Sea: beaches and seaside resorts

It is enough to look out over the edge of the ancient volcanic caldera that gave birth to the Valle di Monastero for your gaze to wander over vineyards as far as the eye can see. These are Zibibbo grapes from Pantelleria, a very ancient vine that is still cultivated on the island according to a technique introduced by the Phoenicians. So much so, in fact, that it also merited inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.

The coastline stretching from the North Western section of the island across to the North Eastern area of Sardinia represents an ideal itinerary for those who love to spend their time visiting wonderful bays and for visitors who would prefer to combine a beautiful landscape with elements of cultural value. All this is possible when you travel from the Costa Paradiso – a district which by no mere chance acquired such a high-sounding name thanks to its enchanting beaches - to the tourist resort of Palau with its breathtaking landscapes.

Concentrated in the south of Italy, they are a visible sign of the tireless activity of the Earth, which has created these unique and extremely distinctive places in terms of shape and colour, and where the mouths of volcanoes are often still active. Their incessant bubbling, which sometimes turns into spectacular eruptions, makes these corners of the Mediterranean truly perfect for a special holiday, also in the pursuit of wellness. Indeed, thermal springs and volcanic muds are a special feature of these islands, particularly in the Aeolian Islands and on Pantelleria: here you can combine the relaxation of the sea, the freedom of boat trips, gourmet culinary experiences and relaxing or detoxifying wellness courses. In short, if you want to regenerate, these are the detox body treatments to try this summer, and beyond, in the spas and resorts of Sicily's volcanic islands.

In the meantime, let's consider some of the notable aspects of this pearl of the Mediterranean and its mosaic of wonderful scenery and facilities situated in an area of less than 8 square kilometres. A rocky coastline, cliffs overlooking the sea and various enchanting gorges enclosing small sandy beaches and basins of pure crystalline water are particular characteristics that render this island a unique venue. The interior of the island, which is of volcanic origin, is no exception and you will be captivated by its fascinating archaeological sites and small villages.

A mixture of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding in the sand. It is Sandboarding, an extreme sport that has also reached Italy. In Italy, there are 2 spots that lend themselves well to this discipline: the coastal dunes of Porto Pino, south of Sardinia, and the slopes of the volcano Stromboli, in the Aeolian Islands. Two completely different landscapes, but perfect for acrobatic descents on the sand.

A necklace of precious pearls surrounds the entire peninsula of Italy, linked by transparent, astonishingly colourful water lapping dream-like beaches, sunshine and vivid traditions to be enjoyed to the full. If you are looking for complete detox and sheer beauty, then Italy's smaller islands are the perfect choice.

The beautiful coast of the Province of Trapani is spaced in between enchanting bays and beaches that greet the transparent sea. At turns resounding with tones of green and deep blue, the waters run towards the spectacular panorama of the Egadi Islands. This setting, a dream-come-true, is perfect for every type of vacation, and most of all, it is absolutely magnificent every day of the year. Besides its astounding littoral makeup, the Coast is littered with charming little towns that you should know – Alcamo, Campobello Di Mazara, Castellammare del Golfo, Castelvetrano, Custonaci, Erice, Marsala, Mazara Del Vallo, Petrosino, San Vito lo Capo and Trapani – abuzz with life, sun, the sounds and smells and of the sea, and history and monuments.

Landing in an environmentally friendly marina is every sea lover's dream. There are two facilities in Sicily that not only offer the necessary services, from electricity to refuelling, but also operate in an environmentally sustainable manner: Capo d'Orlando Marina and Marina del Nettuno, in Messina. Both Blue Flag 2022, they boast the best waters on the entire Messina coast.

From the Roccelletta Archaeological Park in Borgia to Cape Colonna, this journey looks at the history of Calabria by travelling through its tourist destinations and along the charming coasts of the Ionian Sea in the Gulf of Squillace.

If that weren't enough, the boot of Italy is dotted with blue pearls, small and large lakes in the plains areas or high in the mountains that characterize our landscapes. Finding out what's under that delicate line separating water from sky is an impulse that encourages more and more people to have a go at diving. Many courses are available in Italy, even during a short stay, to get closer to this experience in many places where sea-beds are home to wonders. All designed by Mother Nature, of course, with the colours of gorgonian corals home to a rich variety of marine fauna, as well as homo sapiens over the centuries. Under the water, just off the coastlines, evident traces of human evolution emerge which, in Italy as in few other parts of the world, bear witness to an indissoluble bond with our past.

A few kilometers from Syracuse, you can immerse yourself in a truly all-Italian earthly paradise: the Plemmirio Marine Park, one of the most pristine protected marine areas in Italy, which extends for 12 kilometers around the Maddalena Peninsula. Between mountain bike excursions, walks and unforgettable snorkeling sessions you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily. Nestled between cliffs overlooking the sea, ready to be immortalized in breathtaking shots. If you are now intrigued, here is everything you should know about the Plemmirio Marine Park, its most beautiful beaches, the Maddalena trail and what to see and eat in the magnificent surroundings of beautiful Syracuse.

Many know it as the Riviera of Fun, given its expansive and well-maintained beaches and innumerable attractions the Adriatic Riviera (in Emilia Romagna) is one of Italy’s best-known beach resort localities, and no doubt that the Riviera of Fun is a definition that suits this coast very well.

A sinuous promontory designed by the winds that Mount Conero (after which this area in the Marches was named) encounters while overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Tens of beaches surrounded by rocks and luxuriant vegetation that can only be reached by boat or on paths, and numerous cities full of history and tradition: This is the Conero Riviera. A surprising green and occasionally wild nature, unforgettable crystal-clear sea and many beaches - some easier to access than others - characterize the Riviera. Among these is Due Sorelle beach (which can only be reached by boat), named this way due to two large stacks (precisely the due sorelle or two sisters), and Mezzavalle beach.

Many know it as the Riviera of Fun, given its expansive and well-maintained beaches and innumerable attractions the Adriatic Riviera (in Emilia Romagna) is one of Italy’s best-known beach resort localities, and no doubt that the Riviera of Fun is a definition that suits this coast very well.

Versilia, a zone both fun and cultured, is known to many for its gossip pages. Yet this stretch of land (in the Province of Lucca), that runs past the slopes of the Apuan Alps and the Park of San Rossore, is famous for its beaches. Lying between the cities of Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio, its long, fine-sand beaches and coastal dunes – particularly from Viareggio to Torre del Lago – are typical traits of the Versiliese littoral. The resort localities that dot the coastline include the exclusive Forte dei Marmi, sunny Viareggio, Marina di Pietrasanta and Lido di Camaiore.

The third largest island in the entire Mediterranean, and with a seemingly-infinite array of assets, Elba requires a generous amount of time to visit and enjoy all of it. It is made up of eight communes, all of them with their own particular attraction. Similarly, each of Elba's other “six sisters” distinguish themselves with their own unique traits and features; nonetheless, their largest common denominator is their fantastically wild nature and landscapes.

People travel to the Costa Smeralda because they are attracted by the high-society lifestyle of its jet-set habitués or because they want to get to know the coves and promontories of one of the most fascinating and characteristic parts of the island. The real discovery of these places goes far beyond simple stereotypes.

Fine, white sand, breathtaking panoramas, waters that range from hues of azure to turquoise, and one of the most beautiful seascapes of the entire Mediterranean: welcome to Stintino, renowned touristic destination on Sardinia’s northwestern extremity, in the Province of Sassari. It started out as a fishermen’s village, when the Island of Asinara was made a penal colony. Not a bad idea, and Stintino possesses one of the most charming coasts in Sardinia – it is a certified paradise for sea lovers and an excellent vacation spot for those that want to take the plunge into its pure and wild natural surroundings.

Cattolica, the Queen of the Adriatic, in ancient times was a place of transit and stopover for wayfarers travelling along the Via Flaminia, is located where Romagna gives way to the hills of the Marches, immersed in a delicate landscape and characterized by genuine, authentic hospitality. The bond that unites the city with the sea is so ancient that it is intertwined with legend: it is said that in front of it, sunk into the abyss, lies an Adriatic Atlantis, later identified with the ancient settlement of Conca. A city with a strong seafaring tradition, fishing and important shipyards, Cattolica is a place that welcomes in the scent of saltiness and the ancient stories of seafarers. Not to be missed, during a visit, is the Museo della Marineria Storica, a section of the Museo della Regina dedicated to the sea, where the shipyards, fishing tools and trade related to the sea are illustrated; the Le Navi Aquarium, the largest on the Adriatic coast; the suggestive Stella Maris festival, when the fishing boats and clam boats carry the statue of the Madonna into the sea, amidst spirituality and gestures from another time.

Characteristic and note seaside resort on the Teramo coast, located at the foot of the hills of Atri and Città Sant'Angelo, Silvi probably owes its name to a small temple dedicated to Silvano, the Italic god protector of flocks and shepherds. Of medieval origin, it stands on the site of the ancient Castrum Silvi. Behind the wide, sandy beaches are gentle hills, and among these stands the medieval village of Silvi Alta, an ancient Roman post, with its spectacular belvedere from which the panorama sweeps from Gran Sasso to Conero (in the Marche region) and the Termiti Islands. Perhaps this is why the great writer Gabriele D'Annunzio called it the 'pearl of the Adriatic'; the village has largely retained its original urban layout, with a single central street from which the dense network of alleys that make up the urban fabric develops. Descending along the Adriatic coastline, you can admire the beautiful late 19th-Century or early 20th-Century villas stand out. Do not miss the exploration of the Torre del Cerrano Marine Protected Area.

In San Vito Chietino, the sea is the essence of everything: you can breathe it in through the narrow streets of the town centre, admire it from the beach, and listen to it when you meet up at the pier in the evening to stroll among the lapping of the waves and the calls of the seagulls. Here, in the village that was the refuge of Gabriele d'Annunzio for long periods of time, one cannot remain indifferent to the beauty of the Trabocchi coastline, with its sandy or pebble beaches, breathtaking views and atmospheres that smell of saltiness. The town, perched high above the sea, recounts its medieval past with the remains of the defensive walls and its beautiful churches, but today it is above all the sea, a sea that is not just a holiday but is life, everyday life, identity. "From the extreme tip of the right promontory, over a group of rocks, there was a trabocco, a strange fishing machine, all composed of boards and beams, similar to a colossal spider", is the image described by the poet in the "Triumph of Death".

A village divided between hill and sea, in the province of Chieti; Rocca San Giovanni stands on a rocky hill, but in the alleys of its historic centre you can breathe in the scent of salt and see the waves breaking on the rocks. The first inhabited nucleus dates back to 1076 and was soon transformed into a castle, becoming the stronghold of the nearby monastery of San Giovanni in Venere. Traces of these medieval events are still visible in the ancient walls that guard the village, while all around olive groves and orange groves accompany you to the sea, to the marvellous Costa dei Trabocchi, among small inlets and beautiful beaches. Here, between the splendid sea and the hills that frame it, stand the traditional trabocchi, which give their name to the coast, wooden structures with a long maritime history and ever-present charm.

This is a very interesting village from a historical point of view, as it is the first settlement that gave rise to the current town of Pineto, in the province of Teramo. The small medieval village develops along a ridge around a main street with side branches of numerous characteristic alleys. The urban fabric, mainly 19th-century and modern, all around is affected by the calanchi, the magical erosive phenomenon of the terrain produced by the washing away of water over clayey rocks, where two million years ago there were sea beds now covered by sparse vegetation but rich in fossils. The village guards an architectural and artistic heritage of recognized value, among which the medieval Church of the patron saint, St. Sylvester Pope, which houses a valuable triptych by the painter Andrea de Litio, stands out unequivocally. Also noteworthy are the Auditorium of Sant'Antonio and the Greek cross-shaped Church of Santa Maria della Consolazione dating back to 1408. The village is also characterized by the presence of several murals depicting scenes of daily life, painted on some of the façades overlooking the main streets and squares.

Giulianova, in the province of Teramo, has a past that is lost in ancient times: founded as a Roman colony, today it is divided into Giulianova Alta, the historic centre built in the 15th century on top of the hill, and Giulianova Lido, by the sea, which has developed instead since the 20th century, thanks above all to the presence of the fishing port. The fishing tradition here is very strong and the catch is exported to various regions. The port remains the heart of activity. Symbolic is also its location, right in the centre: here every day the spectacle of arrivals and departures, of fish being unloaded to be sold or transported, of seagulls circling hoping to get food. And over it all, the tales of the sea, always the same and always different.

If that weren't enough, the boot of Italy is dotted with blue pearls, small and large lakes in the plains areas or high in the mountains that characterize our landscapes. Finding out what's under that delicate line separating water from sky is an impulse that encourages more and more people to have a go at diving. Many courses are available in Italy, even during a short stay, to get closer to this experience in many places where sea-beds are home to wonders. All designed by Mother Nature, of course, with the colours of gorgonian corals home to a rich variety of marine fauna, as well as homo sapiens over the centuries. Under the water, just off the coastlines, evident traces of human evolution emerge which, in Italy as in few other parts of the world, bear witness to an indissoluble bond with our past.

Lake Maggiore is one of the most beautiful Italian lakes and has enchanted the great Italian and foreign artists who have stayed here. It is believed to be the largest of the pre-Alpine lakes, hence the name "Maggiore", it is of glacial origin and its banks are in Lombardy, Piedmont and Switzerland. Surrounded by mountains and hills that shelter it from the cold northern winds, the lake has the Ticino River among its tributaries, a historic water route connecting the Po Valley to Central Europe.

The historic international regatta, the Barcolana in Trieste, is back for its 54th edition. As tradition dictates, it is held on the second Sunday in October, but spans an entire week with a rich calendar of events, including those specially tailored for children. Here is what to do in Trieste with children from 29th September to 8th October 2023, to enjoy the beauty of the Gulf of Trieste and feel like the real stars of the Barcolana.

With over 8,000 kilometres of coastline, Italy is a favourite destination for surfers from all over the world. From the coasts of Sardinia to the varied shoreline of Liguria via the Tyrrhenian ridge, there are many incredible places that provide waves and dream locations, and are more or less suitable depending on the time of year. If you're planning a surfing holiday in Italy, here are the unmissable surf spots in summer and winter, home to the most famous surf schools in Italy. Are you ready to go?

Spring holidays such as Easter are the time of the year when it’s permissible to escape the ritually laid tables and family gatherings. If you are fearless at heart, you could treat yourself to an out of the ordinary, alternative holiday full of adventure, and vivacious fun. Challenge yourself with outdoor experiences and exploring landscapes, with histories and traditions that will take your breath away. Here are 6 exciting destinations to spend an Easter weekend full of open-air fun, starting in southern Italy.

Standing on a board and holding a paddle in your hands: if you too are a Stand Up Paddle enthusiast, which has been sweeping the beaches in recent years along with the more traditional surfing, check this out. Have you ever thought that this water sport can also be enjoyed with great satisfaction in a lake? The crystal clear waters of Trentino, surrounded by forests, are perfect. Here is a map to help you find your way around.