The beach

Generally the beaches in this area during the summer months are full of brightly coloured uniformed umbrellas and sun loungers in neat rows, owned by private companies that rent these to sunbathers at a rather expensive price and there are very few "free beaches" (In Liguria apparently out of 135 swimmable kilometres of beach, only 19km are free).
Ecco del Mare, Baia Blu, Fiaschino are all beautiful beaches but all private, for this reason I tend to either try and find a good free beach (punta corvo although has been closed recently it has re-opened) or go river bathing instead, or take a day trip further afield in search of a free beach.

Today I did however take a visit to the beach and it is slightly better and cheaper off season (less umbrellas and not so crowded) and far nicer than the during high season.

If you head for the beach leave out northern Tuscany beaches from Viareggio to Carrara and take trips to the Ligurian coast for example Lerici, Palmaria, Monterosso, Daiva Marina, Levanto, Sestri Levante.