Misplaced Pages

#530469

74-526: Viareggio ( Italian pronunciation: [vjaˈreddʒo; vi.aˈreddʒo] ) is a city and comune in northern Tuscany , Italy , on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea . With a population of over 62,000, it is the second largest city in the province of Lucca , after Lucca . It is known as a seaside resort as well as being the home of the famous carnival of Viareggio (dating back to 1873), and its papier-mâché floats, which (since 1925), parade along

148-470: A Polizia Comunale ( lit.   ' Communal Police ' ), which is responsible for public order duties. The comune also deal with the definition and compliance with the piano regolatore generale ( lit.   ' general regulator plan ' ), a document that regulates the building activity within the communal area. All communal structures or schools, sports and cultural structures such as communal libraries, theaters, etc. are managed by

222-519: A comune (municipality). In 1739, thanks to the work of hydraulics engineer Bernardino Zendrini, the marshlands were finally completely drained and the town turned into a place where noblemen from Lucca came and built their palaces. In May 1799 Viareggio was the centre of a popular uprising against the Jacobin Club. With the invasion of Italy by Napoleon the Lucchese state was turned into

296-585: A significant Mediterranean merchant fleet and navy . It expanded its influence through the sack of Reggio di Calabria in the south of Italy in 1005. Pisa was in continuous conflict with the Saracens for control of the Mediterranean. In alliance with Genoa, Sardinia was captured in 1016 with the defeat of the Saracen leader Mujāhid al-‘Āmirī ( Latin : Mogehidus ). This victory gave Pisa supremacy in

370-681: A Monte , Pontedera and in Vecchiano . The main strongholds were the Verruca fortress, near Calci , which served as the cornerstone of the mountain defensive system on the Lucca border that ran from the ancient lago di Bientina to the Serchio with the castles of Caprona , Vicopisano , Asciano and Agnano . On the Florentine road to block the access to Pisa there was the castle of Cascina ,

444-827: A comune as rione ( Italian: [riˈoːne] ; pl. : rioni ) or contrade . The term originated from the administrative divisions of Rome, and is derived from the Latin word regio ( pl. : regiones ), meaning "region". All currently extant rioni are located in Municipio I of Rome. The term has been adopted as a synonym of quartiere in the Italian comuni . Terzieri , quartieri , sestieri , rioni , and their analogues are usually no longer administrative divisions of these towns, but historical and traditional communities, seen especially in towns' annual Palio . A terziere ( pl. : terzieri )

518-489: A large number of homes and families near the station. The entire area of Viareggio extends over the coastal flooding plain of Versilia . Located on the Ligurian Sea (although traditionally considered to face the Tyrrhenian Sea ), it has 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of sandy beaches, of which 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) are managed by private beach resorts and the remaining 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) are public (most of

592-618: A new church, a royal casino and two beach resorts, the first ones to be built in Viareggio. On October 5, 1847, Lucca was acquired by the Grand Duchy of Tuscany . Viareggio, in this new scenario, developed as a seaside resort for the whole of Tuscany. In 1848 the city adopted its current coat of arms. In these years Viareggio was the destination of many exiled intellectuals of the Italian Risorgimento who were tolerated by

666-408: A principality whose sovereignty was given to Felice Baciocchi , although the real power was in the hands of Napoleon's older sister, Elisa . Elisa's government was characterised by unpopular measures such as those against the ecclesiastic patrimony. Similarly, most of her financial policies were of dubious effect, although some were welcomed by the locals, such as the adoption of the "Napoleonic Code,"

740-538: A separate ruler, through the arbitration of Venice, which were known as sestieri . The island of Crete , a Venetian colony (the Kingdom of Candia ) from the Fourth Crusade , was also divided into six parts, named after the sestieri of Venice herself, while the capital Candia retained the status of a comune of Venice. The island of Burano north of Venice is also subdivided into sestieri . A variation of

814-491: A single frazione , Torre del Lago Puccini , having a population of around 11,000. The city itself is subdivided into four Circoscrizioni : The climate is characterised by high levels of humidity (between 60% and 80% of relative humidity in the summer months) and a yearly rainfall of 700 to 1,000 millimetres (28 to 39 in) as a result of the proximity of the Apuanian Alps to the coast. The main winds blow from

SECTION 10

#1732772363531

888-620: A synonymous of neighbourhood, and an Italian town can be now subdivided into a larger number of quartieri . The Swiss town of Lugano (in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino) is also subdivided into quarters. The English word quarter to mean an urban neighbourhood (e.g. the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana) is derived from the cognate old French word quartier . A sestiere ( pl. : sestieri )

962-586: Is Predoi , the southernmost one Lampedusa e Linosa , the westernmost Bardonecchia and the easternmost Otranto . The comune with the longest name is San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore , while the comuni with the shortest name are Lu , Ro , Ne , Re and Vo' . The population density of the comuni varies widely by province and region . The province of Barletta-Andria-Trani , for example, has 381,091 inhabitants in 10 comuni , or over 39,000 inhabitants per comune ; whereas

1036-501: Is twinned with: Comune A comune ( Italian: [koˈmuːne] ; pl. : comuni , Italian: [koˈmuːni] ) is an administrative division of Italy , roughly equivalent to a township or municipality . It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ( regioni ) and provinces ( province ). The comune can also have the title of città ( lit.   ' city ' ). Formed praeter legem according to

1110-522: Is a list of the largest comuni in Italy, in descending order of surface area, according to ISTAT data referring to 9 October 2011. The provincial capitals are highlighted in bold. The following is a list of the smallest comuni in Italy, in ascending order of surface area, according to ISTAT data referring to 9 October 2011. The following is a list of the first comuni by altitude, in descending order. The indicated altitude coincides with

1184-454: Is a subdivision of certain Italian towns and cities. The word is from sesto ( lit.   ' sixth ' ), so it is thus used only for towns divided into six districts. The best-known example is the sestieri of Venice , but Ascoli Piceno , Genoa , Milan and Rapallo , for example, were also divided into sestieri . The medieval Lordship of Negroponte , on the island of Euboea , was also at times divided into six districts, each with

1258-609: Is a subdivision of several towns in Italy . The word derives from terzo ( lit.   ' third ' ) and is thus used only for towns divided into three neighborhoods. Terzieri are most commonly found in Umbria , for example in Trevi , Spello , Narni and Città della Pieve ; towns divided into terzieri in other regions include Lucca in Tuscany , and Ancona and Macerata in

1332-413: Is chaired by the mayor, who appoints others members, called assessori , one of whom serves as deputy mayor ( vicesindaco ). The offices of the comune are housed in a building usually called the municipio , or palazzo comunale ( lit.   ' town hall ' ). As of January 2021, there were 7,904 comuni in Italy; they vary considerably in size and population. For example,

1406-724: Is granted to comuni that have been awarded it by decree of the King of Italy (until 1946) or of the provisional head of state (from 1946 to 1948) or, subsequently, of the President of the Republic (after 1948), on the proposal of the Ministry of the Interior , to which the comune concerned sends an application for a concession, by virtue of their historical, artistic, civic or demographic importance. The comuni endowed with

1480-568: Is home of the roller hockey team CGC Viareggio . CGC Viareggio was the first club of Lucca province to be champion, in Italian sport. In 2011, they won the Serie A1 italian hockey title. The association football team is F.C. Esperia Viareggio . It also has its own professional beach soccer team Viareggio Beach Soccer . Viareggio is connected to Autostrada A11 from Florence via A11/"Bretella" Lucca-Viareggio and to Autostrada A12 linking Genoa - Rosignano . Viareggio railway station

1554-510: Is located near the city center, with 60 daily trains running along the Rome – Pisa–La Spezia–Genoa line , and the line to Florence , as well as international trains. The nearest airport is Pisa's "Galileo Galilei" international airport , just 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Viareggio's city center. Florence's "Amerigo Vespucci" airport is 95 kilometres (59 mi) to the east. Two extensions to today's Burlamacca canal were built in 1577. It

SECTION 20

#1732772363531

1628-582: The comune of Rome , in Lazio , has an area of 1,287.36 km (497.05 sq mi) and a population of 2,758,454 inhabitants, and is both the largest and the most populated. Atrani in the province of Salerno ( Campania ) was the smallest comune by area, with only 0.1206 km (0.0466 sq mi), and Morterone ( Lombardy ) is the smallest by population. Many present-day comuni trace their roots along timescales spanning centuries and at times millennia. The northernmost comune

1702-434: The comuni . Comuni must have their own communal statute and have a climatic and seismic classification of their territory for the purposes of hazard mitigation and civil protection . Comuni also deal with the waste management . It is headed by a mayor ( sindaco or sindaca ) assisted by a legislative body, the consiglio comunale ( lit.   ' communal council ' ), and an executive body,

1776-411: The frazioni , but the comune still retains the name of the capoluogo . In some cases, a comune might not have the same name of capoluogo . In these cases, it is a comune sparso ( lit.   ' dispersed comune ' ) and the frazione which hosts the town hall ( municipio ) is a sede municipale (compare county seat ). Some towns refer to neighborhoods within

1850-403: The giunta comunale ( lit.   ' communal committee ' ). The mayor and members of the consiglio comunale are elected together by resident citizens: the coalition of the elected mayor (who needs a relative majority or an absolute majority in the first or second round of voting, depending on the population) gains three fifths of the consiglio 's seats. The giunta comunale

1924-601: The 13th century and resulted in the naval Battle of Meloria (1284) , with the casus belli of the rally of Giudice di Cinarca in Pisa , fought right in front of the Pisan port. It which marked the beginning of the decline of the power of the city, with the renunciation of any claim on Corsica and with the sale of part of Sardinia to Genoa in 1299. Furthermore, from 1323, the Aragonese conquest of Sardinia began, which deprived

1998-812: The Levant , in the Byzantine Empire and in the Crusader states of Palestine , particularly in Constantinople (where the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Comnenus granted them special mooring and trading rights), Antioch , Latakia , Tyre , Acre , Jaffa , Tripoli , Alexandria and Cairo . In all these cities the Pisans were granted privileges and immunity from taxation, but had to contribute to their defense in case of attack. In

2072-485: The Marches . The medieval Lordship of Negroponte , on the island of Euboea , was also divided into three distinct rulerships, which were known as terzieri . A quartiere ( Italian: [kwarˈtjɛːre] ; pl. : quartieri ) is a territorial subdivision, properly used, for towns divided into four neighborhoods ( quarto ; lit.   ' fourth ' ) by the two main roads. It has been later used as

2146-582: The Tyrrhenian Sea . When the Pisans subsequently ousted the Genoese from Sardinia, a new conflict and rivalry was born between the two maritime republics. Between 1030 and 1035 Pisa went on to successfully defeat several rival towns in the Emirate of Sicily and conquer Carthage in North Africa. In 1051–1052, Admiral Jacopo Ciurini conquered Corsica , provoking more resentment from the Genoese. In 1063,

2220-524: The Zirid city of Mahdia in 1088. Four years later, Pisan and Genoese ships helped Alfonso VI of Castile force El Cid out of Valencia . In 1092, Pope Urban II awarded Pisa supremacy over Corsica and Sardinia and at the same time elevated the Diocese of Pisa to the rank of metropolitan archdiocese . The territory subjected to the Republic of Pisa has had important variations over the centuries. During

2294-644: The province of Isernia has 81,415 inhabitants in 52  comuni , or 1,640 inhabitants per comune – roughly 24 times more communal units per inhabitant. The coats of arms of the comuni are assigned by decree of the Prime Minister of Italy by the Office of State Ceremonial and Honors, Honors and Heraldry Service (division of the Presidency of the Council born from the transformation of

Viareggio - Misplaced Pages Continue

2368-548: The 12th century, the Pisan quarter in the eastern part of Constantinople had grown to 1,000 people. The well-known "Società dei Vermigli" was established in Tyre and was reported in the defense of the city against the attack by Saladin in 1187. For some years of that century, Pisa was the most prominent merchant and military ally of the Byzantine Empire , surpassing the Republic of Venice itself. Its influence also extended to

2442-514: The Lucchesi to finally gain access to the sea, and to the Pisane fear of the economic competition of its rival city. It is during these years that the feudal Lords of Versilia were forced to abdicate in favour of Castruccio Castracani . In the following years the area upon which Viareggio would eventually be built was marked by a number of minor battles, invasions and pillages. In addition, the area

2516-564: The Marina of Italy, from 1907 through to 1911. In 1938 the Marina of the Empire was also built, which was followed in the 1970s by the Marina of Viareggio (also known as the New Marina), the Marina of La Madonnina , and the new lighthouse . The Madonnina can host up to 500 vessels. The city hosts the local Capitaneria di Porto , and all vessels registered here bear the marking VG. Viareggio

2590-428: The Mediterranean. Pope Gregory VII recognized in 1077 the new "laws and customs of the sea" instituted by the Pisans, and Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV granted them the right to name their own consuls, advised by a Council of Elders. This was simply a confirmation of the present situation, because at the time the marquis of Tuscany (the nominal feudal sovereign of Pisa) had already been excluded from power. Pisa sacked

2664-477: The Pisans approached the Norman Roger I of Sicily , who was conducting a campaign to conquer Sicily that would last over three decades, with the prospect of a joint attack against Palermo . Roger declined due to other commitments. With no land support, the Pisan attack against Palermo failed. In 1060, Pisa engaged in its first battle against Genoa and the Pisan victory helped to consolidate its position in

2738-560: The Royal Consulta Araldica , eliminated pursuant to the provisions final of the Constitution of Italy ). Administrative subdivisions within comuni vary according to their population size. Comuni with at least 250,000 residents are divided into circoscrizioni (roughly equivalent to French arrondissements or London boroughs ) to which the comune delegates administrative functions like

2812-483: The Valdera was defended by the castles of Appiano, Petriolo, Montecuccoli and finally, by order of foundation, that of Ponte di Sacco (1392). Inland, in perennial struggle with the Republic of Lucca , the Republic of Florence and Volterra , its borders were very fluctuating having as contested castles those of Buti , Palaia , Peccioli , Montopoli (until 1349), Lajatico , Chianni ( until 1325), Santa Maria

2886-572: The adoption of the metric system, and the introduction of mandatory vaccination against smallpox . With the fall of Napoleon and Baciocchi, Viareggio was the centre of several acts of violence. In March 1814 the population openly protested against the French, an event which turned into acts of pure vandalism. Viareggio remained under the control of the Austrians until 1817 when, as part of the agreements from Congress of Vienna , Maria Luisa of Spain

2960-536: The appointment as Lord of Pisa. However, the control of the Republic by the Visconti did not last long, in fact Pisa maintained its independence and dominion over that part of the Tuscan coast and beyond until 1406, when it was occupied by the mercenaries Angelo Tartaglia and Muzio Attendolo Sforza who ordered the annexation to the Republic of Florence . With Florence's domination began an unstoppable decline of

3034-478: The beach to Lucca . According to other historians, instead, the name derives from Vicus Regius . This theory is based on the fact that in imperial times, there was a small inhabited centre ( vicus ) in the area known as "Gli Ortacci" which belonged to the empire, hence regius ("Royal"). Several hillside towns started developing in the Middle Ages , some of which are still active. The area currently hosting

Viareggio - Misplaced Pages Continue

3108-526: The capital of the province of Reggio Emilia , in the Emilia-Romagna region, and Reggio di Calabria , the capital of the homonymous metropolitan city , in the Calabria region. Many other towns or villages are likewise partial homonyms (e.g. Anzola dell'Emilia and Anzola d'Ossola , or Bagnara Calabra and Bagnara di Romagna ). The title of città ( lit.   ' city ' ) in Italy

3182-407: The century progressed, however, this small shipbuilding activity prospered until it became an internationally acclaimed centre. Nowadays, Viareggio is the main luxury yachts producing city in the world thanks to the presence of shipyards with builders such as Azimut Benetti , Codecasa , Fipa , Rossinavi , Perini navi and many others. The Carnival of Viareggio was established in 1873, while

3256-495: The city grew in wealth and power. Pisa was a historical rival to Genoa at sea and to Florence and Lucca on land. The power of Pisa as a mighty maritime nation began to grow and reached its apex in the 11th century when it acquired traditional fame as one of the main historical maritime republics of Italy. During the High Middle Ages the city grew into a very important commercial and naval center and controlled

3330-530: The city of Viareggio was still marshland and not inhabited. Around 1000 A.D. the first hostilities between Lucca and Pisa arose, aimed at gaining control over the coast of the Versila, which since the High Middle Ages had been nothing more than a forest owned by feudal lords in constant rivalry with each other. The first mention of Viareggio dates back to 1169 when a wooden tower guarding the coast

3404-456: The city of the dominion over the giudicati of Cagliari and Gallura . Given the difficult economic and political situation of the now decadent Republic, on February 13, 1399, the lord of Pisa Gherardo Appiani sold the city and the countryside for the sum of 200,000 gold florins to Gian Galeazzo Visconti of the Pisan branch of the Visconti family to become lord of Piombino and obtain

3478-457: The city were destroyed. After the war, the reconstruction finally began, but the city's appearance had changed dramatically. Today Viareggio is still a renowned seaside resort and is widely famous for its carnival and shipbuilding industry. Late in the evening of June 29, 2009, a train carrying liquified petroleum gas derailed while approaching Viareggio's railway station. The ensuing explosion killed 32 people, injured many others, and destroyed

3552-723: The city which, in the past centuries had spread its Romanesque architectural style, even in Sardinian churches. Suffocated the commercial and merchant traffic, which had characterized its efficiency for centuries, some of the most important Pisan families such as the Alliata , the Della Gherardesca , the Caetani and the Upezzinghi, to escape the Florentine domination, emigrated to other Italian city-states, in particular to

3626-482: The city. The current coat of arms consists of an anchor with a hawser placed on top of a white, red and green shield. Viareggio was one of the first municipalities to adopt the tricolore (later to become the official flag of the unified Italy) for its coat of arm; even before Italy was officially unified. During the 3rd century BC, the mountains of Versilia were slowly invaded by the Ligurian tribes who, coming from

3700-460: The entire state economy, was defended by some towers on the sea and on the land side by a fortified system of fortresses on the hills behind, having Lari as the seat of the captaincy of the upper hills, Crespina , Fauglia , Castellina, Rosignano and finally Livorno with the plan of Porto Pisano , essential outlet to dominate the western Mediterranean, while the area that intersected the Arno with

3774-455: The future of Viareggio which, from that moment, became the focus of Lucca's efforts to turn the town into its centre for commercial activities, and, in addition to the square-plan tower erected in (1534) with the aim to protect the port, several settlements started appearing. The 17th century was perhaps one of the most difficult periods for the 300 inhabitants of Viareggio; the area was insalubrious, malaria and other deadly epidemic diseases made

SECTION 50

#1732772363531

3848-494: The height above sea level of the town hall. List of the first comuni by population in descending order, according to ISTAT data updated to 28 February 2022. The regional capitals are in bold. The data is updated as of 1 January 2021. The data is updated as of 1 January 2021. Republic of Pisa The republic's participation in the Crusades secured valuable commercial positions for Pisan traders, thereafter

3922-459: The highest temperature of the year being around 35 °C (95 °F). The primary sectors of Viareggio's economy are tourism, commerce and services, include fishing and floriculture (the flowers of Versilia ). The city also houses prolific shipyards . At the beginning of the 19th century, craftsmen from Viareggio built small fishing vessels along the banks of the Burlamacca canal. As

3996-448: The lives of fishermen and farmers extremely difficult. Lucca, on the other hand, increased its efforts to drain the marshlands to improve quality of life and encouraged migration to the new town. Slowly Viareggio changed its appearance; two small churches and as many factories were built, followed by a number of small shops. Meanwhile its port became more active, while the cultivation of the drained fields started. In 1701 Viareggio became

4070-422: The local sovereigns. During these years Viareggio's economy saw a very rapid expansion through its already recognised beach tourism and the newly expanding sailboat industry. Its population increased from 300 in 1740 to 6,549 in 1841. The beginning of the 20th century saw again a marked development of the coast and tourism industry, which caused a drastic change to most of the beach. The Passeggiata or promenade

4144-426: The major islands of the Tyrrhenian Sea : After the defeat of Meloria in 1284, the territory of the Republic gradually became more continental, limiting itself to the coast and to the immediate hinterland that from Migliarino to Piombino , with the islands of Elba , Gorgona , Pianosa , Giglio and Giannutri and the exclaves of Castiglione della Pescaia and Porto Ercole . The important Pisan port, key to

4218-697: The north, stretched their area of influence as far south as the river Arno . In 180 BC the Romans defeated the Ligurians and started colonising the Versilia (the areas known today as Massaciuccoli, Camaiore , Pietrasanta ). The most widely accepted theory recognises the city's name as deriving from the Latin Via Regis ("Kings' Road"), the name of the Medieval road linking the fortification built on

4292-523: The now ever-present papier mâché – used to build the floats featured during its parades – was first introduced in 1925. The official masks of the Carnival are Burlamacco and Ondina, drawn for the first time in 1930. Since 1954, RAI broadcasts the entire event on national TV. Since 2001, the craftsmen of the carnival have moved to the Cittadella del Carnevale or, literally, Carnival Town. The city

4366-474: The other events organized around the year, it is worth mentioning the Festival Gaber , which has been held every August since 2004 to celebrate the memory of Giorgio Gaber , and is attended by several high-profile Italian musicians. The current coat of arms was chosen in 1848 and replaces the previous one dating back to 1752, which showed an image of Saint Anthony from Padua , the first patron saint of

4440-542: The period of great political and economic expansion, the republic had its own consoles with commercial farms and warehouses in many seaside cities: Gaeta , Naples , Salerno , Messina , Palermo , Trapani , Mazara del Vallo and in Tunis . Pisan troops were among the first to conquer Jerusalem in 1099 , and were led by their archbishop, Dagobert , the future Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem . With significant presences in

4514-605: The principles consolidated in medieval municipalities , the comune is provided for by article 114 of the Constitution of Italy . It can be divided into frazioni , which in turn may have limited power due to special elective assemblies. In the autonomous region of the Aosta Valley , a comune is officially called a commune in French. The comune provides essential public services: registry of births and deaths, registry of deeds , and maintenance of local roads and public works. Many comuni have

SECTION 60

#1732772363531

4588-425: The promenade known as "Passeggiata a mare", in the weeks of Carnival . The symbol of the carnival of Viareggio and its official mask is Burlamacco , designed and invented by Uberto Bonetti in 1930. The city traces its roots back to the first half of the 16th century when it became the only sea port for the Republic of Lucca . The oldest building in Viareggio, known as Torre Matilde , dates back to this time and

4662-611: The public beach is part of the Parco Naturale Regionale Migliarino-San Rossore-Massaciuccoli. Viareggio borders the local municipalities of Camaiore , Massarosa and Vecchiano ) (PI). The municipal area comprises the Lake of Massaciuccoli and several canals, the most important ones of which are known as Burlamacca, Farabola, Fossa dell'Abate (bordering the municipality of Camaiore ), and Fosso Le Quindici. Viareggio has

4736-443: The running of schools, social services and waste collection; the delegated functions vary from comune to comune . These bodies are headed by an elected president and a local council. Smaller comuni usually comprise: Sometimes a frazione might be more populated than the capoluogo ; and rarely, owing to unusual circumstances (like depopulation), the town hall and its administrative functions can be moved to one of

4810-431: The scene of important Battle of Cascina . Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina was long disputed by Volterra. The Maremma territory south of the port of Vada was administered in the name of the republic by the Pisan counts of Della Gherardesca family with the castles located in numerous cities such as of Guardistallo , Bibbona , Riparbella and Suvereto . The rivalry between Pisa and Republic of Genoa intensified in

4884-437: The southeast: the Libeccio and the Ponente, which batter the coast for two to three days in a row, cause severe storms. During winter months (Dec-Feb), high temperatures can vary between 14–15 °C (57–59 °F) and 4–5 °C (39–41 °F), while night time temperatures can reach below 0 °C (32 °F) on average 24 times a year. In the summer (Jun-Aug), temperatures peak around 31–33 °C (88–91 °F), with

4958-429: The title of città usually carry the golden crown above their coat of arms, except with different provisions in the decree approving the coat of arms or in the presence). "The crown of the city ([...]) is formed by a golden circle opened by eight city gates (five visible) with two cordoned walls on the margins, supporting eight towers (five visible) joined by curtain walls, all in gold and black walled." The following

5032-427: The word is occasionally found: the comune of Leonessa , for example, is divided into sesti or sixths. There are not many perfect homonymous comuni . There are only six cases in 12 comuni : This is mostly due to the fact the name of the province or region was appended to the name of the comune in order to avoid the confusion. Two provincial capitals share the name Reggio : Reggio nell'Emilia ,

5106-429: Was also affected by the pestilence which, recounted by Giovanni Boccaccio in his masterpiece the Decameron , spread throughout the whole of Italy. In these years Florence expanded its control over Tuscany . Lucca, however, managed to maintain its independence in exchange for hefty financial penalties. On September 10, 1513, Pope Leo X removed the port of Motrone from the control of Lucca. This directly affected

5180-463: Was assigned the new Duchy of Lucca . The years to come would wipe out any good action that had been taken during the Napoleonic rule, although the new ruler would contribute to the town's expansion by building its first marina (seaside). In 1820 Viareggio obtained the status of city. Following the death of his mother (March 13, 1824), Charles Louis of Parma took over the government of Lucca and greatly contributed to Viareggio's expansion, by building

5254-407: Was born, with its cafés and shops, contributing to turning the city into the "Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea." Wood was very widely used in most buildings, and in 1917, a large portion of the city was lost in fire in only one night. It was only during the fascist era that wood would finally be replaced by other materials. During World War II Viareggio was subject to heavy bombings and entire suburbs of

5328-505: Was built by the Lucchesi in 1541 as a defensive fortification to fight the constant menace of corsair incursions. Viareggio is also an active industrial and manufacturing centre; its shipbuilding industry has long been renowned around the world and its fishing and floricultural industries are still fundamental sectors to the city's economy. Viareggio hosts the Premio letterario Viareggio Répaci for literature, established in 1929. Amongst

5402-403: Was built. A little over two years later, in (1172) a military building named Turris de Via Regia was erected, taking its name from the road that linked it to Lucca (known today as via Montramito). In the following years the area around Viareggio, was involved in the hostilities between Pisa and Lucca, in their attempt to gain control over the coastal area. The conflict was spurred by the desire of

5476-408: Was on its banks that the first maritime activities developed. In 1740, Bernardino Zendrini had a water-gate built in order to prevent the sea water from reaching lake Massaciuccoli. In 1820 Maria Luisa , duchess of Lucca , had the first marina of Viareggio built. It was completed in 1823 and took the name of Marina of Lucca. Between 1871 and 1873 the so-called Marina of Tuscany was built, followed by

#530469