Viareggio Travel Guide

Every year for 133 years, this has been a main draw for locals and tourists alike. It is a three week festival that is a gala time for partying n February. The streets are filled with floats during the time and parades are held about 5 times over the period. Masked people and bands play throughout. The tradition started in 1873, and was originally a tax protest by citizens, but then what really happened, but to turn it into a festival later.

Viareggio is host to one of Italy's most famous Carnival celebrations. Each year artisans toil up to a year to produce oversized paper maiche puppets and colossal floats, all intended to make some sort of political or social commentary. As the parade of floats marches through town a devilish sense of fun pervades the atmosphere as paraders and spectators dance, throw confetti, and brandish foam batons.

My local hotel manager recommended I check out this place and I was not disappointed. Good service and great food.

Favorite Dish: I had the Margarita Salome pizza. It tasted fabulous.

One of the more expensive restaurants on the promenade but definitely worth it. Has a much more italian feel to it than the other, more touristy and overpriced restaurants further down, proved by the number of locals to be found here.
I've only eaten outside so can't really comment on the inside, when I was paying I did stand just inside the entrance though and the atmosphere inside looked great - full of wood and marine-themed items. Outside has the best of both worlds - tables in the sun and the shade, all with unique little touches like large round pebbles with the table numbers on and interesting place settings.
It's located right at the end of the promenade - near the public area of beach and the marina, but still only a few mins walk from the centre.
The food is the real reason to come here however, with a great variety of seafood and seafood pastas on offer. The smell was wonderful with diners around me eating huge plates of frittura mista (mixed fried seafood) and fresh fish.
Highly recommended for a treat!

Favorite Dish: I decided to splash out and had the plate of grilled seafood which was delicious. It came with 2 large langoustines, 2 big prawns, some swordfish, some other soft fish and 2 medium-sized squid. Two sauces came with the meal both of which were nice. All in all, a great dish at a good price for the amount I got.