Pietrasanta
Pietrasanta is a charming town in Versilia, in the province of Lucca, Tuscany, and is considered its historical and artistic capital.
It is often nicknamed "Little Athens" for its strong connection to art and sculpture, particularly marble and bronze.
Here is a description of its main features:
The Artistic Heart: "Little Athens"
Marble and Sculpture: Pietrasanta is world-renowned for its marble quarries (including the famous Monte Altissimo, a destination for Michelangelo) and its artisan marble workshops, artistic foundries, and mosaic studios.
World-Famous Artists: It has attracted and hosted great artists over the centuries, from Michelangelo to contemporary sculptors such as Fernando Botero and Igor Mitoraj, whose works permanently adorn its squares and streets.
Open-Air Museum: The historic center is a true open-air museum, with temporary installations and permanent sculptures scattered throughout.
The Historic Center and Monuments
The medieval city center, characterized by regular streets, develops around a magnificent square:
Piazza Duomo: The heart of the city, overlooked by:
The Cathedral of San Martino: An imposing Gothic church with a marble façade and a remarkable rose window.
The Bell Tower: A distinctive brick tower, never completed.
The Baptistery (Oratorio di San Giacinto).
The Praetorian Palace: Former seat of the Vicars.
Rocca di Sala (or Rocca Ghibellina): A ruined medieval castle that dominates the center from above, offering spectacular views of the Versilia plain and the coast.
Church of Sant'Agostino: An ancient church that now houses the Cloister of Sant'Agostino and the Museum of Sketches, with a vast collection of plaster models and various materials used by sculptors.
Church of the Misericordia: Famous for housing two large frescoes by Fernando Botero.
Marina di Pietrasanta
Just 4 km from the historic center lies its coastal district:
Seaside Resort: A renowned tourist destination on the Tyrrhenian coast, with fine sandy beaches and elegant beach resorts.
Versiliana Park: A large green area (pine forest) that also houses Villa La Versiliana, famous for having hosted Gabriele D'Annunzio and for the renowned summer Versiliana Festival, featuring shows and concerts.
Pietrasanta combines the charm of an ancient medieval town with the liveliness of a contemporary cultural center, all nestled between the beauty of the Apuan Alps and the Tyrrhenian coast.
