Viareggio: Birthplace of superyachts

When you think of Italy, one of the last places that comes to mind is Viareggio. Originally known for its carnival, this small town has over time become the world's most important superyacht base. Moreover, a base where pleasure, not fame or money, is king.

It all started in 1979. Benetti received an order for an 86-meter yacht with 11 cabins, a disco and a helipad, which led to a brand new concept on the seas: The superyacht. Viareggo, a small seaside town in the Tuscany region of Italy, has been involved in boatbuilding for generations. Just half a century ago, Viareggo was an ordinary Italian seaside town, like Cannes or Marmaris, offering vacationers an escape, but now it is home to the dreams of wealthy people from all over the world.

With Azimut Benetti, Mangusta, Rossinavi, Codecasa, Rossinavi and other famous companies lined up side by side on the same street, every corner of this town smells of seafaring and a bit of "bargaining". Half of the superyachts built in the world in the last 50 years have been built in Italy, most of them in Viareggo. Giorgio Armani's Main, Jim Gabbert's Invader, Sir Philip Green's Lionheart, U2's The Edge were all built here.

Viareggo's history in aesthetics is not limited to the last fifty years. In addition to the Italian genes and aesthetic understanding, the "carrara" stone used by Michelangelo in the David sculpture also came from this region. In fact, the maritime history of the town is closely related to the transportation of these marbles. The piers built 100 years ago for the transportation of these stones can still be seen. The ships strong enough to carry those stones were also built here. Since then, the craftsmen have known how to work with teak wood, shaping it from shape to shape. As they work, they hum the operas La Bohème and Tosca by Giacomo Puccini, who lived very close to here.

Viareggo's success in the superyacht field has a lot to do with the Italian laid-back attitude and sense of humor. The shipyards here are flexible enough to accommodate the whims and whimsicalities of the wealthy and their ability to change their minds at a moment's notice. In fact, the business is mostly managed by family members, who even answer the phone. Those who place the order can come and watch the construction progress on site whenever they want. They witness the realization of their dreams step by step.

In short, Viareggo, which once built powerful ships in tonnage, now builds boats for powerful people. The world's first superyacht, after changing names and hands many times, lies in a marina in San Remo, close to her birthplace.

Photographs: Bruno Hervas, Bluefin Led, Jianxiang Wu (Unsplash)