Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
FISH & CHIPS
Forget Viareggio's eateries - too many of which smack of seaside tack - on the seafront. Rather, join
locals standing in line at
La Barchina
( 347 7212848; noon-3pm Tue-Fri, to 11pm Sat & Sun),
a small white boat moored at the harbour which cooks up the morning's catch for lunch. The hot item
to order is
fritto misto
(€7), a mix of squid, prawns and octopus battered, deep-fried and served with a
huge friendly smile from Sandro Zani or son Andrea in plastic punnets. Friday cooks up
baccalà
(cod)
and veggie lovers are catered for on weekdays with small/large punnets of
funghi fritti
(€5/8, fried
mushrooms). The queue runs up to 30 minutes in high season, but no one seems to mind. To find the
barchina
(boat), walk to the harbour end of seafront promenade Viale Regina Margherita and duck un-
der the white iron footbridge crossing the canal; the boat is almost opposite Tito del Molo on water-
front Lungomolo Corraldo del Greco.
Information
Tourist office
(
05 8496 2233;
www.aptversilia.it
; Viale Regina Margherita 20;
9am-2pm & 3-7pm
Mon-Sat)
Across from the clock on the waterfront.
Getting There & Away
TRAIN
To hit the sea from the
train station
(Piazza Dante Alighieri)
, exit and walk straight ahead along
Via XX Settembre for 10 minutes. Regional train services:
Florence
(€9, 1½ hours, at least hourly)
Livorno
(€5.10, 35 minutes, 16 daily)
Lucca
(€3.30, 20 minutes, every 20 minutes)
Pietrasanta
(€2.50, 10 minutes, every 10 minutes)
Pisa
(€3.30, 15 minutes, every 20 minutes)
