Planning to spend your summer holidays in Italy? So do I! I am just back from a wonderful break in Sardinia, and I wish I had stayed longer!
Sardinia is a favourite of mine, but Italy boasts so much coastline and so many seaside gems. From the French border to Sicily, I have had the joy of visiting several famous and less famous Italian coastal towns - and fallen in love with quite a few of them.
A view of Cinqueterre © Achim Ruhnau/Unsplash
1: The unique allure of seaside Italy
I'll begin by asking a question. What is your image of an Italian beach? The bright long expanses of sand of Rimini, the emerald waters of Puglia, the pink coral sand and crystal-clear bays of Sardinia?
And what is your image of the nearby village or town? A pastel-coloured Ligurian hamlet? White-washed Puglian villages? The opulent domes of the Amalfi coast? The dreamy half-moon bay of Taormina?
In truth, there isn't a 'typical' Italian seaside town, because the country is so diverse. To the diversity of nature and landscapes, you need to add the varied architectural styles, cultural heritage, and food traditions that make a stay in each of them so special and unique.
My selection of charming coastal destinations tries to capture a bit of that variety and uniqueness.
2: My personal top ten of the best Italian seaside towns
Before we start, let me share my principles for including a destination in this guide. I have gone for geographical breadth, including varied landscapes and regions, from north to south, from the mainland to the islands. I have also chosen destinations with distinctive architecture and a long history. I have also gone for a mix of bucket-list and less-known towns, as I thought it important to revisit timeless resorts and discover new ones.
So, without further ado, follow me on my journey through the peninsula and its sun-kissed islands to discover some of the best Italian seaside towns!
1. Vernazza (Cinqueterre)
Vernazza, the 4th of the Cinqueterre if you come from La Spezia, is a great base for hiking north to Monterosso, or south to Corniglia, Manarola, and RioMaggiore.
It was love at first sight when I first visited. Vernazza is not just a practical base, it is also hauntingly scenic. Its centre, arranged around a Piazzetta like Portofino, is delimited by the ruins of a castle on one side and a beautiful Genoese-style Gothic church. The church is built on a rock overlooking the sea, and when you look at it you think of miracles and hope.
I also love that Vernazza has a small beach. While it tends to get quite busy, the views compensate for it. As for swimming, the beach doubles as a dock, but if you swim out to sea or around the corner it is truly delightful.
If you want a proper Italian-style beach experience with neatly arranged umbrellas, hike - or take the train - to Monterosso, the northernmost of the Cinqueterre,
Go on a boat trip to Portovenere to admire the 'terre' from the sea, or catch a slow scenic regional train to soak in more beauty. This is one of Italy's most magnificent train rides!
I love hiking, and another catch of Vernazza for me is the hiking trails. Wander off the coastal path everyone follows, and discover the peaceful beauty of rural Liguria.
And did I mention the sunsets? The Cinqueterre is west-facing, so this will be one of the most memorable aperitivi of your life!
A view of Vernazza © Noah Mayer/Unsplash
2. Santa Maria Navarrese
If you ask people from Sardinia what part of their wonderful island is simply unmissable, many will answer Ogliastra, a former province lying between Cagliari and Nuoro on the eastern side of the Island. If you then ask them to indicate the best place to stay in Ogliastra, they will wax lyrical about Santa Maria Navarrese.
A view from above Santa Maria Navarrese © Alps2Coast
This delightful and compact seaside village, boasting a few ancient (over 1,000-year-old) olive trees), has a lovely town pebble beach, with crystal clear waters, and an incredible setting. It is the starting point for wonderful hikes, such as the spectacular cliffside trail to the massif of Pedra Longa. You'll look down on the bluest sea from the edge of the Supramonte mountains, with the scent of the macchia Mediterranea all around you.
Santa Maria Navarrese is the departure point for boat trips to the Golfo of Orosei, Regular day trips take you along the longest uninhabited stretch of coastline in Europe.
The rugged coastline is interrupted by tiny coves, regularly featured in articles about the most beautiful beaches on earth!
The UNESCO-protected Cala Goloritze (below), framed by a natural arch, the stunning Cala Mariolu, the erie Cala Luna, flanked by a series of caves, and so many other small bays, coves and cliffs will simply take your breath away.
Cala Goloritze © Leon Rohrwild/Unsplash
3. Sperlonga
Years ago a friend of mine used to dream of buying a house in Sperlonga. I had never heard of the place, so I did some research, That's how I discovered that this quaint white-washed village is easy to reach from Rome. So, if you want to combine a Roman holiday with some sand and sea, Sperlonga is the place to go!
Although it feels like a world away from the hustle and bustle of central Rome, this coastal pearl. boasts some serious ancient Roman credentials. Emperor Tiberius, before retiring to Capri, used to escape to Sperlonga.
The ruins of his villa on the shore survive, complete with a grotto, and you can admire some of the villa sculptures at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale.
Long before Tiberius, even Odysseus had graced Sperlonga with his presence. More recently, it drew the 50's and '60's jetset, charmed like all of us by the delightful white alleyways and the long sandy beach. Now, it's your turn!
White-washed Sperlonga © Paolo Gregotti/Unsplash
4. Taormina
Enchanting Taormina, dominated by the horse-shoe shape of its hilltop ancient Teatro Greco and surrounded by scented Mediterranean flora, is one of Italy's most famous seaside towns, since the days of the Grand Tour, and you'll just need 20 minutes there to understand why.
Climb the lane to the Teatro Greco and look around 360 degrees. On one side, the glittering waters of the Mediterranean, on the other the awe-inspiring cone of Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano. I dare you to find a similar view anywhere in the whole world!
The city centre is delightful, small, compact and dotted with architectural pearls such as the Gothic Palazzo Corvaja.
My favourite is the panoramic terrace at the beginning of Corso Umberto. At day time, you can admire the impossibly blue waters and the green coastline of Calabria, and at night, under star-studded summer skies, you will see the lights of Calabria across the coast, feeling the proximity to the mainland and the magic of being on an island at the same time.
Speaking of islands, it is small but make sure you venture to down to Isola Bella. This tiny island, accessible by a narrow causeway, is a nature reserve with lush gardens and a pristine beach.
The sea at Taormina © Yoav Aziz/Unsplash
If it behaving when you visit, I strongly recommend a day trip to Mount Etna. The drive itself is incredible, as the vegetation changes from subtropical to temperate, and the palms are replaced by chestnut trees. The area near-ish the top where they take tourists is pitch black with lava, and the miracle of broom flowers bursting through it is something I will remember for the rest of my life.
Food in Sicilia is amazing, possibly the best in Italy, because of its variety and rich influences, from Arabic to Greek to continental Italian. Make sure you try fresh cannoli at least once - and follow the scent of almond and coffee to find a Sicilian granita stall!
Snowcapped Etna from the Teatro Greco © Casey Lovegrove/Unsplash
5. Monopoli
A maze of cobbled streets that suddenly open into tiny squares, all lined by white and cream buildings, towered over by a majestic cathedral, and with a walled sea promenade flanked by a castle.
The beach is not large but then it could not be, as it is right in the historic centre. Monopoli is simply magic. This is a place where in July and August you fight the heat by finding shelter in the shade of the alleyways, or with a midnight swim under a rich Puglian sky.
It is a place you discover, taking in the tiny details, the way flowers are arranged around a Madonna statue, the crumbling paint revealing an older building and traces of bygone eras, the delightful orecchiette pasta and bruschette, with the sound of the sea keeping you company as you go about your business.
Monopoli © Reisetopia/Unsplash
Monopoli is easy to travel to by train from the rest of Italy, and a regular regionale service whisks you up the coast to the equally stunning Polignano, whose famous beach of Lama Monachile, accessible through cliffside stairs, is one of the symbols of Puglia.
Lama Monachile at Polignano © Bradley/Unsplash
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There are other places in Puglia with stunning beaches, but when it comes to beautiful seaside towns, Monopoli for me is one of the absolute best in Italy.
6. Numana and the Conero Riviera
I love turtles, so I cannot help but recommend Numana, a seaside town in the Marche region of central Italy famous for its sea turtle rehabilitation programme.
Numana is also the departure point for boat trips to the stunning and super-secluded beach of the 'Tow Sisters,' ('Spiaggia delle due Sorelle'), named after the two large rock formations that frame it.
The Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle is only one of the many enchanting coves you will sea on your boat trip along the spectacular Riviera del Conero.
The Conero © Stefania Zagalia/Unsplash
Like many Italian towns of medieval origin, Numana is split into two parts. Numana Bassa) is quite modern and its main draw is the beach. Look for the steps that take you to Numana Alta, the picturesque old city centre, for gorgeous views of the emerald green waters of the Adriatic, such as the one you can glimpse through the Numana 'arch.' This relic of a long-gone building now acts as a unique frame to the view of the Adriatic.
And if you tire of the beach, head inland towards Recanati and the gorgeous Marche hills, admiring the sea from the distance, of delightful hilltop villages.
7. Rimini
I have returned to Rimini recently and cannot recommend it enough. I would not go in high season as it can get quite busy, but in early and late summer it makes for a wonderful break.
Its long sandy beaches are eponymous of 'classic' Italian beach holidays, made of lazying on a sun lounger under an umbrella, reading, thinking, eating, and chatting with your neighbours. But that is only one side of Rimini. The other is the charm of an incredibly beautiful city centre of Roman origin, which also houses some of the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance. And if you love Fellini you will be in heaven. This is the city that shaped his imagination more than any other.
Early summer on Rimini beach © Alps2Coast
8. Cefalù
Cefalù is the first seaside town I saw in Sicily, and it has stayed in my heart for over two decades!
From afar, the first thing you notice is the dramatic cliff (La Rocca) looming over the historic centre. If you think that is the main highlight, you will be surprised. Cefalù is like a treasure box, and you will have to go through its gems one by one.
Wander through the maze of alleys lined with old houses with terracotta rooftops and overflowing with flower-filled balconies, keeping an eye out for the gothic arch of Porta Peschiera that acts as a window to the small but delightful town beach.
Unforgettable Cefalù © Ruth Troughton/Unsplash
The surprises are not over. I remember a glorious late afternoon visit to its majestic Duomo (Cathedral), a masterpiece of Sicilian Norman art, blending Arabic and Byzantine influences. Built on the orders of King Roger Ii after he survived a sea storm, the cathedral has Byzantine mosaics worthy of Constantinople and Ravenna.
Porta Peschiera© Daniela Repice Lentini/Unsplash
I also remember that after visiting the cathedral I headed for the Lungomare, I walked back to my hotel through impossibly picturesque houses perched on cliffs, and magnificent seaside squares bathed in sunset light.
You can easily spend a week or two in this stunning town, enjoying the art, the scenery, and the incredible Sicilian food. Cefalù is near Palermo, so the Arabic influence is stronger than in Taormina, and you'll taste some amazing fish couscous!
Speaking about Palermo, Cefalù is less than an hour away by direct train, so you can even use it as a base to visit the capital!
9. Castelsardo
Castelsardo © Aline Proes/Unsplash
Sardinia has so many wonderful beaches that it is easy to forget it also has beautiful cities and villages, with a rich history.
Enters Castelsardo, regularly designated as one of Italy's most beautiful villages. Sitting on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, and dominated by a well-preserved Genoese castle - the north of Sardinia used to be a Genoese possession - Castelsardo is a delight of cobbled streets and honey-colored stone houses cascading down the hillside towards the sparkling blue waters.
The city centre also boasts a 16th-century cathedral. Traditional shops sell the hand-woven baskets typical of the area - a museum dedicated to this ancient art is housed within the castle.
Nearby, you will find nuraghi, remnants of the mysterious Bronze age civilization that lived on the island long before the Phoenicians, the Greeks, and the Romans.
Beaches are pristine. Lu Bagnu, San Pietro and Li Giunchi are my favourite, but take your time and explore smaller covers too!
10. Amalfi
Why did I leave it for last? Because I was deeply undecided about which one of the Campania coastal towns and villages I should feature.
The first time I visited the area on a school trip, I kept wondering if I could ever find any other place so beautiful Everything was beautiful, The cascading houses of Positano, the lush gardens of Ravello, the dramatic cliffside beauty of Sorrento...
But if I had to choose one place, and one only, it would have to be Amalfi. Not only does it boast a beautiful beach, perfect for swimming or relaxing under an umbrella.
Amalfi © Antonio Sessa/Unsplash
Amalfi is also one of the most interesting historic centres on a coastline bursting with history. Roman in origin, in the early Middle Ages Amalfi was a Mediterranean naval power, a power you can still sense as you ascend the sea-facing steps of its magnificent 9th-century duomo. Its stunning facade is enriched by intricate mosaics that glitter as much as the sea below, a sumptuous relic of a time when Amalfi's galleys ruled the seas.
The tower of Amalfi cathedral © I for Italia/Unsplash
If you love hiking, the Path of the Gods is one of Italy's most scenic coastal trails.
And book yourself on a boat trip if you can, to admire hidden caves and this most beautiful stretch of coastline from the perspective of the deep blue sea.
3: Discover Italy one seaside town at a time
I have only scratched the surface. So many Ligurian and Puglian, villages, stunning Tropea in Calabria, the smaller islands such as Ponza, Ischia, Capri, the Aeolians, the Egadi...How could I not mention them?
The truth is the Italian coastline is so rich in stunning gems, that it is impossible to cover them all. My list is meant to whet your appetite. Now that you have some pointers, you can zoom in on an area that appeals to you and discover other nearby beauties! That applies to me too. I dream of undertaking many Italian summer journeys, and I am sure next year I will not resist the temptation to add a couple of new entries.
Want to experience these Italian coastal beauties at their very best? Try and avoid the peak season - if you can. It will make for a more sustainable and enjoyable holiday.
If you have any questions reading this post, do get in touch through the contact form. And do not forget to subscribe to the blog to get my weekly posts on train and car trips through Europe directly into your inbox.
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