Italian Beaches have been blessed by Mother Nature with plenty of suns and about 5,400 Km of coastline.
Italy is surrounded by the Adriatic Sea in the East. This Sea is shared by Italy and the countries on the eastern side of the Sea like Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania.
On the south of the Italian “boot” is the Ionian Sea also shared with Western Greece. On the west are the Tyrrhenian Sea and the island of Sardinia. Further south in front of the mainland lays the fabulous Island of Sicily with incredibly beautiful beaches. Further north bathing the Italian Riviera in the Liguria Sea.
Italian Riviera in Liguria
Liguria Italy is the northern part of Italy that stretches from the Cote d’Azur all the way south to Tuscany. It stretches from Ventimiglia in the west near the French border to Genoa at the centre and ends just beyond Cinque Terre in the east at Portovenere.
This area features some of the most beautiful Italian Beaches. Here you’ll find many small towns in small bays that are reached by ferry and railway.
This area is frequented by local Italians looking for some free time and relaxation. Because of that, it may be quite inexpensive when it comes to accommodation and food. These beaches are sometimes very busy and crowded. The water sports offered are snorkelling, kayaking and windsurfing.
Liguria is divided by a few regions:
• Imperia with the beaches of Ventimiglia, San Remo Italy and Imperia
• Savona with Albenga Noli and Savona
• Genoa – Rapallo, Carnogli, Portofino Chiavari, Sestri Levante
• La Spezia – Portovenere, Lerici, Levanto and La Spezia
Moving south through the coast we find the following Italian Beaches
• Campania – This is the area where most of the tourists visit the south of Rome. The reason is that here are located most of the very famous sites are. Here you’ll find the picturesque city of Napoli or Naples, the Sorrento Peninsula, the Amalfi Coast and the famous beaches of the islands of Capri and Ischia.
• Sardinia – Called Sardegna in Italian is located in the Mediterranean near the French Island of Corsica. The island is mostly mountainous and has many natural attractions. It also has beautiful beaches, especially in the area of Costa Smeralda. Cala Luna is one of the island’s greatest for the quality of the waters and the sand.
• Sicily – The world-known Sicily in Italian Sicilia is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It’s located in front of the “toe” of the Italian “boot” across the very narrow straits of Messina. Here you will find extraordinary beach resorts in the cities of Palermo, Agrigento, Siracusa, Catania Taormina and Messina.
• Calabria – This is the area of the “toe” of the “boot” across from Sicily. Since the area is bordered by water on three sides it is famous for its beaches.
The idyllic Adriatic has some of the best Italian Beaches
• Abruzzo – This is still considered southern Italy on the Adriatic coast. It is popular for one day trip from Rome by crossing the peninsula. It boasts many beautiful Adriatic Beaches that include among others Pescara, Chieti, Sulmona and L’Aquila.
• Riviera of Le Marche – about 200 Km of clean and safe beaches made of sand or pebble. Here you may find private or free beaches with secluded coves and safe swimming. The area features many fine restaurants, cafes and bars; as well as good shopping and a busy nightlife.
• Some of the picturesque towns with nice beaches are Sirolo, a medieval town. Besides, there is neighbouring Numana with a fine marina and fine beaches. There is also Porto San Giogio a beautiful beach resort. Here the main attraction is the fish served in moderately priced restaurants. Another popular resort in this area is San Benedetto del Tronto, which becomes very busy during summer with great shopping, nightlife and restaurants.
• San Benedetto del Tronto is a popular palm tree-lined resort that has 8km of wide, sandy beach. The resort retains a stylish old-world elegance, especially in the older part of the town above the main resort, with its castle and narrow streets. However, in the summer, San Benedetto del Tronto comes alive and is a vibrant place with great shopping, top restaurants and great nightlife.
• Adriatic coast of Emilia-Romagna – This area brings back nostalgic moments from Federico Fellini’s films. It is a very popular area among tourists visiting Riccione, Rimini, Cattolica and many more resorts. Young people from all over Italy crowd the streets of this Riviera. Please don’t be distracted by nightlife, because during the day the sandy beaches full of all kinds of recreation, are full of trendy people.
Italian Beaches are like a magnet attracting tourists from all over Italy and the rest of the continent. The weather, the delicious food, and the ambience are what make them so unique. In other words, they are the best of Italy’s Tourist Attractions.