeper of his original and intensive literary work - according to many critics - not inferior to Luigi Pirandello's.

The famous painter Galileo Chini who, on his return from Siam had buildt himself a Villa in Lido di Camaiore on the via del Fortino (today's Hotel Club I Pini which is the seat of a very interesting museum dedicated to the artist), inspired Liberty, the new trend in taste which, from the end of the war until the 1930's, successfully transformed the architectonic and artistic face of Versilia.

Lido di Camaiore is a a modern seaside resort with such characteristics that it ranks among one of the major tourist centres.

Its vast sandy beach - 4 Km. - lies beween Marina di Pietrasanta and Viareggio and slopes gently into the sea; it is easily reached: all you have to do is cross a wonderbul and scenic besch promenade, rich with gardens and fiower beds, along which run colourful bathing establishments, small shops, cafés and restaurants.
In the avenue (Viale Pistelli) parallel to the promenade is a cycling track.
Lido di Camaiore is a particularly attractive resort with numerous villas set amidst delighthul gardens, wide streets, squares and public parks.

The place boasts a wide range of tourist accommodation: the hotels (some of which are open all the year round) offer visitors all modern facilities.

The cuisine in Lido di Camaiore is typical of all Versilia, a renowned area for its home cooking which can be enjoyed in sophisticated restaurants as well as in countryside trattorias.
The coast specializes in sea food, whereas inland is known mostly for its traditional cooking.
Some of the most recommended dishes are: risotto con le seppie (rice with cuttle fish), cacciucco (fish served on toasted bread), zuppa di cozze (mussel soup), grilled fish.

In countryside restaurants old-fashioned dishes can be enjoyed like: polenta and cabbage, beans and mushrooms prepared in many different ways; in addition: tordelli (pasta with meat filling), gnocchi, pasta coi fagioli (bean soup with pasta) torta coi pizzi (pie with rice and chocolate or vegetable filling), castagnaccio (chestnut cake) scarpaccia (pie with courgettes and panzanella (salad with soaked dried bread, Italian dressing).

Lido di Camaiore is ideally situated for touring its scenic countryside rich with places of historical interest, giving visitors the possibility to alternate sea life with the mountain scenery in just a short time.
The area is also a good tourist base for trips to the main art cities and tourist centres in Tuscany and Liguria:
- Pisa
- Lucca
- Florence
- Volterra
- Siena
- San Gimignano
- Carrara and the marble quarries
- The Tuscan archipelago
- The gulf of La Spezia and Lerici
- Portovenere and the Cinque Terre

It has good road, rail and air links with all parts of Italy and the main European cities.
The airport in Pisa also caters for intercontinental flights.

Enjoy yourself with a good variety of sporting activities: swimming, windsurfing (with lessons) sailing, boating; there are facilities to hire pattini (small wooden boats), pedaloes, boats, and bicycles.
Other sports include: outdoor and indoor tennis (with lessons) foot-ball, horse riding, game fishing, squash, basketball, volleyball, rolle, skating, bowis. 8 kilometres away from Lido di Camaiore at the locality Montiscendi a new 18 hole golf course.
For children there are a good number of playgrounds with a variety of original games.

Go trekking in the countryside with some Associations which organizes excursions in cooperation with the local town council.

During your spare time you can browse in the shops in Lido di Camaiore some of which are smal boutiques, also selling hand-made articles. Versilia boasts many artists so it is easy to find a good number of antique shops and art galleries.

A few kilometres inland be sure to visit the wide range of artisan shops and art hand-craft studios: wrought iron work (at Candalla and Gombitelli), locally woven fabrics (at Vado), hand-made toys and gift ornaments, ceramics and artistic stained-glass windows.
Don't miss the local weekly open air markets including Lido as well as the antique market frequently held in Camaiore.

Seaside holidays will be brightened with entertainment facilities: discoteques, piano-bars, open air cinemas, music-halls, like "La Bussola" that have hosted world-famous musicians and artists.
Visitors will find a good variety of events throughout the year: cultural meetings (such as the Camaiore Literary Prize for Poetry), classical and pop concerts, art and antique exhibitions and agricultural shows.

In summer, between July and August , you can watching Puccini's Festival in beautiful Torre del Lago Puccini, where the famous composer realized his most famous Operas.

About 9 km. inland from Lido di Camaiore you will find, in a wide and green valley, the town of Camaiore.
This ancient and historic town has important monuments such as the romanesque church of S. Maria Assunta, called "Collegiata" (13^th cent.), the 14^th cent. bell tower and the 7^th cent. Benedectine Abbey.
Well worth a visit is the Sacred Arts Museum, containing remarkable works of art, among which is the famous Flemish tapestry dating from 1516 attributed to Peter de Pannemaker.
For archaeology lovers, findings of prehistoric civilization are exposed in the museum of Camaiore housed in the Palazzo Tori and in the Museum of Viareggio.

The slopes of the Apuan Alps are sprinkled with charming and ancient villages within easy reach of the coast, many of them offering breathtaking sea views. For example the ancient village of Monteggiori with the Rotaio castle and Pieve, where a church has existed on the same site since 816.

Not far from Versilia you can visit Celle di Pescaglia where is the 16th century home of Puccini's grandparents, whereas he was born in Lucca.

APT Versilia
V.le Colombo, 342 Lido Tel. 0584 - 617397

Ass. Albergatori Lido
V.le Colombo, 65 Lido Tel. 0584 - 66704

Ass. Balneari Lido
Via S. Caterina, 7/19 Lido Tel. 0584 - 619363

AIRPORTS

International "Galileo Galilei"
Pisa Tel 050 - 500707

Aeroclub Cinquale (aerotaxi)
Massa Tel. 0585 - 309088

USEFUL NUMBERS

Polizia Tel. 113

Carabinieri Tel. 112

Ambulanze Tel. 118