There is a great variety of beaches in Italy, from sculptural rocks to white sandy ones. It’s time to share my personal list of some of the top beaches in Italy.
Ready to dive into the Italian sea fairy tale?
Best beaches in Liguria
Paragi Beach – Baia di Paraggi
The small beach of Paraggi is situated in the old town of Santa Margherita Ligure. The bay is surrounded by bright Mediterranean vegetation, the sandy well-equipped beach is famous for its emerald and clean water. The bay is in fact a small natural harbor, a perfect place for diving.
Monterosso al mare – Cinque Terre
Five Ligurian lands – Cinque Terre – is a classic seaside spot for many Italians. It is one of the cleanest areas of the Mediterranean, beaches here are mostly pebbly and rocky. Beautiful villages and towns stretch along the tops of the mountain ranges. The picturesque beaches are famous for their crystal clear waters, although in Monterosso al mare you can also find sandy beaches. Spiaggia del Gigante in Monterosso is perhaps one of the most intriguing beaches for the history and beauty of the Cinque Terre, the beach hosts the iconic sculpture of a giant about 14 meters high and made by Arrigo Aminerbi.
Punta Prosciutto – Porto Cesareo
The beach of Punta Prosciutto in Salento is famous far beyond Italy. According to the English newspaper “Telegraf” this place was included in the ranking of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Moreover, being located in one of the most protected places in Italy, the beach is almost untouched. Amazing virgin shore with white sand and the purest emerald sea.
San Foca, Torre dell’Orso e Torre Sant’Andrea – Melendugno
North of Otranto in Salento are the towns of San Foca, Torre dell’Orso and Torre Sant’Andrea with its beautiful beaches and limestone cliffs descending to the sea. These places are especially popular among diving enthusiasts, here you can dive into the crystal waters for a few meters to observe the diverse underwater flora and fauna. The Grotta di San’Andrea cave is also known as Grotta degli Innamorati which means “Cave of Lovers”. According to the legend, two lovers swept away by the tide died here. For the purity of its waters this beach has been repeatedly awarded the Blue Flag of Europe.
The best beaches in Sardinia
Isole di Spargi e Budelli – La Maddalena
Spargi and Budelli are two islands of the Maddalena archipelago, a real gem of nature located in the north-east of Sardinia. Budelli is known for its large granite rocks, dense vegetation, white sand and emerald water, this place is also famous all over the world for its pink beach. Fairy Pink Beach owes its name to the colour of its sand rich with tiny fragments of coral, granite and shells. This beach is protected by the National Park.
Baia Chia
Chia Beach is one of the best beach of South Sardinia. It’s famous for its cleanest beach with fine pink sand and crystal clear water.
The best beaches of Campania
Marina Piccola – Capri
Marina Piccola is a small bay with one of the best beaches in Capri, an ideal place to enjoy the view of one of the Faraloni cliffs. The main attraction of this bay is the cliff of sirens, which divides Marina Piccola into two even tiny coves: Marina di Moulo and Marina di Pennauro. It is better to go to the beach Marina Piccola before lunch as from 16:00 the sun is hiding behind the hills and begins to cast a shadow on the beach in the middle of the day.
Capo Palinuro- Cilento
The ancient Cilento has preserved a unique landscape in the world: Capo Palinuro is a limestone cape overlooking the sea, dotted with 35 caves, the most famous of which is by far the Blue Grotto. Palinuro attracts divers and guests craving crystal clear water and picturesque landscapes.
The best beaches in Sicily
Scala dei Turchi – Realmonte
The amazing beach called Scala dei Turchi near Porto Empedocle in the province of Agrigento is one of the famous landmarks of Sicily. A white rock formation buildup of minerals over the centuries has become one of nature’s biggest tourist attraction. The combination of white rock and turquose water is breathtaking. More than once Scala dei Turchi has been in the top 10 of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
