The 10 most stunning beaches of Italy
Camogli Beach (Liguria)
This long grey pebble stone beach stretches out against a backdrop of the colourful facades of Camogli, a small fishing village characteristic of Liguria. Go along the steep path to the north of the beach and you will reach a small bay from where you can admire of the abbey of San Fruttoso di Capodimonte, built right on the waterfront and framed by the turquoise Mediterranean Sea. Deep-sea divers will be able to get close-up to the famous Christ of the Abyss, a huge bronze statue immersed at a depth of 17 metres in memory of those that the sea has claimed.
Cala del Gesso (Tuscany)
Not easy to get to from land, this tiny rugged beach nestles in a bay at the foot of the cliffs of Monte Argentario peninsula. It overlooks the nearby island of Giglio.
Cala Bianca (Campania)
Wedged between cliffs, this small beach of immaculate white sand, hence its name, “white cove”, opens onto crystal waters. It is one of the most beautiful bathing spots in the vicinity of the seaside resort of Marina di Camerota in the province of Salerno.
Cala Mariolu (Sardinia)
Surrounded by sweet-scented Mediterranean scrub, this beach is lapped by transparent water and strewn with white boulders. This mesmerising spot is tucked away in the Gulf of Orosei in the east of the island. It is named after the Mediterranean monk seals that stopped off in the cove and “pilfered” the fish from the local fishermen’s nets.
La Pelosa (Sardinia)
La Pelosa, the other pearl of Sardinia and also boasting pristine white sand, could easily be mistaken for a Caribbean beach – it lacks only the palm trees. Its crystal-clear waters are taken by storm in the summer months, which is why we recommend getting there very early or in low season to fully appreciate its beauty.
Tropea Beach (Calabria)
Clinging to a sheer cliff that plunges straight into the Tyrrhenian Sea, the small town of Tropea in Calabria is famous for its church perched on a rocky outcrop above the sea. The pretty sandy beach that stretches out beneath Santa Maria dell’Isola also leads to rock caves.
Rabbit Beach (Lampedusa)
This is by far the most beautiful beach of the Pelagie Islands off the coast of Sicily. Surrounded by striking white limestone cliffs, Rabbit Beach is lapped by waters that paint an artist’s palette of blues.
Cala Tonnarella dell’Uzzo (Sicily)
Even though it is invariably crowded with holidaymakers come summertime, this tiny cove with turquoise water in Zingaro nature reserve to the west of Palermo is more than worth the trip.
Baia delle Zagare (Puglia)
Located on the coastal road between Vieste and Mattinata, this idyllic bay of Puglia is famous throughout Italy for its distinctive twin “stacks”, a stone pillar and pinnacle, that rise up from turquoise blue water.
Two Sisters Beach (Marche)
The pride and joy of the Riviera del Conero, the enchanting “spiaggia delle Due Sorelle” stretches out along the Adriatic. It is thus named for two glittering white rock formations that rise out of the sea in the north of the bay.
