Tirrenia is a
frazione
A ''frazione'' (plural: ) is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' (municipality) in Italy, often a small village or hamlet outside the main town. Most ''frazioni'' were created during the Fascist era (1922–1943) as a way to consolidate territ ...
(parish) of
Pisa
Pisa ( , or ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, central Italy, straddling the Arno just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower, the cit ...
,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
with a population of 3,112 inhabitants. Immersed in the pine forest of the "Litorale Pisano" and in the coast of
Ligurian Sea
The Ligurian Sea ( it, Mar Ligure; french: Mer Ligurienne; lij, Mâ Ligure) is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea. It lies between the Italian Riviera (Liguria) and the island of Corsica. The sea is thought to have been named after the ancient L ...
(even if the name of the village refers to
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea (; it, Mar Tirreno , french: Mer Tyrrhénienne , sc, Mare Tirrenu, co, Mari Tirrenu, scn, Mari Tirrenu, nap, Mare Tirreno) is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy. It is named for the Tyrrhenian pe ...
, in
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
''Mar Tirreno''), Tirrenia is situated in the centre of the coast of
Tuscany
Tuscany ( ; it, Toscana ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of about 3.8 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence (''Firenze'').
Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, art ...
and next to the ''Parco Naturale Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli'', between
Pisa
Pisa ( , or ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, central Italy, straddling the Arno just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower, the cit ...
and
Livorno
Livorno () is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 158,493 residents in December 2017. It is traditionally known in English as Leghorn (pronou ...
.
In between
Marina di Pisa
Marina di Pisa is a seaside resort of Tuscany, in central Italy.
It is a ''frazione'' of the provincial capital of Pisa, which lies about 10 km to the east.
Geography
Marina di Pisa lies on the left bank of the Arno River, where it flows i ...
and
Calambrone
Calambrone is a village in Tuscany, central Italy, administratively a frazione of the comune of Pisa, province of Pisa
The province of Pisa ( it, provincia di Pisa) is a Provinces of Italy, province in the Tuscany region of central Italy. Its ca ...
, Tirrenia is a destination for Italian and, more generally, European seaside tourism.
History
The village was founded during the
fascist
Fascism is a far-right, Authoritarianism, authoritarian, ultranationalism, ultra-nationalist political Political ideology, ideology and Political movement, movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and pol ...
regime.
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (; 29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who founded and led the National Fascist Party. He was Prime Minister of Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 until his deposition in 194 ...
had this once swamped village transformed into what he called "The Pearl of the Mediterranean Sea." Many architects from all over Italy were called upon to build centres for orphans and houses for the rich. In the 1930s, places for studying film were constructed, and la Pisorno was built to expand the ideal of fascism in Italy and to make propaganda. Today, in the area of Tirrenia near
Livorno
Livorno () is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 158,493 residents in December 2017. It is traditionally known in English as Leghorn (pronou ...
, the old colonies built by Mussolini for orphans are being restored since they were abandoned after
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. These colonies will be used as tourist attractions.
In the early 1950s
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
troops established the military complex
Camp Darby
The Darby Military Community, previously known as Camp Darby, is a United States military complex in Italy located between Pisa and Livorno. It is under Italian military control and can be managed anytime by Italian authorities. The Northern part ...
not far from Tirrenia. Subsequently, American families began to rent villas and flats in Tirrenia. In the mid to late-1950s through the early-1990s, many of the inhabitants of Tirrenia were American families. The American Beach in Tirrenia (which closed at the end of the 2014 summer season and became a free beach) was a vacation venue for American and NATO troops stationed throughout Europe. At least during the 1980s, (or possibly earlier) and at least as late as 1990 lifeguards were US Soldiers from units in Vicenza and Camp Darby. The lifeguards from the American Beach also provided lifeguard services to both adjoining Italian free beaches. For many years, retired American personnel who had remained in Italy due to having married Italian women, provided night security. Fourth of July celebrations were often held on the beach, as it was fairly easy to set up pyrotechnical displays without fear of causing fires. They were anchored in the sand and fired out over the water. The American Beach played a minor role during Operation Desert Shield. A goodly number of troops heading into the Desert, were provided R&R at Camp Darby. The Beach normally closed on Labor Day, that year it remained open through September to provide troops a place to be.
Tirrenia is generally considered the southern end of the Riviera which starts off the southern coast of France and follows the shore as it curves to the south. Some do extend the Italian Riviera to just past Livorno (Leghorn) just a few miles further.
In Calambrone, just south of Tirrenia, the U.S. Army Hospital served the Americans that lived in Tirrenia. The hospital closed in the 1980s and transferred to Camp Darby, becoming a clinic.
Main sights
Theme parks
*Sunlight ParkPark
*
*Fantasilandia
*Luna Park
*Parco Giochi Mattera Gian Carlo
Tirrenia is also home to
Camp Darby Army Base, a home to the Southern European Task Force (SETAF).
The village is surrounded by sand hills and lush forests, whose fauna include
wild boar
The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The species is ...
s.
Bathing establishments
Economy
Tirrenia's economy is mainly based on tourism, more domestic than foreign. Also, fishing is a source of profit for citizens of Tirrenia. Tirrenia is also one of the most expensive maritime localities, with rising housing costs.
Tirrenia is especially visited by young people, mostly from
Pisa
Pisa ( , or ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, central Italy, straddling the Arno just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower, the cit ...
and
Livorno
Livorno () is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 158,493 residents in December 2017. It is traditionally known in English as Leghorn (pronou ...
, because of the vast quantity of
pub
A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...
s and
discos
Disco is a music genre, genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s in music, 1970s from the United States' urban nightclub, nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor (music), four-on-the-floor beats, syncop ...
that the village offers. The main avenue provides access to camping grounds, seaside establishments, and high-quality, luxurious hotels.
Climate
Tirrenia has a Mediterranean and moderate climate even throughout the winter, mitigated by the sea.
Sport
With the presence of a training center of the
Italian National Olympic Committee
The Italian National Olympic Committee ( it, Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano, CONI), founded in 1914 and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is responsible for the development and management of sports activity in Italy. ...
(CONI), many athletes go to Tirrenia to practise and at times relax by the seashore. Two golf and
country club
A country club is a privately owned club, often with a membership quota and admittance by invitation or sponsorship, that generally offers both a variety of recreational sports and facilities for dining and entertaining. Typical athletic offer ...
s can be found, as well as tennis courts, and public pools for any water sports. Additionally, Tirrenia is home to a baseball academy run by
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
.
Notable residents
*
Camila Giorgi
Camila Giorgi (; born 30 December 1991) is an Italian professional tennis player. She has a career-high singles ranking of world No. 26, achieved on 22 October 2018. She is the current Italian No. 2, after Martina Trevisan.
After winning her fi ...
(born 1991), Italian tennis player
References
{{Authority control
Frazioni of the Province of Pisa
Cities and towns in Tuscany