A Local’s Forte dei Marmi, Curated by Sara Maestrelli

Bagno Assunta

With its green-and-blue changing cabins and striped tents, Bagno Assunta is old-school Forte at its best. Go for a swim, then spend the afternoon in the shade with a focaccia and nowhere else to be.

Il Mercato di Forte dei Marmi · Forte dei Marmi

Il Mercato di Forte dei Marmi

The market is as much a social ritual as it is a place to shop. I typically cycle there early in the morning with my mother or friends, buying linen shirts and kimonos in May and June, then cashmere sweaters and leather bags as summer draws to a close.

Pizzeria Focacceria Orlando · Forte dei Marmi

Orlando

One of Forte’s last wonderfully retro restaurants, Orlando is a full 1980s throwback. It’s known for its little focaccia sandwiches filled with peas, onions, or arselle—simple, slightly eccentric, and completely local.

Apuan Alps · Forte dei Marmi

The Apuan Alps

These immense marble mountains rise almost directly behind the sea, giving Forte its unmistakable landscape. I love escaping there for a hike; within half an hour, summer on the coast feels very far away.

La Cesteria di Forte dei Marmi · Forte dei Marmi

La Cestaia

A tiny institution devoted entirely to wicker: baskets, trays, lamps, and almost anything else you could want for the house. Every summer, I buy their placemats in a slightly different shade.

Bagno Gilda · Forte dei Marmi

Gilda

My favorite place for spaghetti alle arselle, served by the beach beneath a canopy of maritime pines.

Tennis Roma Costanza e Marco · Forte dei Marmi

Tennis Roma Costanza e Marco

Clay courts hidden among the villas and pine trees of Roma Imperiale. A match at sunset, when the heat begins to lift, is one of my favorite Forte rituals.

Pensione America · Forte dei Marmi

Pensione America

Our very own 1920s pensione, brought back to life with a garden, a pool, and a certain playful glamour. I love it for aperitivo under the trees and fresh pasta at dinner—though I may be slightly biased!

Villa Roma Imperiale · Forte dei Marmi

Villa Roma Imperiale

When someone asks me where to stay to feel as though they’ve been summering in Forte since the 70s, this is where I send them. It’s intimate, discreet, and surrounded by one of the loveliest gardens in Roma Imperiale.

Giovanni del Forte 1980 · Forte dei Marmi

Giovanni del Forte 1980

The place for sandals made by hand and entirely to order. Choose the leather, color, and shape, and you’ll leave with a pair of sandals—or zoccoli—that are entirely your own.