Are you looking for a coastal getaway in the New Year?

Located on the coast of Tuscany in northern Italy, this stretch of coast features sandy beaches backed by hills. The beach resorts include a mixture of upscale, quiet towns, and commercial night-spots, while there's plenty to discover in the Tuscan countryside, or cities like Lucca, Pisa, and Firenze (Florence).

At Gruppo UNA, we adore this coastal area, and we'd love to welcome you to our hotels at UNAWAY Hotel Forte dei Marmi and Versilia Lido | UNA Esperienze.

Both offer premium comfort, fine food and attentive service. But what really makes them appealing is Versilia itself, which visitors fall in love with whenever they come.

Discover Versilia's beaches for your Italy travel in 2019.

Above all, the Versilia Riviera is a place to unwind by the sea, and resorts like Forte dei Marmi and Torre del Lago offer everything beach lovers could desire.

Most of the area's beaches are Blue Flag certified, putting them among Europe's cleanest swimming spots. They tend to stretch for miles, are ideal for sunbathing, offer plenty of water sports to try, sun loungers to rent, and warm waters that aren't too deep.

At sunset, visitors can choose to retire to Gruppo UNA properties to enjoy a glass of wine on our terraces, or dive straight into the coast's famous nightlife. Marmi is especially lively. You'll encounter venues like La Capannina, where JFK once drank, and celebrities like James Brown and Grace Jones have hit the dance floor.

So if you want to enjoy a traditional break by the sea where you can perfect your tan and party till dawn, it's more than possible in Versilia. But that's not the whole story. Not at all.

Enjoy the region's fantastic cultural attractions.

The Versilia Riviera is also a wonderful destination for people who want to incorporate some cultural delights into their Italy travel in 2019. The Versiliana Festival is a highlight. Mixing cabaret, circus acts, live music, theatre performances and much more, it arrives in Pietrasanta every August and shouldn't be missed.

In fact, Piertrasanta is an artistic goldmine, with some exceptional architecture and galleries for visitors to explore. From the jaw-dropping marble Duomo to the birthplace of the poet Carducci, the "Little Athens" of Versilia is a joy to visit.

And in Viareggio, you can enjoy a feast of art at the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (GAMC). It's home to more than 3,000 European works, including paintings by big names like Miro and Picasso, as well as touring exhibitions.

Hire a car and visit Tuscany's iconic destinations.

But why limit yourself to the coastal plain? Of course, we love the resorts and towns of Versilia, but a quick glance at the map shows that visitors are a short drive from some incredible inland attractions. You can easily hire a car with the help of your Gruppo UNA concierge, so feel free to ask at the desk. Tuscany has so many wonders that it's well worth the expense.

For example, Lucca is extremely close, and it's a wonderful day trip. One of the centres of the Renaissance, Lucca is most famous as a musical city, thanks to its world famous opera festival, which takes place every summer at the Teatro del Giglio. But if the festival isn't on, the medieval walls, over 100 ancient churches and the peaceful Botanical Gardens will keep you busy for a day or more.

Then there's the incomparable Firenze. Also a short drive from Versilia, Firenze is one of the world's artistic hubs. See a huge array of masterworks in the Uffizi Gallery, walk arm in arm over the Ponte Vecchio, and take in endless Renaissance palaces.

Explore the coast and countryside at your leisure.

When you've visited Firenze, and you're tired of the beach, there are plenty of other things to do and places to see within a short drive of the Versilia Riviera.

If you're a wine fan, you could treat yourself to a Tuscan wine tour. The region is responsible for several world famous varieties, including Chianti, Montalcino, and Montepulciano. There are vineyard tours which take in the finest producers of all of these wines. Just ask at your hotel desk, and staff will make sure you're booked in.

Don't miss Tuscany's smaller towns and villages. The region is rightly famous for its picturesque hilltop towns like Sam Gimignano and Cortona. If you need some stunning photos, these towns will deliver.

And as you go, arrange some pitstops at rural restaurants. Savour fine food and wine, sit back and let the afternoon drift by in idyllic surroundings, before returning to your Gruppo UNA hotel. Sounds like a dream? Not at all. Just make a booking with us, and we'll make sure you have an unforgettable stay.