Where to stay in Forte dei Marmi
Forte dei Marmi (literally ‘marble fort’), now the mecca of ‘luxury tourism’ in Italy, is a seaside resort town with a population of around ten thousand. The town owes its name to a small, fortified port built in 1788 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Leopold I, to receive marble quarried nearby. Despite its small size, the Forte is considered the most fashionable beach resort town in Versilia, in turn the most famous resort area on the entire Tuscan coast. The prosperity of Versilia began at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, when European aristocracy and the bourgeoisie came into vogue with summer holidays at sea, and one of the first seaside resorts in Italy was the town Viareggio adjacent to Forte dei Marmi – until now its main embankment is decorated with villas, hotels and restaurants built in “Liberty” style.
Before the advent of the 20th century and the easy money of tourism, bread was harder to come by for the locals. Most worked in the marble quarries that were the main export revenue, fishing, or cultivating fields and vineyards. Compared to the rest of Tuscany, which in the Middle Ages was the heart of Europe’s economy and the vanguard of its historical progress, the local area was for a long time a “bear’s corner” with archaic feudal orders. Much of it belonged to the fierce Marquises of Malaspina (of whom two splendid castles remain), some were part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, and some belonged to the Republic of Lucca.
Today Versilia boasts more than just marble – despite being geographically and historically peripheral to the rest of Tuscany, “it has it all” which Italy can boast: an ancient history and cultural tradition, its own specialties and wines and a rich and varied nature where the two elements, sea and mountains, coexist. The seaside resorts of northern Tuscan Versilia, Forte dei Marmi, Viareggio, Pietrasanta, Marina di Massa, are probably the most fashionable in Italy. They attract tourists who prefer luxurious dolce vita-style seaside holidays – with shopping, nightclubs and expensive beaches.
Despite its small size, Forte dei Marmi is considered the most exclusive resort town in Versilia. The best hotels and restaurants, the most fashionable clubs and discos, the most expensive shops and so on, are all situated here. In summer Forte dei Marmi becomes a meeting place for the “captains” of international finance and multinational companies, celebrities from the world of pop music and cinema, rich athletes, nouveau riche, aristocrats, wealthy rentiers, etc. The “holiday village” here dates back to the end of the nineteenth century, when the wealthy families of Versilia began to move closer to the sea in the summer to breathe in the sea air and stroll among the dunes and pine groves. When bathing in the sea became fashionable, private beaches started to appear, the first being the “bagno” (private beach) of the Giannotti family, which was built in 1904 and is still owned by them today. The pioneers of Forte dei Marmi on a “national level” were the Agnelli family – one of the richest industrial and oligarchic clans in Italy, owners of the car giant Fiat and the Juventus football club. The Agnelli’s settled in Villa Costanza, where the Hotel Augustus is now located. Soon the pine forest by the sea began to see more and more villas: the Siemens family, Giovanni Gentile, Thomas Mann, Italo Balbo, Curzio Malaparte, Aldous Huxley, Guglielmo Marconi, Henry Moore, Luchino Visconti, many Italian nobles and important capitalists took up their summer residences here in addition to the Agnelli. It was the birthplace of the famous intellectual and artistic circle Quarto Platano. The Grand Hotel, frequented by the Belgian royal family, became in the pre-war era a model of luxury for the European high society.
The boom in tourism in Forte dei Marmi continued after World War II, especially during the sixties when more and more wealthy families began to spend their summers there. The bad years for Forte dei Marmi were the 1990s, when Italy was hit by the infamous corruption scandal known as ‘Operation Clean Hands’, during which over two thousand businessmen, officials and politicians were arrested. In those years, many of Italy’s elite chose to get rid of their summer residences in Forte dei Marmi and the town began to decline. But the ‘black streak’ did not last long as the place of the Italian ‘oligarchs’ was soon taken over by their international counterparts. Affluent visitors are attracted by the unique natural setting – the contrast of the white marble peaks of the Apuan Alps, the blue sea and vast beaches, the small scale of Forte dei Marmi is ideal for families and children, the wide variety of sporting activities and the many luxury hotels, restaurants and boutiques.
Where to stay in Forte dei Marmi – hotels and resorts:
A legendary hotel in Forte dei Marmi is the five-star Augustus Hotel & Resort 5 *, which includes Villa Costanza, where the Agnelli family lived, owners of Fiat and Juventus. The hotel is located in a pine grove next to a private beach. It features 2 restaurants, a swimming pool, spa and fitness center – booking.com
The five-star Principe Forte Dei Marmi hotel * is located next to its own beach in the center of Forte dei Marmi. It offers a panoramic sun terrace, 2 gourmet restaurants including one Michelin-starred, spa center Egoista with Turkish bath, sauna and hot tub – booking.com
The five-star hotel Grand Hotel Imperiale 5 * is located in a pine forest, 300 meters from its own beach. It offers luxurious rooms and suites with large marble bathrooms, an outdoor pool and an elegant restaurant – booking.com
The five-star Hotel Byron 5 * has recently been opened after renovation on the beach promenade of Forte dei Marmi. Large outdoor pool, American bar, a seafood restaurant with cooking classes from chef Cristoforo Trapani – booking.com
The four-star hotel Versilia Golf Resort 4 * is located in the famous Forte dei Marmi Golf Club, next to the beach. The hotel restaurant offers panoramic windows overlooking the golf courses – booking.com
The four-star family hotel Olimpia 4 * is located on the beach promenade of Forte dei Marmi. The hotel has an excellent restaurant – booking.com
The four-star California Park 4 * hotel is surrounded by a large park, 300 meters from the beach. It features a restaurant, pool, hot tub, and fitness area with Technogym equipment – booking.com
The four-star Hotel St.Mauritius 4* is located 500 meters from the beach, surrounded by a landscaped garden. It features an outdoor pool with hydromassage, a spa center, and a restaurant serving national cuisine – booking.com
The four-star hotel Villa Grey 4 * is located on the beach promenade of Forte dei Marmi (cabins and umbrellas are available for an additional fee). The hotel has a bar-restaurant specializing in local cuisine – booking.com
The four-star hotel Villa Roma Imperiale 4 * is located 200 meters from the sea, surrounded by a green garden. It offers an outdoor pool, library, lounge bar – booking.com