Why buy in Pietrasanta
The “little Athens” of Versilia: a medieval town where marble is still worked by hand, art galleries, hills overlooking the sea and the beach just minutes away.
- 22,678 residents in the municipality, across the centre, the hills and the Marina
- 1255 the year the town was founded
- Blue Flag 2026 for the beaches of Versiliana and Tonfano
In Pietrasanta, art is not confined to museums: it steps out of the workshops, takes a seat in the piazza and gazes at the hills.
The town was founded in 1255 by Guiscardo da Pietrasanta, a Milanese nobleman and podestà (chief magistrate) of Lucca, at the foot of the Rocca di Sala. Castruccio Castracani encircled it with walls and built the Rocchetta Arrighina; in 1841 Grand Duke Leopold II granted it the title of Città Nobile (Noble City).
It is called the “little Athens” for the artists who have chosen to live and work here: it is one of the world’s centres of artistic marble working, with works by Botero and Mitoraj on permanent display in the town.
Overlooking the piazza are the Duomo di San Martino, with its marble façade and sixteenth-century bell tower that was never completed, the Teatro Comunale and the Sant’Agostino complex, home to the Museo dei Bozzetti, founded in 1984.
Where to buy, and at what price.
Historic centre
The walled town, Piazza del Duomo, the artists’ studios and the galleries: for those who want to enjoy art and cafés on foot, all year round.
The hills
Capriglia and Capezzano Monte offer panoramic views over the plain and the sea; Valdicastello, among the olive groves, is the birthplace of the poet Giosuè Carducci.
Strettoia and Vallecchia
Villages in the foothills known for their traditional trattorias; Vallecchia is home to the parish church (pieve) of Santo Stefano.
For the centre and hills of Pietrasanta we do not publish an average: the data available on property portals are based on a handful of very different listings (from the old town to villas in the hills) and would not be representative. The official reference values are those of the Real Estate Market Observatory (OMI); to know what a home is truly worth, an on-site valuation is needed.
What is your home in Pietrasanta worth? Ask for a valuation
Art in the piazza
Marble workshops, foundries, mosaic studios and international galleries: in Pietrasanta, works of art are created a few steps from home and often end up on display in the piazzas and churches of the centre.
A town to enjoy all year round
Exhibitions, theatre, restaurants and markets keep the centre lively even out of season. In summer, life moves towards the Marina, a few minutes away, and in the evening everyone returns to the piazza.
Close to everything, far from the bustle.
- Pisa “Galileo Galilei” Airportabout 45 km
- Florence Airportabout 90 km
- Pietrasanta station (and Viareggio, about 10 km away)in the town centre
- A12 motorway, Versilia exita few minutes
- Luccaabout 34 km
What to know, without surprises.
Taxes when buying from a private seller
- Main residence: registration tax (imposta di registro)
- 2% (minimum €1,000)
- Second home: registration tax (imposta di registro)
- 9% (minimum €1,000)
- Mortgage and cadastral taxes
- €50 + €50
For private individuals, taxes are calculated on the cadastral value (the “prezzo-valore” system), which is usually far lower than the price. If you buy from a company subject to VAT, rates and fixed amounts change: we check them with the notary case by case.
Source: Agenzia delle Entrate (Italian Revenue Agency) – guide “Buying a home: taxes and reliefs” · updated March 2024If you wish to let it in summer
- National Identification Code (CIN)
- mandatory for short-term lets
- Where to apply
- Ministry of Tourism database
- Taxation
- cedolare secca (flat-rate rental tax) or ordinary regime
The CIN must be displayed outside the property and in online listings. The cedolare secca rates depend on the number of properties let: please check them with your accountant.
Source: Ministero del Turismo (Italian Ministry of Tourism) – database of holiday accommodation and CIN · accessed October 2026
Buying in Pietrasanta: the answers.
How much does a home in Pietrasanta cost?
Prices vary considerably between the historic centre, the hills and the Marina, and for the centre and hills the portal data are too few for a reliable average. Please contact us for a valuation: we know the actual sales in the area.
Why is Pietrasanta called the “little Athens”?
Because of the many artists who have settled here: it is one of the world’s centres of artistic marble working, with workshops, foundries and international galleries.
How far is the sea?
The municipality of Pietrasanta also includes Marina di Pietrasanta, with the beaches of Versiliana and Tonfano, Blue Flag 2026. From the historic centre the sea is just a few minutes away.
What taxes are due when buying a second home?
If you buy from a private seller, the registration tax (imposta di registro) is 9% (2% for a main residence), with a minimum of €1,000, plus €50 mortgage tax and €50 cadastral tax. For private individuals it is normally calculated on the cadastral value rather than on the price. Source: Agenzia delle Entrate.
Can I let the house during the summer months?
Yes. Short-term lets require the National Identification Code (CIN, Codice Identificativo Nazionale), obtained from the Ministry of Tourism and shown in every listing. For the tax side we recommend speaking with your accountant; we can tell you which areas and types of property are most in demand for rentals.
Can a foreign buyer purchase a home in Pietrasanta?
Generally, yes: European Union citizens buy on the same terms as Italians; for some non-EU countries the principle of reciprocity applies. You will need an Italian tax code (codice fiscale). We often work with international clients and coordinate everything with the notary.
Looking for a home in Pietrasanta, or selling yours?
Since 2007 we have personally looked after buyers and sellers in Versilia. A call or a message, and we will talk it through, in English.
Sources
The data on this page come from official and authoritative sources and are updated periodically. Last checked: October 2026.
- Comune di Pietrasanta – Guide to the town · accessed October 2026
- ISTAT – resident population by municipality · estimate as of 1 January 2026
- Comune di Pietrasanta – Blue Flag 2026 · 14/05/2026
- ARPAT Toscana – classification of bathing waters · 2024 classification (2021–2024 data)
- Agenzia delle Entrate (Italian Revenue Agency) – Real Estate Market Observatory (OMI) · official half-yearly values
- Comune di Pietrasanta – The territory · updated 22/04/2025
- Comune di Pietrasanta – How to reach us · updated 08/04/2025
- Agenzia delle Entrate (Italian Revenue Agency) – guide “Buying a home: taxes and reliefs” · updated March 2024
- Ministero del Turismo (Italian Ministry of Tourism) – database of holiday accommodation and CIN · accessed October 2026