Forte dei Marmi — Pietrasanta — Monte Preti Loop

This route distils the essence of Versilia cycling: it begins at sea level in glamorous Forte dei Marmi, climbs inland to the art capital of Pietrasanta, then ascends further into the Versilian hills to reach Monte Preti for panoramic views of both the coast and the Apuan Alps, before descending back to the sea through pine forests and olive groves. From Forte dei Marmi, the route heads inland on the via Aurelia towards Pietrasanta — a 10km transition from coastal glamour to the Renaissance squares and sculptor studios of the art town. Pietrasanta deserves a stop: a coffee in Piazza Duomo, perhaps a browse of the Forti gallery, the extraordinary market on Thursday mornings. Beyond Pietrasanta, the route begins its ascent into the Versilian hills through olive groves and stone farmhouses, the sea beginning to appear below. The climb to Monte Preti (580m) is sustained but never brutal — a steady 8-9% average gradient for about 12km. The summit rewards immediately with one of Versilia's finest panoramas: the entire coast from Marina di Massa to Viareggio laid out below, the Apuan Alps on the opposite side, and on clear days Corsica visible on the horizon.