Many rush to its seaside lido namesake without stopping at Camaiore which is a very pleasant town with good shopping, fine cafes, historic palaces and churches, two interesting museums and, yesterday, some excellent street musicians performing Amy Winehouse, Fats Waller and Duke Ellington on the town’s jazz day as part of the Calendimaggio celebration for the month of May.

Here is a quick photographic survey of some of the sights Camaiore offers:

The gateway by Camaiore San Pietro abbey on the Via Francigena pilgrim route from Canterbury to Rome.

Francesco Anguilla (14th cent). Madonna and saints

Piazza Diaz: Looking towards the sacred arts museum

The local bank

Maria Teresa of Savoia, Duchess of Lucca: her crown

Apse of St Michael Archangel Romanesque church

Australopithecus reconstructed from local remains found in a cave

The descent of man as seen through his skulls: anthropology section of archaeology museum

Sandra pondering on cave life

Neolithic pottery and fertility statuettes

Ancient Roman temple items including cymbals

Hot chocolate break..

Chiesa Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta: Camaiore’s main church

This trio (‘Hot violin trio’) entertained us with some great hot jazz including Django

Some excellent renditions of Amy Winehouse songs from Mazy & friend.

Getting ready for the morrow’s feast of Saint Eustorgius

The palace housing the archaeological museum

A town square: piazza Diaz

A cherubic lute player in the museum of sacred art

Looking towards the town’s main gateway

Characteristic street-scape