When winter’s chill was thawed by the blossoming of spring, our family would set off for the long drive from the Oxfordshire downs to our holiday house in Le Marche, central Italy. Cruising through the arable heartlands of Europe, my heart would skip a beat as we neared the totemic slate gradients of the Italian Alps. Snaking over the Brenner Pass, it felt like being spirited to another world: a sky-bright Narnia, as we emerged blinking-eyed into the Dolomites sun on the other side. Stopping in simple, family-run hotels for the night, the breakfasts were a joyful, modest but perfectly formed ode to the Sud Tyrol locale—the creamiest Sterzinger yogurts that we savored with crimson forest-fresh lingonberries, flower-flecked cheese (for breakfast!) draped with silky threads of marjoram honey from their farm. Today, most hip restaurants are ingredient-led, but these these mountain families have been doing it for centuries.
The 17 most spectacular beaches in Italy
21.03.2024 - 13:15 / lonelyplanet.com
If there's one thing Italians love to do, it's hit the beach when the sun is out and then argue over which one is the best. Spirited debates flourish among families about the most beautiful stretch of shore and no wonder – when you live in a country gifted with gorgeous stretches of sand, there's always another favorite to celebrate.
During July and August, locals flock to the almost 8000km (4971 miles) of coastline to find their special corner and make it a second home. Keep in mind that many beaches in Italy are dominated by stabilimento (beach clubs that will charge you a daily fee for entrance to their stretch of the sea and provide you with lounge chairs, bathrooms, and other facilities).
The more popular the beach and the closer to the August holidays you are, the more likely places are to be booked solid. If you’re looking for a deserted paradise to wile away the hours, visit in September. But even if you’re among the legions, you’ll be spoilt for choice. While there's no way to cover everyone's favorite, I've done my best to round up 17 of the most bellissima beaches in Italy.
There’s no point in denying it. La Pelosa on the northwestern tip of Sardinia is quite simply the most beautiful beach in the world. Photos really don’t do it justice, plus the surrounding Asinara archipelago and the loveable town of Stintino are worth sticking around for a couple of days to explore.
Planning tip: La Pelosa has instituted a cap on people who can spend the day on the beach in the high season in order to preserve the delicate ecosystem. Reserve your place on the website if you plan to spend the day there (€3.50). You’ll also have to bring along a mat to avoid tracking sand away on your towel. Local organizations have made a real effort to better manage tourism here, and supporting them is important.
Standing proudly off the western Trapanese coast of Sicily, Favignana is the main island in the Egadi archipelago and was so named to denote the warm winds that drifted onto the coast. The island boasts about 33km (20.5 miles) of coastline which means you’ll have scores of different beaches to explore, from craggy Cala Rossa to expansive Lido Burrone. And yes, technically it’s sort of cheating to call an island one beach, but are you really mad about having so many incredible options? I didn’t think so.
Is it a beach? You be the judge. Is it a hidden cove only reachable by boat or an arduous climb? Yes. Is it worth the effort? Absolutely. This UNESCO-protected cove tucked into the still untamed Gulf of Orosei is bursting with aquatic life, perfectly framed by the natural arch that juts into the blue abyss and the towering rock formation created by a landslide. It is the type of beach that changes a person.
Choosing
Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2024: The Most Evocative Floral Fragrances
This Mother’s Day, forget about gifting a typical bouquet, and instead opt for one of these long-lasting floral fragrances. Ideal for travel lovers, each one is inspired by a far-away land and one spritz will bring back memories of beautiful destinations spent with loved ones.
6 Of Europe’s Most Underrated UNESCO World Heritage Sites
As World Heritage Day on 18th April approaches, the spotlight turns on renowned landmarks across the globe. UNESCO sites like Stonehenge in the UK, Pompei in Italy and the Acropolis in Greece get no shortage of visitors. But there are plenty of designated destinations in Europe that still fly under the radar. Here are some of the best in Europe from remote archaeological wonders to untamed natural landscapes.
Off Season Italy: The Romance of Como in the Colder Months, According to Hotelier Valentina De Santis
This is part of Off Season Italy, a collection of guides highlighting the year-round appeal of Italy's most popular destinations, courtesy of our favorite local tastemakers. Read more here.
Off Season Italy: Le Sirenuse's Aldo Sersale's Winter Guide to the Amalfi Coast
This is part of Off Season Italy, a collection of guides highlighting the year-round appeal of Italy's most popular destinations, courtesy of our favorite local tastemakers. Read more here.
Celebrating Italy in the Off Season
The delights of Italy are universal: clinking Negronis in Rome, spinning a Riva through Venice’s Grand Canal, island-hopping off the shores of Sicily, all interlaced with hefty doses of wine, mozzarella, and art. It’s this limitless allure that has travelers from all over the world descend on the boot with near insatiable fervency, and often all at the same time—at least that’s how it can feel when trying to claim an inch of the Amalfi’s rocky beachfront in July. But in arriving en masse, travelers risk muting the very thing they come to enjoy: the essence of the place, as conjured by the lifestyle that Italians pull off with aplomb.
Frecciarossa high-speed trains at the forefront in sustainability and innovation
Trenitalia is developing projects to reduce its own carbon footprint through action to boost energy efficiency.
Moravia Yachting appointed Central Agent for the sale of "Elegance of Cannes"
To date, Elegance of Cannes has only been used privately as a day boat in the South of France.
Gen-Z visiting Italy in their own fashion
Touristitaly comment on the differences in visiting Italy among the generations.
Only accessible by boat: Italy’s Aeolian islands are truly off the beaten track
With new airports and improved transport links popping up Europe-wide to make travelling ever easier, it’s rare to find destinations truly off the beaten track.
The Place Firenze, Italy, Reopens After An Exquisite Redesign
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3 mistakes I made during my first European cruise kept me from making the most of my trip
My first European cruise was awesome — but it could have been better.