Viareggio

Viareggio's Carnival, running since 1873, is one of Italy's most celebrated, with papier-mâché floats parading along the seafront promenade — the Passeggiata a mare — since 1925, led by the official mask Burlamacco, designed by Uberto Bonetti in 1930. This Tuscan coastal town on the Ligurian Sea also draws visitors for its Art Nouveau architecture, a walkable waterfront, and a lively food-and-drink scene. The 1541 Torre Matilde, built as a defence against corsair raids, is the oldest surviving structure. A literary prize, the Premio Viareggio Répaci, has been awarded here since 1929.

• Population62,169
• Nearest water0.2 km
• Nearest mountain14.6 km
• UNESCO within 50 km7