With the Apuan Alps as your back drop and an endless beautiful sandy Blue Flag beach to the fore with the Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean waves gently lapping the shore, the only place you could be is on one of the Tuscany beaches on the north west coast of Italy.

Many think that Tuscany only has an offering of stunning countryside dotted with authentic rural cottages, and striking historic cities such as Pisa (20 km from Viareggio), Florence (80 km), Sienna (130km) and Lucca, but add the Tuscan beaches and you’ll realise that this Italian region offers the full package!

The area to the north of Tuscany boasting the most famous stretch of beaches is the Riviera Versilia, which incorporates the chic seaside towns of Forte dei Marmi, popular Viareggio, as well as Marina di Pietrasanta and Lido di Camiore.

The quickest way to reach the beaches of Tuscany is to fly to Pisa airport and collect your prebooked hire car. Remember, there has been much press lately about the lack of cars available to hire this summer in Italy, so don’t arrive expecting a huge choice of vehicles if any at all – unless car hire has been pre arranged!

Many airlines fly from London to Pisa including an assortment of low cost carriers, charter airlines and scheduled carriers such as British Airways. There are also flights to Pisa from Bristol, Birmingham, Bournemouth, East Midlands, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds – and many other UK airports.

The journey from Pisa airport to the Tuscan beach resort of Viareggio by road is easy and well sign posted, taking about 30 to 40 minutes to drive. Viareggio to Forte dei Marmi takes a further 20 to 25 minutes by car, travelling through Lido di Camaiore and Marina di Pietrasanta.

The Tuscan Riviera resort of Viareggio (the nearest beach to Florence) is situated in the centre of Versilia within the Province of Lucca and has been named the “Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea”.  Ten kilometres of soft sand line the Viareggio coast with nearly two thirds of the area managed by private resorts and hotels. A promenade complete with cafes, shops, galleries and entertainment areas follows the beach which shelves gently into the sea, making Viareggio the perfect location for a family holiday in Italy. Nightlife is plentiful and there is an excellent choice of good restaurants in Viareggio too. Whilst on holiday in Viareggio why not hire a bike and ride into the hills and explore the medieval villages or sail on the lake in Torre del Lago, or if you are lucky, enjoy a Puccini opera in the open-air theatre?

Meaning “Fort of the marbles” and the home of singer Andrea Bocelli, the seaside town of Forte dei Marmi is situated between Marinas of Ronci and Pietrasanta. Well known for its sandy beaches and bathing establishments, many hotels from three to five stars line the coast; a resort popular with wealthy Italians. When on holiday in Forte dei Marmi do take a boat trip to the island of Elba or Portofino!