Along Italy’s 7,456 kilometers long coastline there are various amazing seaside resorts; a ranking of the most beautiful places is definitely not easy as they are extremely different: some have large stretches of white sand, others pebble beaches with crystal clear shallow water and others are isolated bays nestled among the rocks.
Some seaside resorts in Italy have become incredibly famous worldwide thanks to their amazing landscapes and unique characteristics.
Let’s have a look together at the best seaside resorts and beaches starting from Northern and Central Italy.
- CINQUE TERRE – LIGURIA.
The area called Cinque Terre (Five Lands) is considered to be one of the most beautiful seaside locations in Liguria, in north-western Italy on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Cinque Terre takes its name from the five most important towns in the region: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
This is a very popular destination which is loved by tourists from all over the world for its maritime landscapes, the colorful villages and the surrounding hillsides which are part of the National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Figure 1: View of Manarola, Liguria. Source: pixabay.com
The Fegina beach in Monterosso is one of the most popular beaches in the area. You can reach it easily by car and by train as it is close to the railway station.
The gold sand and the clean and transparent water make Fagina beach the ideal place to relax and enjoy long walks on the shore while admiring the “faraglioni” which are huge rocks in the sea.
Figure 2. Faraglione in Fegina beach. Source: pixabay.com
- ISOLA D’ELBA – TOSCANA.
Elba is Italy’s third largest island after Sicily and Sardinia and it is part of the Tuscan Archipelago.
It is composed of 7 municipalities which are surrounded by nature. You can go on beautiful excursions and explore the island from Mount Capanne to the quarries on the eastern side of the island.
Among the many beaches which compose Elba’s shores the beaches of Sansone and Cavoli are the most loved ones.
The beach of Cavoli is located in the southern part of the island, near the Municipality of Marina di Campo. It has a long sandy beach and a shallow crystal clear seabed which make it particularly suitable for families with young children.
Thanks to Mount Capanne, this part of the island is protected by cold northern winds so the climate is often pleasant.
The beach of Sansone is located in the northern part of the island. With a wide variety of rocks and caves which are populated by colorful fish, it is the ideal destination for snorkelers. The beach also has a lido with sunbeds and a small bar as well as pedal boats and canoe rentals.
Figure 3: Sunset in the island of Elba. Source: pixabay.com
- CALA VIOLINA – TOSCANA
The beautiful Cala Violina is in located on the stretch of coastline that connects Follonica to Punta Ala, precisely within the Bandite di Scarlino Nature Reserve, in the province of Grosseto, Tuscany.
The name of this amazing beach derives from the particular sound that comes from the small grains of the beach when they are stepped on, resembling the sound of the musical instrument. The pebbles are small pieces of quartz.
This is one of the most beautiful beaches in Maremma (the plain of Tuscany) and it is even more beautiful in the morning away from the crowds and immersed in the picturesque Mediterranean scrub.
Figure 4. Cala Violina. Source: pixabay.com
- SPIAGGIA DELLE DUE SORELLE – MARCHE.
The beach named “Le Due Sorelle” (Two Sisters) is located in Sirolo, on the Central-Eastern coast of Italy which overlooks the Adriatic Sea. This certainly is one of the most beautiful seaside resorts in the Marche region.
The beach takes this name from two big cliffs that emerge from the sea which resemble two nuns praying. There are many legends around these two rocks. One of them tells the story of a mermaid named Mimì who was looking for a sailor who had appeared to her in a dream.
She attracted the sailors to her cave with her songs and this is why the cave became known as “Grotta degli Schiavi” (cave of the Slaves). Indeed, the unfortunate sailors were imprisoned by the mermaid and a Demon. One day, the mermaid decided to leave because she had not found her sailor; the demon was turned into a stone and divided in two parts: that’s how the two Sisters were created. Some sailors say that sometimes a young beautiful woman with green hair follows their boats. This beach is reachable only by boat, canoe or dinghy. It is a real jewel of unspoiled nature.
Figura 5. Two sisters beach. Source: pixabay.com
