Between Viareggio, famous for its amazing Carnival, and Marina di Pietrasanta, in the heart of of the Versilia coast, you find an amazing town called Lido di Camaiore, the well-known coastal strip of the province of Lucca, full of hotels and restaurants, pubs and discos… and for the iconic wharf, where tourists, locals, and residents take amazing long walks on the dock that runs across the ocean.
Lido di Camaiore is one of the seaside destinations for relaxation, most appreciated by tourists, thanks to its warm climate. In the summer all the coast is full of seaside resorts, so don’t forget to enjoy the beach with a fine golden sand, the ultra-luxury and cheaper beach clubs.
Life in this unique town takes place by the sea, both in summer, where there will be a lot of confusion, and in winter where there is certainly no shortage of villagers walking their dogs. We visited it in December and we ran through elderly people sitting on the benches breathing in the iodine, musicians playing, young people on bicycles, and adults walking admiring the ocean around them. It’s never too hot in the summer and it’s very pleasant even in the winter season. If you visit in the fall or winter, don’t miss walking up and down the seafront, or cycling along it. For this reason, it is not uncommon that on sunny winter days or early spring weekends, the Lido seafront is very crowded by those who reach the Versilia coast to take nice walks, to relax in the warm sun, and to be amazed by the stunning sunsets and endless ocean in front of you.
The view is not only scenic… it’s breathtaking! An expanse of blue surrounds you, it really seems you are in the middle of the ocean, breathing pure, clean air.
The beach is the real star of Lido di Camaiore. Spotlessly clean and with attention to the smallest details, it is fully equipped. Lido di Camaiore is where you go if you want to relax and unwind on the beach, if you want to walk along the seafront and watch the sunset from the pier. The pier of Lido di Camaiore immediately became the icon of the town. It is located approximately halfway along the seafront promenade, and extends for approximately 200 meters. At the end, there is a bar-restaurant where you can enjoy an aperitif at sunset, and a wonderful panoramic terrace.
Walking up and down the Lido pier is truly not to be missed!
At the northern end of Lido di Camaiore, where Viale Pistelli ends, a huge Ferris wheel is set up in summer. Go up during the day, to enjoy a crazy view of the entire Versilia coast, from the pine forests in the south to the hills of Liguria in the north, but also take a tour in the evening, to enjoy an unusual and marvelous sunset.
Where to eat?
Let’s start the day by having breakfast at the Caffè Sirena, a marvelous location in the historic venue on the seafront of Lido di Camaiore, an excellent home-made pastry and ice cream shop, also a cocktail bar, well-stocked wine shop and restaurant. In the morning you can choose among a vast choice of croissants, pastries, puddings and donuts, or move on to a tasty snack with their mignons and their traditional desserts.
Once there, you cannot miss taking a morning walk on the pier or directly going on the shore to take a walk on the fine golden sand. You can take your time, and take a walk through the Lido di Camaiore shore… admire the view or sit down to get some fresh salty air!
You can’t leave this region if before you don’t stop to a traditional Tuscan restaurant, where you can try typical Tuscan dishes.
La Cantina da Bruno, one of the greatest and typical restaurants in Lido di Camaiore, is a real guarantee for those who want to taste traditional specialties and taste the Tuscan dishes of the region. The structure is located in one of the most evocative areas of the town, not far from the seafront and the centre. The restaurant, welcoming and elegant in style, includes large internal spaces and an outdoor veranda, ideal for consuming the excellent dishes during the summer. The menu of the restaurant includes numerous meat and fresh fish specialities, delicious appetizers and delicious homemade desserts prepared by the house.
Open for lunch, the place is also one of the best pizzerias with a wood-fire oven: you can enjoy excellent pizzas with combinations and toppings for all tastes! You surely won’t regret it.
The specialties of the La Cantina da Bruno restaurant are many, to satisfy every day a numerous clientele, who are willing to return . You don’t know what to get… I will give you some advice! You can’t go back home without having tried the appetizing panzerotti with ham and stracchino filling. They aren’t just good, they are so delicious!
Then you can try a succulent sliced beef with truffle fondue, the seafood carbonara, the tasty Catalan dishes and the typical tordelli with ragù, typical pasta of Lido di Camaiore!
After this healthy and full meal, you can go back home even happier, having lived and experienced a thorough experience!
James Beard’s words remind us of the shared joy in culinary experiences, indeed he said : “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” His words are actually so accurate, food is a universal experience especially if shared with friends or family.
Two Sisters On The Road 