Tirrenia Holidays

Built in the Fifties, Tirrenia is a small but lively seaside town a short drive from Pisa. It’s a big hitter with Italian holidaymakers, largely because of its Art Deco hotels lining golden sands and its backdrop of fragrant pine forests. Plus, it’s a bona fide family destination, serving up everything from golf courses to theme parks, but with enough discos and bars to pull in the after-dark crowd, too.

With a 10-kilometre golden curl of sand, Tirrenia is rightly proud of its Blue Flag beach. There are pine forests separating the sand from the main road, so it’s got an out-of-the-way feel, and the gently shelving shoreline means the beach is a safe spot for children. Some sections are hotel-owned, while at others you’ll find lidos offering retro deck chairs and waitress service. And there are plenty of watersports for the taking, too.

For a little town, Tirrenia lays on the attractions thick. There's the newly built Sunlight Park waterpark a stone’s throw from the beach, as well as Luna Park, an all-year funfair with arcades, dodgems and circus acts. Golf enthusiasts will find 2 courses – an old-school 9-hole course and a more challenging 18-holer. For a full-on escape to the country, the surrounding San Rossore National Park has trails and bundles of wildlife.

A 30-minute bus journey away is Pisa, one of the jewels in Tuscany’s crown. At Piazza dei Miracoli, you can climb the 294-step spiral staircase to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and then visit the cathedral church next door. They’re just 10 minutes’ walk from a raft of trendy trattorias, cafés and shops by the banks of the Arno River.