Shopping & Parking

Reflecting market tastes, the resort mainly deals with pricey designer brands, ranging from beachwear to upmarket international fashion and accessories. The boutiques around Piazza Marconi somehow manage to retain something of a small-town atmosphere, even if they do sell some of the most expensive items money can buy. Armani, Prada and Roberto Cavalli all have boutiques in town. For fun, browse Forte dei Marmi’s Wednesday market on Piazza Marconi for everything from stylish bed-linen and swimwear, or top designer fashion to fakes. In summer there’s an additional Sunday market, held on the same square. If peckish while shopping, grab crunchy snacks of foccaccia or `pizza a taglio’ (pizza by the slice) from Da Valé, a popular bakery (Piazza Garibaldi 4, Forte dei Marmi, T: +39 0584 89361). On the excursion to visit the marble quarries around Carrara, look out for small souvenirs made of marble.

For one-off bags and hand-crafted shoes, head to Volponi.


Address: Via Carducci 4, Forte dei Marmi 55042
Tel: +39 0584 8271

Set just off the main square, this established, family-run, high-end jewellers have been tempting visitors since the 1940s.


Address: Via Carducci 12, 55042 Forte dei Marmi
Tel: +39 0584 83263
Web: www.morinigioielleria.com

Forte dei Marmi provides easier parking options than do many Tuscan towns, except at peak periods. Parking is in short supply during the regular Wednesday morning market and during the seasonal Sunday morning market. Good parking options are generally on the seafront, around Viale Italico (free), and on Viale della Repubblica (paying parking).

Most Tuscan towns operate a strict ZTL system, a Limited Traffic Zone. This means that the Centro Storico (historic centre) is essentially closed to traffic, particularly for non-residents. Cars will need to be left outside this zone. Forte dei Marmi’s ZTL covers a larger area in summer so expect more restrictions then. 

Advice on ZTLs: You may see other cars crossing the ZTL boundary (Limited Traffic Zone) and assume you can proceed. Not so. The drivers crossing into the ZTL zone will probably be locals and have residents’ permits. Visitors do not so are liable to fines. Zones are monitored by cameras, so tickets are issued immediately and automatically, as soon as (and each time) the car crosses the ZTL boundary.

Getting there & Getting around

Getting there: From the A12 motorway, take the Versilia exit. Turn right and continue until the third set of traffic lights; then turn left and after about 1.5 km, you reach Forte dei Marmi’s Piazza Garibaldi, with its Grand-ducal fort. (For more parking advice, check with the tourist office, via Spinetti 14, 55042 Forte dei Marmi. Tel: +39 0584 28029)

By car: From Forte dei Marmi, it’s only a 17 km drive to Carrara; Pisa is around 38 km south while Lucca is the same distance west. Pistoia is 76 km away while Florence is 160 km distant so a two-hour drive away.

By train:  Forte dei Marmi train station is 3km from the resort and known as Forte-dei-Marmi-Seravezza-Querceto. It is on the Florence-Lucca-Viareggio line and reasonably well-connected.

By bike: you can cycle to Marina di Pietrasanta, Lido di Camaiore and then onto Viareggio, a further 11.5 km. For details of cycling routes, check the resort website and tourist office: (via Spinetti 14, 55042 Forte dei Marmi. Tel: +39 0584 28029 & www.comune.fortedeimarmi.lu.it)