A break at the Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte, in the heart of the Tuscan landscape, to discover ancient castles and breathtaking views
Versilia is famous for its summer beaches which every year fascinate tourists from all over the world. But leaving the sea behind and venturing up into the hills there is much more worth visiting. The villages of Versilia have been preserving the history and traditions of the area for centuries, releasing all their charm in the quiet of the spring season. Casoli di Camaiore, Monteggiori and Massarosa are in fact three unmissable destinations worth exploring, starting from the milder beach of Viareggio and the exclusive location of the Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte, which will reopen to the public in spring.
A few minutes from the Versilia coast, at the foot of the Apuan Alps, there are small villages perched on the mountains where time seems to stand still and nature reigns supreme. An itinerary certainly less known and more unusual for Tuscany lovers who often stop at the cities of art. But enjoying the sea out of season while admiring the beauty of the coast from the slopes of the mountains is an equally unique experience.
Among the most curious and characteristic places to visit there is undoubtedly Casoli di Camaiore, the “Land of Graffiti“. The walls of the town are decorated by artists from all over the world. They are true works of art that represent daily scenes or taken from mythology, made with an ancient technique of “scratching” the walls.
But the art and originality of the villages of Versilia does not end here. There is another village that seems to have come out of a fairy tale book. Monteggiori still preserves the walls of an ancient military fortress, theater of legends and ghost stories. What strikes tourists, however, are the colorful doors of the houses that immediately stimulate the imagination, bringing those who walk through the streets of the center in a distant and enchanted world.
Finally, Massarosa is also worth a visit, a town famous since prehistoric times and rich in artifacts of ancient civilizations. From there you can reach the lake of Massaciuccoli, the church of San Pantaleone in Pieve a Elici and Gualdo a small medieval village perfectly preserved. From the mountains to the coast, immersed in nature, all a few steps from Viareggio where the sea in winter and spring gives a quiet atmosphere. The capital of Art Nouveau is the best place from which to start excursions to discover the villages, ending the day with a pleasant moment of relaxation at the Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte, which welcomes visitors with the arrival of spring.
Built in the early Twenties, it immediately proved to be the favourite residence of aristocrats, intellectuals and artists. Its elegance seduced the imagination of many directors becoming the scene of prestigious film productions. Returned to the height of its charm in 2004, after 19 months of restoration, today the Principe is unquestionably one of the most exclusive and refined historic hotels in the world.
The five floors, furnished in different styles, follow an ideal path through the elegant hospitality of every era, up to the contemporary luminosity of the rooftop swimming pool with Jacuzzi and solarium, a blue space jutting out into the sea, which merges building and horizon in the eyes of the viewer.
The Il Piccolo Principe and Regina restaurants have made the Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte in Viareggio famous over the years. The intimate and welcoming ambiences, from which to admire the splendid panorama of the Apuan Alps and Viareggio’s seafront, attract tourists and lovers of good cuisine all year round. The cuisine of Il Piccolo Principe, overseen by chef Giuseppe Mancino and awarded 2 Michelin stars and 3 forks by Gambero Rosso’s Guida Ristoranti d’Italia 2021, offers a menu that combines creativity, refinement, good technique and excellent presentation.
The Principe di Piemonte spa offers water games, sauna, fitness center, massages and beauty treatments: total and absolute relaxation, in an elegant and refined environment, to regenerate in wellness.
