Cinquale

By the sea
Nearest train: Forte dei Marmi, 4 km

Good for BeachesSwimmingFamiliesNatureWalksPeace and quiet

Cinquale is the seaside frazione of Montignoso, in the province of Massa-Carrara, about 3 km from the centre of Forte dei Marmi. It borders Poveromo, part of Massa, to the north and Vittoria Apuana, part of Forte dei Marmi, to the south. The Versilia river reaches the sea here, so Cinquale counts both as Apuan Riviera and as Versilia.

In 1565 the Medici built a tower at the mouth to guard against Saracen pirates; enlarged in 1750 into Forte Leopoldo, it stood until German troops demolished it in the Second World War. Between the wars Cinquale became a place of summer colonies and villas, and the painters Carlo Carrà and Mino Maccari lived here and found inspiration. Postcards of the 1930s still read "Cinquale presso Forte dei Marmi".

Today it has a seafront promenade, the church of San Giuseppe Artigiano and a small tourist harbour inside the river mouth. Inland lies the Lago di Porta, a protected wetland, and above the plain the Castello Aghinolfi of Montignoso. On 17 August fireworks light up the sky over the seafront at 22:00.

Good for beach holidays, families and quiet walks by the sea, in winter too.

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What to see

Porticciolo del Cinquale

The small tourist harbour inside the mouth of the Versilia river, on its right bank, with a basin and 15 jetties. Boats can enter in daylight only; the entrance is dangerous with a following sea.

Gothic Line memorial

A memorial stone and a statue on the northern bank of the river mouth recall the Gothic Line, the Second World War front that ran from the Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic.

Lago di Porta

A protected wetland inland, made a nature area by Montignoso and Pietrasanta in 1998. Grey herons, coots and water rails live here, marsh harriers nest, and in early autumn swallows gather in great numbers before they migrate.

Castello Aghinolfi

The castle above Montignoso, recorded in the 8th century under the Lombards, with an octagonal keep probably from the 12th century. In 1945 it was a German stronghold on the Gothic Line; restoration from 1998 added a panoramic terrace and an exhibition room with a glass floor over the old layers.

Villa Schiff Giorgini

A 19th-century villa with a garden in Piazza, the seat of the comune of Montignoso, with a documentation centre on the war in the area: helmets, uniforms, ammunition and video accounts of survivors.

Terme della Versilia

A spa and wellness centre in Cinquale, fed by a spring of salt-bromine-iodine water that rises a few steps from the sea.

Beaches

Spiaggia del Cinquale

A wide, quiet beach with the mountains close behind, good for a long walk, in winter too.

Green Beach

A free beach open to everyone, with easy access for people with disabilities or limited mobility.

Getting there and around

By car: By car, leave the A12 at Massa coming from the north or at Versilia coming from the south.
Train and bus: The nearest railway stations are Forte dei Marmi-Seravezza-Querceta and Massa Centro; Montignoso's own stop has been closed since 1990. On summer nights line LBN2 of the "Lungomare by night" bus stops in Cinquale between Marina di Carrara and Forte dei Marmi: Wednesday to Sunday in July and August from 19:00 to 05:00, plus a few dates in June and September.

Cinquale climate by month

Month	Day	Night	Rain days (≥1 mm)	Rain
January	12°	6°	13	143 mm
February	13°	7°	11	144 mm
March	14°	8°	12	135 mm
April	17°	10°	12	124 mm
May	20°	14°	15	154 mm
June	25°	19°	8	73 mm
July	28°	21°	6	40 mm
August	29°	22°	7	74 mm
September	25°	18°	12	158 mm
October	21°	15°	13	232 mm
November	16°	10°	15	218 mm
December	13°	7°	14	179 mm

Averages 2016–2025 from reanalysis data (Open-Meteo); a single year can differ a lot.

Questions visitors ask

Is Cinquale part of Versilia?

It is a frazione of Montignoso in the province of Massa-Carrara, outside the seven Versilia comuni in the province of Lucca. Because the Versilia river reaches the sea here, it is counted both as Apuan Riviera and as Versilia; Forte dei Marmi begins just to the south.

Is there a harbour in Cinquale?

Yes, a small tourist harbour inside the mouth of the Versilia river, with a basin and 15 jetties; a 2005 census counted 250 berths. It can be entered in daylight only.

Is there a free beach in Cinquale?

Yes: the Green Beach is free and open to everyone, with easy access for people with disabilities or limited mobility.

How do I get to Cinquale without a car?

Take the train to Forte dei Marmi-Seravezza-Querceta or Massa Centro. On summer nights the "Lungomare by night" bus, line LBN2, stops in Cinquale.