The Viale delle Piagge is an avenue located in the eastern suburbs of Pisa, along the right bank of the Arno River, near the ancient Porta a Piagge.
Around 1920, in front of the river, some bathing facilities were built by a private company. These small huts, called "bagnetti", were placed just a few meters from the shore in an area where the river was shallow and allowed the bathers (who reached them by boat) to undress, put on their suits and dive in safe waters, or simply soaking in the current through internal hatches .
The Viale delle Piagge is about two and a half kilometers long and is all made with backfill. The avenue is in fact about five meters above the Arno, built as a great bastion with the purpose to avoid the frequent flooding due to overflowing Arno.
The avenue is lined with Linden while between the avenue and the river are Plane trees, Lauri, Ilex and other types of trees. The end of the avenue (the farthest from the Ponte della Vittoria) is called the Round: it was the place where the coaches were able to turn back towards the city. Across the avenue at a distance of approximately 50 meters of each other there are benches made with pink grit. In the first half of the avenue there are also three cast iron fountains. About a third of the avenue, on the left if you are coming from the Ponte della Vittoria, there is a green area with equipment for gymnastics. The tools are usable outdoors in all seasons and for free. A small wooden gazebo with benches, shelters from the sun and the rain.
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