Another classic Russian summer holiday destination is Forte dei Marmi, on the north-west coast of Italy. It seems to be a town that only comes to life in the tourist season. It’s not the easiest place to get to with flights to and from Florence or Bologna (or further, Milan), but there are a few things that make it worth while. Top of that list, for me, is the amazing villas you can rent. You can find houses with real character and history, plus many modern conveniences such as up-to-date kitchens and en-suite bathrooms. There are many apartments and modern villas too, some with their own gardens. I think everywhere in the town is within ten minutes’ walk from the beach, which is probably the main attraction. It is clean, light brown fine sand. The sea is, as expected, very clean, although being sandy it is not the clearest water. It is great for sunbathing and quiet play in the sand. More active beach sports are more restricted because much of the beach is rented out in little squares with a couple of sun loungers, a sun-shade and a box for your belongings. For the benefit of relaxation, football, volleyball and anything similarly energetic can be played in dedicated areas away from the main beach.
This is a wonderful place to learn to swim and the sea is not the only attraction. There are swimming pools very near the beach that offer a slightly calmer, more orderly environment for young learners. There are swimming lanes and you can easily find a swimming coach for private classes. Hotels will surely have their own activities but if you look around you can find a wide range of options. Our family had cycling classes (up to the mountains), excursions to local towns, swimming classes, children’s entertainers for birthday parties and a private chef. It seems most people here speak English- there are a few Russian speakers, if you can track them down. English will get you by.
Away from the sea there are several parks and playgrounds, plus a few small fun-parks for kids. Little electric boats, go-carts and carousels are some of the attractions, plus trampolines- which are always popular with kids. You can rent bikes to get around and for extra fun you can get trikes and even four-wheeled rickshaws for four people- just make sure they are pedalling at the back! Bikes make it really fun to ride up and down the beach, dropping in to ice-cream parlours and cafés along the way. There are several roads dividing up the town but traffic is calm and if the kids have good road sense they will be absolutely fine. We cycled around without any problems.
One of the best things about this area is trips you can do into the Liguria region. It is picturesque and dotted with pleasant little towns, artisanal shops, cultural heritage and relaxed town squares for refreshments. It is well worth driving around and exploring. Perhaps the best trip is to Portofino, a picturesque and exclusive port with the most beautiful views. From there you can get boat trips around the coast: one we did was to an old monastery- Abbazia di San Fruttuoso. It is interesting for children and adults- a really good experience.
Back near the town there is a football club where you can do a course for a day, a week or a month. It is cycling distance (10 minutes) from the town and often they get some semi-famous footballer to draw an audience. There is also tennis the same distance from the town. Overall the atmosphere in town is friendly, safe and fun.
Overview
+ great beach with mountain views
+ great opportunities for sports activities
+ great accommodation
- not the easiest to get to
- need private transport for full experience