Sea: beaches and seaside resorts

The Sorrento peninsula extends from Castellammare di Stabia to the promontory of Punta Campanella at the far extremity spectacularly overlooking the Gulf of Naples: between sea, nature walks, archaeological sites and astonishing locations, here are 6 masterpieces that reveal all its beauty.

Leave everything behind and move to Sardinia. This is a dream that can be brought to life easily and with the greatest of pleasure if you are retired: sixty-year-old Europeans (or more) looking for a new life. Italy opens its doors to you, not only with the usual welcome, but also with tax benefits reserved specifically for pensioners from EU countries. Perhaps you have already travelled to Sardinia and fallen in love with it to the point of choosing it as your cherished destination, where you can spend serene years after retiring from work. The island is an amazing place: its nature is unspoilt, the land generous and the sea clear, the pace of life slow and the cuisine irresistible. In the charming historic villages, the quality of life is very high, and you can share it with the friendly locals. This is where.

With its historic centre capable of taking us back in time through medieval alleys and Renaissance and Baroque palaces, it is world famous for its imposing Villa Romana del Casale, a supreme example of a late-imperial Roman luxury villa listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 2013 by the Traveller’s Choice competition on TripAdvisor. After a decade at the top of the charts, it remains in first place within Europe and among the 10 best in the world. There are several reasons why this small bay enclosing an islet is a true paradise on earth.

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.

How can you blame him? Syracuse is one of the pearls of Sicily, capable of captivating tourists and visitors all year round with its Mediterranean climate, crystal-clear sea, unique food and wine specialities and colours that make every shot a postcard to show off. A crossroads of civilisations since ancient Greece and home of Archimedes, Syracuse proudly displays the footprints left by the centuries that testify to its greatness and importance in history. The city was in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005, with two different sites: the rock necropolis of Pantalica and the historic centre, both bearing witness to the development of ancient civilisations and their progress.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Crystal clear waters and coasts that are still partly wild inviting countryside for those looking for relaxation away from the busy pace of the city villages nestled on ancient castles and a rich cuisine where you can find, unchanged, traditional, local food and wine. These are the things that make the Maremma so dear to Italian and foreign visitors. An ideal place for nature lovers, the Maremma is a place to discover on foot, by bike, or even better, on horseback.

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.

An enchanting oasis off the Gargano Peninsula The Tremiti Islands, also known as the Diomedee Islands, are a small corner of paradise in the province of Foggia. The only Italian archipelago in the Adriatic Sea, it is about 12 miles off the Gargano Peninsula in northern Apulia and comprises five islands: San Domino, San Nicola, Capraia, Cretaccio and Pianosa. The Tremiti Islands Marine Protected Area is a nature reserve with clean air and wild nature. Here, the sea is clear and clean, with shades that range from light green to blue to turquoise. Featuring bays that alternate with headlands, the archipelago also has low and sandy beaches, high and rocky beaches with cliffs, small inlets and romantic coves. If you enjoy walking among Mediterranean scrub, you can take the numerous equipped trails through the lush forest, a riot of myrtle, rosemary, phillyrea, lentisk and juniper. For visitors who love diving, we highly recommend visiting the Grotta delle Viole (Cave of Violets), near the Pagliai sea stacks. You will quickly realise that it owes its name to the many varieties of fragrant violets that grow on its rocks, as well as the fish and molluscs that swim in its depths and take on a purple hue, thanks to the play of light from the sun’s rays that pierce through the slits. For snorkelling enthusiasts, there are over twenty underwater trails to explore. Remember that no cars, other than those belonging to residents, are allowed on the islands of the Tremiti archipelago.

Caorle is a splendid seaside town, or rather a maritime town: in addition to the beautiful beaches, in fact, the heart of the town is the fishing port that nestles in the old town centre transformed into a pedestrian area, the small houses painted in pastel colours, and the narrow streets that recall the ancient Venetian echo. Everything here faces the sea. The Church of the Madonna dell'Angelo, for example, which stands overlooking the cliff and recalls the seafaring soul of the town's inhabitants, who have always made their living from fishing. Or the Duomo, next to which stands a circular bell tower that for centuries acted as the town's guard, controlling the sea and its possible dangers. And again, Porto Santa Margherita, Duna Verde and the Caorle Lagoon, a naturalistic area of great beauty characterised by the 'casoni', constructions used in the past by fishermen as their residence during fishing periods.

Between English elegance and Ligurian tradition The elegant charm of early 20th-century splendour combined with the mild climate, lush nature and crystal-clear sea of the Riviera dei Fiori. Between Sanremo and Ventimiglia, the last port of call for tourist ships before the French border, Bordighera is an unexpected jewel. In the last century, it enchanted noble visitors from across Europe, especially the English, who added unique British details, from refined villas to typical London streetlamps. The impressionist painter Claude Monet and Margaret of Savoy, the first queen of Italy, to whom a villa and an impressive statue are dedicated, also fell in love with Bordighera. To experience the cultured and refined atmosphere of Bordighera, we recommend visiting the Clarence Bicknell Museum-Library, with its huge ficus specimens, Villa Garnier and Villa Etelinda, and the Pallanca Exotic Garden, home to Europe’s most diverse collection of succulents. This is counterbalanced by the upper town, featuring medieval alleyways and typically Ligurian low, colourful houses. On the way, you can admire the grandeur of the monumental trees. Not forgetting the sea, with its long beaches, among the widest in Liguria. You can admire the sunset from the Lungomare Argentina promenade, inaugurated by Evita Peron in 1947, from the small church of Sant’Ampelio, with its rocks and crypt, or from the Marabutto, a former gunpowder store overlooking the marina. The sun setting towards the Côte d’Azur will take your breath away.

Sperlonga is recognizable from afar: a medieval village as white as the famous Ostuni, it shines like a star reflected in the water. The town rises high above the sea, and its outpost has always been the Torre Truglia, a watchtower to defend the coast from pirate attacks. The town is a succession of narrow streets and subways and it is wonderful to get lost among the alleys and suddenly discover a glimpse of the splendid sea. It was here that the Emperor Tiberius had his summer residence built, the remains of which are now part of the itinerary offered by the National Archaeological Museum and the Villa of Tiberius, where reconstructions of large groups of statues evoking the myth of Ulysses are also exhibited.

Nervi is the green heart of Genoa: its mild climate and the presence of extraordinary natural parks, art galleries and, above all, the sea, all make the small village of Nervi a pearl set in the Riviera. Genoa is close, but here the rhythms are gentle, the distances short, nature queen. Worth seeing, in this sense, are the Nervi Parks, home to more than a hundred different botanical species, including some rare and exotic essences, and, for art and culture enthusiasts, the museum centre, which includes the Genoa Modern Art Gallery, the Giannettino Luxoro Museum, and the Raccolte Frugone, is well worth a visit. And then, above everything and intertwined with everything, the sea. Everything here is permeated by its presence: the small houses overlooking the harbour, the carrugi and creuze, the stories of the fishermen and the small boats resting on the shore... a small paradise caressed by the waves.

The imposing cathedral, the Swabian Castle of Frederick II, the Borgo Vecchio perched on a promontory overlooking the sea, this is what the visitor discovers of Termoli immediately on arrival. But it takes little to realise that here the real heart of everything is the sea. Termoli is the only port in Molise and fishing has always been the soul of the local economy. Witnesses to its most remote history are the splendid trabucchi, ancient fishing machines that tell endless stories of the sea and of life. Not to be missed is the spectacular event that best narrates the town's seafaring soul: the San Basso festival. Every year, on 4 August, the statue of the town's patron saint is carried in procession on boats and fishing boats, in an evocative ritual of sea and faith, as old as the singing of the waves.

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?

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.

Who said that rafting is a sport reserved for athletic types and trained experts? In Umbria between the Monti Sibillini National Park and Marmore Waterfall, anyone can experience the thrill of going down a river, safely. The stretch of river along where the Corno river and the Nera river converge, is an ideal spot to practice rafting, even for beginners. On one condition: you can swim.