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The History Elegance of the Liberty style - Some affirm that the name “Viareggio” comes from Via Regia, one of the most important streets of the ancient city. Others say that the word “Viareggio” comes from Vicus Regis because Ragius or Regiis were the imperial appellation used to identify it. The name “Viareggio” therefore comes from the combination of Vicus and Regius.
About 1000 years later, the area, where the city of Viareggio currently stands, was a boundless swampy area where stagnant waters would facilitate the proliferation of bugs.
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In 1171, after decades spent quarrelling against Pisans and after having contributed to the accession of the city of Genoa to Pisans’ disadvantage, Lucca inhabitants built a fortified castle, less than 40 meter high, surrounded by other low wall fortifications.
The outpost known as Castrum di Via Regia was an essential element to the city of Lucca for it to develop trade along the coast.
In 1460 swamy areas and the coast started to be drained according to the project of Lionello in order to create a commercial harbour. Some documents, dated from that period, report that the Government of Lucca offered landholdings to those people who decided to take part in the drainage project.
The following political events, the end of the disputes between Pisa and Genoa and the prompt starting of the war between Pisa and Florence suggested Lucca inhabitants to consolidate the defence of the harbour and of Barlamucca channel by building a tower called Matilde, which is the real symbol and fulcrum of the more recent history of Viareggio.
In 1823 the first seaside establishment was inaugurated. In that period Mary Louise of Bourbon ordered to create different entrances and boot-topping for men and women. “Dori” and “Nero” bathing establishments were created and in 1870 “Balena” and “Nettuno” were added to the previous ones.
New prospects started to be foreseen, when in 1871 the first hotel of the city was inaugurated; the hotel was called Plaza e de Russie Hotel in honour of the Russian aristocracy, whose members??4?? often spent their holidays in the Versilia region.
During the first years of the 20th century, Viareggio was enriched by splendid Liberty style palaces and luxury shops thanks to an increasing tourist demand, unusual for that period. It became an international window, where the splendour of the high society matched with the artistic and literary fervour of that period, deserving therafter the appellation of “Tyrrhenian Pearl”.
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