LOCAL INFORMATION


The area around Peralta is a combination of flat coastal plain and dramatic mountain scenery where medieval towns and villages abound. Camaiore the nearest town is a charming town with plenty of services and activities, markets and restaurants. all within a 20 to 40 minute drive. Within a 20 to 40 minute drive are the chic beaches of Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi, the lively town of Pietrasanta, home of many artists and stone sculptors, the marble quarries of Carrara, Pisa and the famous walled city of Lucca.

To the north-east is the mountainous area of the Garfagnana, with its ancient stone villages, waterfalls and hiking paths with breathtaking views. Visit Florence, San Gimignano, Siena, the Chianti-region, the Maremma, the Cinque Terre and Portofino, all one to two hours away.

BAR DA PIETRO
Visit the website


PIEVE DI CAMAIORE
La Pieve with the ancient Romanesque Church founded in 816 A.D..

PIETRASANTA
View See Pietrasanta's main square in real time on the Pietrasanta Webcam


VIAREGGIO

CAMAIORE
Historic town with important monuments such as he Collegiate Church of Maria Assunta (13th century) with the 14th century bel tower and the 7th century Abbazia Benedettina. Nearby is

Street Markets: These are mornings only (to 13:00 or earlier) & sell mainly clothes and domestic products (very little food). The best for clothes is Forte dei Marmi on Wednesdays, followed by Viareggio on Thursdays. Also Pietrasanta has a small market on Thursdays.There is a permanent small market in Viareggio all day, every day (shoes, clothes, etc). Camaiore has its market on Fridays - delicious cooked chickens which sell out quite quickly and a wonderful cheese stall. Also all the usual clothes, shoes, cooking equipment, etc. Lido di Camaiore on Mondays
The morning market in Lucca is on Saturdays and takes place outside the walls.
Daily fruit and veg market (covered market) in Pietrasanta

Antique Markets:
Lucca has an antique market on the third Saturday & Sunday of every month.
Pietrasanta has antique/brocante market on the first Sunday of each month. Good market and it is fun to have a drink there at the end of the day and 'people watch', especially in the café at the end of the square (the one with canvas chairs)

LUCCA

Lucca Tourist Information: 0583 419 689
Many of the shops in Lucca are closed on Mondays. It is great fun to rent bikes - you can bike around the ramparts and also bikes seem to take precedence over cars in the town itself. Also tapes + earphones can be rented as a guide to the town. Many of our guests have found this to be very useful.

Pisa Tourist Information: 050 42291
As well as the Leaning Tower and the Duomo, Pisa has a wonderful old town with lots of shops, beautiful buildings and great little restaurants.
Puccini Festival at Torre del Lago in July and August.

Banks: The Banca Toscana is open from 8:20 to 13:20 and from 14:45 to 15:45. There are several cash dispensers in Camaiore: Banca Toscana in middle of town, Intessa in square at other end of town, Risparmio di Lucca in main pedestrian street, etc.

Supermarkets: The closest supermarket is Conad in Camaiore (open all day & Sunday to 1pm). Take the Camaiore by-pass and then turn right at the second set of traffic lights. Turn right at the T junction and it is about 25 yards down on the righthandside, just set off the road with parking in front. There is a café just before the entrance. Much smaller than the Coop but still excellent fruit & veg and very good value. Open through lunchtime.The Coop in Viareggio (this side of town - go over the railway crossing and then it is straight ahead of you and signposted. It has very fresh fish, great fruit and veg. Open 8:30 to 20:00 and Sunday mornings to 1pm in the high season. The Esselunga supermarkets in Viareggio and Lido de Camaiore are open all day on Sunday. Follow the road to Viareggio and then take signs for the railway station. Esselunga is on the left before you reach the station.

Pieve shops: Past church to T-junction. Turn right.
Fruit, Veg., Grocery: Apart from the supermarkets, Lilia and her husband Stefano in Pieve have a good selection of fruit & veg., and always fresh - also a good selection of hams, cheeses, etc. The local cheese is Pecorino (sheep's milk), and the best proscuitto in the shop is Parma "dolce". This is our closest grocery and greengrocer and we highly recommended it. It is next door to Marco's bar & pizzeria (Bar da Pietro).

Cleaners,Laundry: One at top end of pedestrian street, one at bottom end. Both on left hand side.
Chemists: They close at 12:30 and open again at 16:00 until 19:30. The closest is this end of Camaiore, on the roundabout. Go down to the main road, turn right and do not take the bypass but go straight towards the town. Gas station on the right and chemist on left.

General Opening Hours: Most food shops shut from 13:00 to 16:00/16:30 and most stay open until 19:00 at least. Other shops shut somewhere between 12:00 and 12:45 and do not open again until 16:00/16:30.
Early Closing: Pieve shops and Camaiore food shops are closed on Wednesday afternoons. Conad supermarket remains open.