Beaches in Italy

Acquafredda is a small village near Maratea and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the area. One of the best ways to see them and enjoy Maratea’s scenery is to take a drive along the coast, high up on the mountain road surrounded by dense pine forests and with some of the most spectacular views in the world. Calla di Mezzanotte, or Midnight Cove beach, is a small sandy beach at the foot of the Mezzanotte Channel.

Surrounded by high cliffs and a number of caves, it is both romantic and secluded and is accessible only by boat. The Anginarra beach is one of the largest in the Maratea area and consists of about 300 meters of sand wedged between high cliffs, leading to a large cave on one side of the beach. Crivi beach is a small stretch of sand about 30 meters long and backed by a 400-meter high limestone cliff. It can only be reached by boat.

The charming little coastal village of Camogli in Liguria in northwestern Italy has a large pebbly beach that stretches along the length of the coast. It has all the Mediterranean beauty of the French Riviera but is far less crowded. Camogli Beach is divided into private sections that belong to resorts and beach clubs and other sections that are open to everyone.

Pebbles range from coarse gravel to small, smooth and almost sand-like pebbles. There are swimming lessons on offer for children as well as rowboat and canoe rental, a beachside drink service, and diving courses. The beach is very picturesque with the ancient and magnificent Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta standing guard on a promontory above the harbor against the backdrop of the mountains.

Campo all'Aia Beach is the longest beach on Elba Island. It is a fairly wide stretch of fine sand, sheltered from the wind and fairly shallow, making it perfect for children and those learning to swim. Access to most of the beach is free, but there are several restaurants on the left side, and the La Guardiola Sailing Club with its mooring wharf is on the far right side.

The club organizes boating trips but also has a nice bar and rents out canoes, umbrellas and lounge chairs. Just off the beach there is the wreck of an ancient Roman ship from 190 A.D. that can be fun to explore as it lies only three meters below the surface.

Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro lies at the far end of the western coast of Sicily. As Sicily’s first nature reserve, it is a magnificent wild area with seven kilometers of spectacular coastline full of small coves with lovely beaches. The entire area has been protected from development and is still the way it was centuries ago, filled with hundreds of native plants and animals thriving in the rugged terrain backed by steep mountain slopes.

Capreria Beach is the first beach after the information hut and is snuggled in a cove, covered with smooth small pebbles and crystal clear water. There aren’t any facilities, but the snorkeling is spectacular - you can see all the way to the colorful fish on the seabed. There are a number of small coves and caves near the beach, all of which are easy to explore through a network of trails.

Sardinia's beaches are among the most beautiful in the world, ranging from fine sand to large flat rock slabs. Fuili Cove beach is a crescent-shaped and small - only 230 meters - secluded beach in a lovely cove protected by large, almost vertical cliffs covered with dense vegetation.

Small smooth pebbles are mixed with rocks, giving the azure blue water fantastic visibility. This beach is a heaven for snorkelers and divers. Rocks around the beach are popular for rock climbing. There are no facilities of any kind, so bring your own beach chair, snacks and drinks. The village of Sas Linnas Siccas is nearby.

The ancient and picturesque town of Praiano is perched high up on the cliffs that plunge down towards the clear Mediterranean waters. Its beaches are small, nestled in tiny coves, and often crowded. One of the most beautiful is Gavitella Beach, which is only 30 meters long and has two concrete piers that add more space for sun worshippers.

The views of Positano and Capri Island in the distance are spectacular. There is a nice restaurant on the beach offering meals and refreshments. To reach the beach from the Praiano main square, go down the over 400 steep steps that are cut in the rock, or take the shuttle boat, which is free for restaurant guests.

Goloritze Beach is a true Sardinian pearl. It is a stunning and tiny beach, only about 200 meters, hidden at the base of a deep ravine just south of Biriola beach and about nine kilometers from the town of Baunei. The only way to reach it is to take an hour-long hike, but it is worth it.

The white pebbles lead you down to the clear blue water that is transparent all the way to the bottom, teeming with fish and other sea life. Don’t forget to bring your snorkel - Goloritze beach has been declared by UNESCO as the best snorkeling beach in Sardinia.

Capo Vaticano is a spectacular white granite rock that drops dramatically 124 meters down to the azure sea below. The town perched on the rock is ancient and surrounded by many curious legends that date back to Roman times. At the bottom of the rock is a series of small bays with lovely white sandy beaches lined with charming restaurants and cafes.

The most popular, and indeed the most beautiful of these, is Grotticelle Beach, which has fantastic snorkeling in the crystal clear waters that are full of marine life. The whole area is very popular with tourists and it can get crowded, but the views are so spectacular that sharing the beach with other admirers is no great hardship.

Isola Bella is a beautiful little island near Taormina, Sicily, called The Pearl of the Ionian Sea. It sits in the middle of a small bay and is famous for its wonderful exotic plants that were introduced by the previous owner and which thrive in the mild Mediterranean climate.

It is now a nature reserve and its lovely smooth-pebbled beach is very popular among tourists because of the clear blue waters and the fantastic views of the mainland and the Ionian Sea. The island and the beach are protected by the bay and the water is always warm and calm. Access to the island is by a cable car from Taormina to Mazzaro or by walking across a small path that connects the island to the larger beach on the mainland.

Marina del Cantone is a small, secluded coastal village at the end of the Sorrento Peninsula. Only an hour’s bus ride from Sorrento, it is the place where locals and those who can’t stand crowds come to enjoy a peaceful day on the beach. A lovely pebble beach stretches just below the village of Nerano, perched on the cliff above.

Marina del Cantone Beach is lined with modest local trattorias and cafes where one can have an excellent meal and join the locals in peacefully enjoying the view and the warm sun. Lounge chairs and umbrellas can be rented at one of the local shops and the clear water invites for a pleasant, refreshing swim or snorkel.