Italy is an amazing country, a cradle of art and culture for centuries worldwide, still hosting masterpieces without equal. But also from a naturalistic point of view, the Bel Paese has nothing to envy from any other country, especially when it comes to sea and beaches.
Surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, it hosts two large islands and a myriad of small islets, and therefore an endless number of breathtaking seaside locations. It was difficult, but we have selected for you the 14 most beautiful beaches in Italy, let’s explore them together!
The Most Beautiful Beaches of Northern Italy
Northern Italy is not just cold and mountains, but it offers some of the most spectacular Caribbean-like paradises in the country!
Baia dei Saraceni – Liguria
Liguria ranks first among the most awarded Italian beaches with the Blue Flag , a recognition given to seaside resorts with the cleanest waters and best managed services.Baia dei Saraceni
is one of the region’s most beloved beaches, located along the coast between Finale Ligure and Varigotti. Entry is free, and the stay in this place is truly priceless. The blue of the waters and the green of the vegetation will fill your eyes and heart! Cala Violina – Tuscany On the coasts of the Maremma Grossetana in
Tuscany
you come across a dreamlike place, hidden between two mountain promontories: Cala Violina. The name of this cove comes from its particular white sand, made up of tiny quartz grains that seem to resonate as soon as you step on them. The beach is located within theBandite di Scarlino Nature Reserve
which ensures an unspoiled and pure landscape and clean, crystal-clear sea. However, to swim and spend the day in this fairy-tale setting, you need to book : no more than 700 people can access per day and the entrance fee is 1 euro. Due Sorelle Beach – MarcheDue Sorelle Beach is located on the
Riviera del
Conero within the homonymous marine protected area. The Due Sorelle are the two tall, white sea stacksrising from the blue waters just off the coast. The beach lies at the foot of Monte Conero and is made up of white pebbles. The place is so magical that it is naturally exclusive: it is only accessible by sea with ferries departing from Numana. The hiking trails are discouraged due to high landslide risk. Costa dei Trabocchi – Abruzzo The
Costa dei Trabocchi
is a wonderful stretch of Abruzzo coastline that even inspired and captivated Gabriele D’Annunzio . The trabocchi are large structures, stilt houses that emerge from the waters , like giant spiders. Their exact purpose and date of construction are unknown, but they certainly make the natural scenery of this coast even more evocative. Among the most beautiful and still little-known beaches in the area are Ripari di Giobbe beachand the coves of the Gulf of Venus, like giant spiders. Their exact purpose and time of construction are unknown, but they undoubtedly make the natural landscape of this coast even more enchanting. Among the most beautiful beaches in the area, still little known to mass tourism, stands out the beach of Heading into southern Italy, we find views so beautiful they are true works of art created by nature. But before traveling to the islands, let’s discover what Campania and Apulia offer.Marina di Camerota – Campania Marina di Camerota beach.
is located in Campania, within the splendid
Heading into southern Italy, we find views so beautiful they are true works of art created by nature. But before traveling to the islands, let's discover what Campania and Puglia have to offer.
. Like many other places on this list, it is a completely wild spot, beautiful precisely because it is not yet another overcrowded beach resort. To reach Marina di Camerota,
you must walk long trails immersed in nature, very scenic but also challenging. Torre Sant’Andrea – Apulia Torre Sant’Andrea beach in Apuliastands out for the immense sea stacks towering over the emerald waters. A few kilometers from Otranto , the area is rich in caves, inlets, and coves and has been awarded the Blue Flag for the purity of its waters.
This area is divided into smaller zones, one of which has a small sandy beach where visitors can stay, making it popular with tourists in summer and spring. Other areas are harder to reach and
favored by trekking enthusiasts (are you one of them? Discover the nature hikes organized by us at Meeters!). There are also coves accessible at low tide. The Most Beautiful Beaches in Sicily Described by the greatest writers of this land,from Camilleri to Pirandello
This area is divided into smaller zones, one of which has a small beach where you can stop and which is therefore swarmed by tourists in the summer and spring seasons. Other areas, however, are more difficult to reach and are San Vito Lo Capo Choosing among Sicily’s most beautiful beaches is truly a tough task. The territory is full of dreamlike locations, among which stands out the town of
San Vito Lo Capo
. The town includes within its territory the Zingaro Nature Reserve, a protected area still untouched and wild, of devastating pure beauty, known not only for its rugged nature but also for its clear seabeds and underwater caves. Inside are coves and small beaches, with limited space to lie down, but impossible not to want to dive in for a swim. Among these we highlight
Cala Capreria,
Cala del Varo, andCala della Disa. Scala dei TurchiThe fame of Scala dei Turchi is well deserved. We are talking about one of Italy’s most scenic natural spots, in the heart of the province of Agrigento, : a vast pearly white rocky cliff rising steeply over an emerald sea..
The large white marl cliff, visible even from afar, has a sinuous shape, sculpted by wind and sea over centuries. The name probably comes from the fact that the place was used by Turks, Saracens, and Arabs to
hide boats and plan raids along the coast.Rabbit Beach – Lampedusa Also in the splendid province of Agrigento, on the island of Lampedusa,
is Rabbit Beach, considered by many the most beautiful beach in the world and called by Modugno “God’s swimming pool” . It’s easy to mistake it for a Caribbean location, thanks to the combination of very white sand and dazzling turquoise sea.
Getting there is a bit tiring: don’t expect a well-served spot with bars and plenty of food. The attraction of the place lies precisely in its being
untouched by human activity. The area is rightly protected and isa habitat for many terrestrial and marine animal species, including turtles.Cala Rossa – Favignana
Cala Rossa is one of Italy’s most sensational natural paradises. The beach is located on the island of Favignana, the largest of the Egadi Islands.The crystal-clear turquoise waters open within a tuff quarry , creating a unique contrast between the sea, the rocks, and the Mediterranean scrub, giving the place an irresistibly wild flavor. The space available to lie down is limited and the beach is very popular, so the advice is to go early in the morning to enjoy this unique panorama.
The Most Beautiful Beaches in Sardinia
Like Sicily, Sardiniahas coasts so paradisiacal that they alone could occupy all the positions in our ranking of the most beautiful beaches in Italy. However, we have selected four of the most beautiful beaches in Italy that should be a must-visit for anyone traveling to the island! Cala Goloritzé, creating a unique contrast between the sea, the rocks, and the Mediterranean scrub, giving the place an irresistible wild flavor. The space available to lie down is not very large and the beach is very popular, so the advice is to go there early in the morning to enjoy this unique panorama.
UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995,
this beach is located in the territory of Baunei, in the province of Nuoro, in the Gulf of Orosei. The beach opens onto a bay overlooked by a tall pinnacle and surrounded by rocks and woods much loved by trekking and climbing enthusiasts. The place is wild and
reachable by a nature trail
that is quite challenging but scenic, ideal for taking photos of a truly incredible corner of our country. Cala Spalmatore – La MaddalenaThis beach has a peculiar name that comes from the fishermen’s habit of stopping in this cove to “spread” pitch on the bottoms of their boats.Cala Spalmatore is located in the northeastern part of La Maddalena island, crossed by a long pierwhere even today you will find a place where it seems man has never set foot. Rugged nature, juniper bushes, white sand and rocks,
blue water and high dunes
are the elements that define the beauty of the place, a destination not only for bathers but especially for enthusiasts of diving, spearfishing, and bird watching.The bay is home to numerous animal species, including flamingos. long pier where even today, here too, you will find yourself in a place where it seems man has never set foot. Rugged nature, juniper shrubs, sand, and white rocks, blue water and tall dunes. These are the factors that determine the beauty of the place, a destination not only for bathers but especially for enthusiasts of diving, spearfishing, and bird watching. The bay is in fact home to numerous animal species, including flamingos.