the beach at Forte dei Marmi
The beach at Forte dei Marmi is full of people in the warm weather. As well as the areas where you can rent a deck chair and an umbrella, there are a few places where you can sit or lie for free.
Paying to go to the beach is something an Australian has difficulty with. I know you get a deck chair and an umbrella for your money, but somehow it just doesn’t seem right that most of the beach is off limits unless you pay. The free areas are quite small and generally not the best bits.
rent your spot at the beach
the free bit of the beach
The very considerate and helpful African boys save you the trouble of walking back to the town to shop by wandering down to the beach to sell their wares.
selling his wares
You can buy a handbag, watch or umbrella without leaving your beach towel.
you don't need to leave your towel
I have always found these boys to be courteous and polite. They are only trying to make a living and they will leave you alone if you ask them nicely.
Forte dei Marmi is only about an hour from Bagni di Lucca and we go often. We love to go to the monthy antique market and to have lunch at Il Fortino, where they serve the best seafood pasta I have eaten anywhere. Click here and here to see more of Forte dei Marmi.
I agree it’s very lovely & I can’t wait to get back there. The Sea Bass ravioli is calling me
By: Liz Litzow on September 11, 2011
at 3:35 am
Me too, I will be there 9th October for my ravioli.
By: bagnidilucca on September 11, 2011
at 10:46 am
“you don’t need to leave your towel” to buy a Burberry lol lol
Thanks for sharing!
By: mirellamccracken on September 11, 2011
at 5:50 am
It is quite a useful service really.
By: bagnidilucca on September 11, 2011
at 10:46 am
Paying to go to the beach is tough to swallow!
By: Theresa Lauf on September 11, 2011
at 6:07 am
It is not something we are used to in Australia.
By: bagnidilucca on September 11, 2011
at 10:47 am
You have to pay in many European countries if you want a good spot on the beach. Spain is an exception. I do not like the idea of spending the whole day on the beach to justify what you have paid for your deck chair and the umbrella and the free beach spaces, just as you said, are few and overcrowded. For this reason, I prefer to go for a swim at the rockpool next to our mill…. although I must say that the water is quite cool as it comes from the mountain.
By: Mulino Dominillo on September 11, 2011
at 6:18 am
I have put my toes in that water and it is very cold. It must be very refreshing in a hot summer day.
By: bagnidilucca on September 11, 2011
at 10:48 am
I love this area with the mountains right behind the beach-in the US-you have hours between beach and mountains.
When is the market?
By: Melonie Carideo on September 11, 2011
at 11:54 am
The antique market in Forte dei Marmi is held every second Sunday and the preceding Saturday – usually the second weekend of the month, but not always. It is well worth a visit.
By: bagnidilucca on September 11, 2011
at 12:22 pm
[…] original post here: Shopping on the beach « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond Questo articolo è stato pubblicato in Holiday Villas Rent Tuscany, Lucca e ha le […]
By: Shopping on the beach « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on September 11, 2011
at 1:06 pm
How wonderful. I absolutely adore the beach. In Haiti we generally had to pay for beach access, and had boys selling wares, as well. What wonderful memories–a beautiful beach!
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on September 11, 2011
at 3:24 pm
It is a lovely beach, but not nearly as good as our beaches here in Australia. We go there for its other delights.
By: bagnidilucca on September 11, 2011
at 8:39 pm
Any chance of a post on the antique market and best seafood pasta place, Il Fortino? At Ostia Lido (Roma) you can get a massage on the beach too, sand included. Actually the massage SHOULD be included; after you’ve paid that whopping great wad to sit (snugly) with others on the beach, some topless I might add. The massage gals are usually Asian, I noticed. One man opened his jacket to have it lined with watches and a woman; loaded down with scarves and jewellery all well displayed; hanging off her body. Amazing, a mobile market!!
By: Caterina on September 11, 2011
at 5:14 pm
I’ve done a few posts on Forte dei Marmi. I’ll forward them to you.
By: bagnidilucca on September 11, 2011
at 8:41 pm
Thank you; I’ll look forward.
By: Caterina on September 12, 2011
at 11:30 am
There is lots to see in Forte dei Marmi and some great shopping.
By: bagnidilucca on September 12, 2011
at 12:24 pm
I remember the Africans selling wares in Camogli, along with the folks selling “Coco bello” It was hard to keep my daughter from calling them over and begging me to buy her something.
By: Julie on September 11, 2011
at 5:51 pm
We loved Camogli. We have only been once. I really liked the painted buildings. We were there the day before the big frypan festival. Clearly we need to go back.
By: bagnidilucca on September 11, 2011
at 8:45 pm
Paying for a beach spot is quite common in Europe, I believe, but as you say, hard for us Aussies to understand!
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on September 11, 2011
at 7:54 pm
I don’t think ti would catch on here – ever.
By: bagnidilucca on September 11, 2011
at 8:45 pm
Paying for a beach spot and also having your towel lined up next to a complete strangers as it is so crowded (although the pictures of your one looked quite roomy) are both things that took a while to get used to.
I love the beaches in Italy, but I really appreciate how wonderful they are in Australia.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on September 11, 2011
at 8:12 pm
That photo was taken very early in the season, before it got really busy. It would be packed in high summer. We don’t go to Forte dei Marmi for the beach. It has other delights.
By: bagnidilucca on September 11, 2011
at 8:47 pm
Looks like an amazing beach!
By: info@beautifulbagnidilucca on September 12, 2011
at 10:54 am
Forte dei Marmi is a great place to go for the day from Bagni di Lucca. You can drive through the beautiful hills behind Camaiora down to the beach or take the autostrada from Lucca.
By: bagnidilucca on September 12, 2011
at 12:24 pm
Having recently admired the Aussie beaches, and being a Scot – I’d have a really tough time with having to cough up – to lie in the sun, which I actually don’t have the patience, nor the skin, for 🙂
Would you still have to pay for an evening stroll?
By: Lu on September 12, 2011
at 3:45 pm
No, you don’t have to pay to walk on the beach. The area near the water is free.You pay to be in the areas with umbrellas and deck chairs, but they take up most of the beach. There are usually little strips of beach beside the walkways to the beach which are free. If you pay you get access to showers, dressing rooms and there is usually someone who will bring cool drinks etc to you deck chair. Some families go to the same beach every year for their holidays and rent at the same place each time.
By: bagnidilucca on September 12, 2011
at 8:36 pm
[…] Shopping on the beach « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond Forte dei Marmi is only about an hour from Bagni di Lucca and we go often. We love to go to the monthy antique market and to have lunch at Il Fortino, where they serve the best seafood pasta I have eaten anywhere. Source: bagnidilucca.wordpress.com […]
By: Shopping on the beach « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond | Toscana Mia (My Tuscany) | Scoop.it on September 12, 2011
at 7:03 pm
Yep, as a fellow Aussie paying for beach space seems bizarre – we saw the same thing in San Remo Italy and couldn’t believe it.
By: frenchfry36 on September 13, 2011
at 9:13 am
I guess it is what you get used to.
By: bagnidilucca on September 13, 2011
at 10:05 am
[…] more on the town click here, here, here and […]
By: Sunday in Forte dei Marmi | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on September 20, 2013
at 1:00 am
We will be traveling to Forte Dei Marmi from May 18-22. Will it be warm enough to stay at the beach for the day?
By: Kerry Desmond-Totillo on March 30, 2017
at 5:29 pm