Things to do in Versilia in November and December 2026: events, trips and ideas

Things to do in winter · 5 min read

November and December are the months when Versilia goes back to the people who live here. The beach clubs are closed, the Passeggiata empties, the Apuan Alps turn white and the crisp, clear days of the north wind arrive over the sea. There's none of the summer chaos and not yet the Carnival frenzy: it's the right time for village fairs, new olive oil, chestnuts, museums and the first Christmas lights. Here's what is really happening in 2026, with dates we checked on official sources and, where the programme isn't out yet, where to check.

What Versilia is like in November and December

The climate is mild by Italian standards, but it isn't summer: sunny days with spotless skies alternate with spells of rain and rough seas. Bring a waterproof jacket and comfortable shoes. Many beach clubs and some seafront restaurants close for the season, while bars, pastry shops and trattorias in the town centres stay open. On the plus side, accommodation is cheaper than in summer and you'll find a room almost anywhere, except over long weekends and New Year.

November is the month of new olive oil and village fairs: Versilia without the crowds.

November 2026: confirmed dates

Pietrasanta, St Martin's Summer (7–11 November)

St Martin is Pietrasanta's patron saint. The town council has confirmed the fair on 7 and 8 November 2026 in Piazza Duomo and Piazza Carducci, in front of the town theatre and, for the first time, along the first stretch of Via Garibaldi: 36 stalls with local and seasonal produce, open from 8am to 8pm. From 7 to 11 November several restaurants in the centre serve special menus with tordelli, chestnuts, cavolo nero, wild boar and castagnaccio. On 11 November, the saint's day, there's a solemn mass at 6pm in the cathedral followed by the flag-wavers of the La Cervia district in the square. If you love art, pair the fair with a walk among the sculptures in the centre (read our Pietrasanta guide).

PietrasantaKlaus at La Versiliana (13–15 November)

This is the market that opens the Christmas season in Versilia. It's held in the villa and park of La Versiliana in Marina di Pietrasanta from 13 to 15 November 2026, Friday 2pm–7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 9.30am–7.30pm, with free entry. You'll find decorations, crafts, sweets and something hot to drink. The park is lovely in winter too: see our Marina di Pietrasanta guide.

Camaiore, Prim'olio e primo vino (21–22 November)

November is the month of new olive oil, the green, peppery kind you taste on a slice of toasted bread. On 21 and 22 November 2026 Camaiore's old town hosts the seventeenth edition of Prim'olio e primo vino ("first oil and first wine"), from 10am to 8pm: farms, oil, wine, honey and chestnuts, plus a contest for the best oil. To know what to order afterwards, read our guide to Versilia's typical dishes.

Torre del Lago, the Puccini anniversary (29 November)

Giacomo Puccini died on 29 November 1924. In 2026 the Fondazione Simonetta Puccini is also celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the Villa Museo in Torre del Lago, with an event on 29 November itself. The lakeside villa where the composer is buried is a perfect visit for a grey afternoon (see Lake Massaciuccoli and Torre del Lago).

December 2026: lights, markets and skating

From late November the coast lights up. Here's what is already official:

• Pietrasanta: the Christmas lights are scheduled to be switched on on 20 November, with Christmas markets in the centre on weekends from 20 November to 20 December and wooden huts in Piazza Duomo from 4 to 8 December.
• Forte dei Marmi: from 28 November 2026, lights in town, a market in Piazza Dante, an ice rink in the Tarabella pine wood and Santa's Kingdom at the Fortino, with the opening and a torchlit procession from the sea to the pier the same day from 5pm.
• Lucca: Lucca Magico Natale starts on 22 November, with the market in Piazza Napoleone until 6 January.
• Viareggio and Torre del Lago: on 20 October the council approved lights and decorations worth over €120,000, but as of 4 November the 2026 events programme has not been published yet. It usually comes out between late November and early December on the council website.

All the details are in our guides to Christmas markets in Versilia and Christmas in Viareggio.

Five ideas for days without events

1. The Passeggiata in a north wind: low light, choppy sea and snowy Apuan peaks in the background. It's Viareggio at its most photogenic (Passeggiata guide).
2. Cacciucco: the fish stew tastes better in winter, slowly and with no queue. Here's how to choose it.
3. A train trip to Lucca or Pisa: December is perfect for Lucca's walls and the Field of Miracles without the summer crowds (Lucca, Pisa).
4. The Apuan Alps: on clear days the low trails are wonderful, but higher up there may be snow and ice. Choose easy routes and check conditions first (easy hikes).
5. Birdwatching at Massaciuccoli: winter is migratory bird season at the LIPU reserve.

Looking ahead: Carnival 2027

If you're coming back after the holidays, note the dates: the Carnival Foundation has already published the six parades of the Viareggio Carnival 2027, from 30 January to 20 February. Tickets and tips are in our Viareggio Carnival guide. For more off-season ideas, see Viareggio in winter.

Sources: Comune di Pietrasanta – Estate di San Martino 2026, LaVersilia.it – PietrasantaKlaus 2026, Lucca24 – Prim'olio e primo vino 2026, La Nazione, 6 ottobre 2026, Luccalive, 20 ottobre 2026, VisitForte – Natale al Forte 2026/2027, Turismo Lucca – Lucca Magico Natale 2026, LaVersilia.it – Villa Museo Puccini, Fondazione Carnevale di Viareggio. General information: opening times, prices and dates change, so always check the official websites.