Stay in beach front 4star hotel, opposite is a 10klm extra wide concourse from marina di massa to Viareggio, in the hills behind marble quarries to see it being quarried. Just over one hour Florence, half hour a sulphur Spa town. Bologna with the oldest University in the world, Modena ( Ferrari and Lamborghini factories) one hour away. Not to mention fabulous sea food all local, markets to die for and Milan only just over an hour by fast train.