Forte dei Marmi: Fortino, Dunes and Art

Forte dei Marmi combines a distinctive historical heritage with art, nature and regional cuisine. The Forte Lorenese, known as Il Fortino, was built in 1788 at the behest of Leopold I, Grand Duke of Tuscany, as a fortification and gave the town its name. Today, fishermen, artists, residents and visitors meet at the Pontile.

History at the Pontile and Fortino

The original Pontile is also part of the town’s history: Giovanni Costantini designed it in 1788; it was five metres wide and 325 metres long.

Art and culture in Forte dei Marmi

The church in Vittoria Apuana was built between 1926 and 1933 as a church dedicated to Saint Francis. Marble from the nearby Apuan Alps was used for the window frames, floors, columns and altar. In front of the Church of San Francesco stands a sculpture by Arturo Dazzi, unveiled in 1962 in the presence of the artist. It was carved from a single block of marble and depicts Saint Francis speaking with the wolf.

The Ugo Guidi Museum in Vittoria Apuana is located in the artist’s former home, where he lived until his death on 10 July 1977. His collection comprises more than 500 sculptures and drawings and documents his artistic development from the 1940s through the final years of his work. Visits are possible only by prior appointment.

The 19th-century Villa Bertelli in Vittoria Apuana houses the Quarto Platano Museum of Modern Art as well as year-round music series, discussion programmes, book presentations and exhibitions. The Fondazione Villa Bertelli also organises events indoors and outdoors throughout the year.

The Museo della satira e della caricatura in Forte dei Marmi is a centre for preserving, collecting and researching materials relating to the history of satire and caricature worldwide. It holds an extensive collection of contemporary and historical satirical drawings and presents changing exhibitions according to an annual calendar. The Fortino Leopoldo I also hosts exhibitions and cultural activities throughout the year.

Dunes, wetlands and a varied itinerary

The Dune di Forte dei Marmi combines natural dunes with a dune back forest. It is the only flat wetland in northern Tuscany and the only section of the entire Tuscan coast featuring this combination. The WWF Dune di Forte dei Marmi Oasis is a remaining habitat for typical sand plants of the northern Tuscan coast, which have almost disappeared there.

The “Vittoria Apuana, le dune e il lago di Porta” itinerary can be covered by bicycle or car and begins at the Pontile. A section of the itinerary near Forte dei Marmi has been part of the protected Dune di Forte dei Marmi nature area since 2008. The protected Lago di Porta wetland borders the itinerary area directly.

Regional cuisine and local celebrations

Tordelli are crescent-shaped fresh filled pasta. They are served with plenty of meat sauce and are traditionally served on festive days in Seravezza, Camaiore, Pietrasanta, Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi and Massarosa. The celebrations of the patron saint Sant’Ermete in Forte dei Marmi include market stalls and fireworks at the Pontile.

Discover more destinations

If you would like to explore more places for your trip to Italy, you can find Corsanico, Pieve Fosciana, Piaggiori, Camporgiano, Lucca, Minucciano, Cerageto and Torre here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lucca.