If you are looking for inspiration to explore undiscovered Italian coastal towns you’ve come to the right place.
Sometimes very little is needed to make a stay unforgettable: a backpack, a bathing suit, a pair of comfortable shoes, and a great desire to discover.
A hidden hamlet far from the daily routine can give you emotions you have never experienced. The small towns that characterize the Italian peninsula often speak to us of history, myths, and culture.
If we could add to this also a calmness and a sense of discovery, where would we go? Below are seven of the best coastal towns in Italy that scent of sea breeze.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL UNDISCOVERED ITALIAN COASTAL TOWNS (WHERE YOU COULD EVEN RETIRE!)
Let’s start this journey in Liguria, northern Italy, and then travel south as far as Sicily.
TELLARO
This small town near Lerici overlooks the “Poets’ Gulf.” Legends have it that around 1800, even Mrs. and Mr. Mary and Percey Shelley were inspired by the breathtaking sunsets seen from the “Grò” rock on the beach of Piazza della Marina.
Strolling eastward through the carruggi – typical alleys of the Ligurian Riviera di Levante – one arrives at the Punta di Treggiano. Before setting to explore that cliff, get a piece of freshly baked focaccia, which you can find in one of the typical bakeries already open at the crack of dawn, and wear comfy shoes.
Better to wear them also for moving further west where, having arrived at the Trigliano cliffs, you can finally take them off to dive into the deep and elegant blue of the Mediterranean Sea.
There, an iron ladder will help you in the ascent, and away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you’ll appreciate the sound of the waves crashing on this great reef.
If you travel here by car, leave it on the cemetery road, as the center is a restricted traffic zone.
MAZZORBO
Moving eastward in northern Italy, the colors of Mazzorbo cannot help but capture your attention. Its 239 inhabitants are connected to the island of Burano only by a wooden footbridge called Ponte Longo.
The advice is to get there just through that bridge, so as to start the experience in the most authentic way. The alternative is the steamboat, which will transport you from the chaotic and touristy Venice to a reality where the relaxed pace of the fishermen who live there is the main thing.
Mazzorbo is one of the best places to stay outside of Venice to avoid crowds.
The island’s history goes as far back as the 8th century, from which we can still admire the Church of Santa Caterina. The Middle Ages also played an important role, so much so that it is precisely the walls from that historical period that still protect Mazzorbo’s star element: wine.
The Venissa estate boasts one of the very few cultivations of the native Dorona grape, which practically disappeared after the tragic high water of 1966. The peace of the island combined with a good glass of wine will certainly not make us regret the chaos of the mainland.
SIROLO ON THE CONERO RIVIERA
Descending on the Adriatic side of the Marche region, at the Loreto exit of the A14, the medieval town of Sirolo opens the doors to the Conero Riviera for you. The green backdrop of the mountain of the same name creates a natural but, at the same time, shocking contrast with the blue of the sea.
One of the best places to admire this diversity is definitely Due Sorelle Beach (Two Sisters Beach), one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy. The whiteness of the fine sand forms the perfect interval between green and blue. It can only be reached by sea, with ferries leaving from Sirolo or other nearby towns. The two white stacks are the hosts and welcome anyone arriving on the beach in all their majesty.
With a walk of not even fifteen minutes, from the center of Sirolo, one arrives at the “Lion’s Dive“: since time immemorial the hidden white cliff has been the stage for the dives of the most daring.
Typical taverns and handmade stores entertain anyone passing through the village’s narrow streets.
The Conero Riviera is home to some of Italy’s most characteristic restaurants: built on the water, the trabocchi are true stilts from which fishermen daily harvest the specialties the sea has to offer.
Eating on a trabocco is an unrepeatable experience, the rhythm of seafaring life gives a priceless quietness. In Sirolo no one is in a hurry, there is always time to appreciate the tranquility conveyed in the background by the sound of the waves.
Sirolo is undoubtedly one of the most charming and undiscovered Italian coastal towns.
Recommended reading: A Guide to Visit Italy's Trabocchi Coast
SPERLONGA – FABOLOUS BEACH TOWN NEAR ROME
Crossing the peninsula you arrive in Lazio and, a few kilometers from the border with Campania, the white that distinguishes Sperlonga’s houses shimmers in our eyes.
Driving along the A1 highway, the exit coming from Rome is Frosinone, the one coming from Naples is Formia. It can also be easily reached by public transportation: all regional trains on the route stop at the Fondi-Sperlonga station.
As soon as you get there, the sea air transports you through its narrow alleys, characterized by places offering the freshest fish and hearty aperitifs.
Apparently, Sperlonga’s history dates back to the time of the Spartans, but it is the Roman people who left tangible memories that can still be visited today. One among many is the Villa of Tiberius, which with its natural grotto houses pools and statues that despite the fact that thousands of years have passed retain all their beauty.
If you are fascinated by caves, not to be missed is the one overlooking the Spiaggia delle Bambole Beach.
On the road from Sperlonga to Itri (another medieval town perched on the hinterland with spectacular views), you can park your car on the side of the road and take a small path that descends to the sea.
After a few minutes of walking, the paradisiacal little beach emerges from the foliage of the nature that borders it. Undiscovered and wild, far from light pollution, Spiaggia delle Bambole with its namesake cave is the perfect place to spend a romantic evening under the stars.
Make sure to add this picturesque coastal town near Rome to your itinerary through Italy off the beaten path.
Read also: 20 Best Beaches to Visit near Rome
BOSA, SARDINIA
Let’s move on to Sardinia, one of Italy’s two main islands.
Just 45 km south of Alghero stands Bosa. If you would rather not use a car, you can also reach Bosa by public transport, such as the ARST company buses.
Here the white, rural Sardinia of the nuraghi gives way to a village where the bright colors of the houses and the blue of the sea and river that bathe it dominate.
Sardinia’s only navigable waterway, the Temo runs through the entire town, and among its distinctive buildings, we also discover the oldest tanneries in Italy.
Strolling through the historic center, innovative elements respectfully contrast Bosa’s history, so we can have a coffee in a modern bar overlooking a small square whose origins can even be traced back to the Phoenician peoples.
The sea air invades every alleyway in the village. With a walk of only 20 minutes, you arrive at Bosa Marina, where one of the most beautiful beaches of Sardinia keeps you away from what real life is like by immersing you in a dream.
SCOPELLO, SICILY
Driving along the western coast of Sicily we arrive at one of the most picturesque villages on the island: Scopello.
Very easy to reach by car, driving along the A29 we take the Castellammare del Golfo exit and continue to the junction for Scopello.
To welcome us are two large scopelos precisely, that is, rocks in Greek, which give the name to the little village. But the history of Scopello goes back many centuries earlier: historians entrust the first signs of civilization as far back as the second century B.C., whose columns and priceless artifacts we can admire as we walk through the archaeological areas.
The signs of the past are also clearly visible on the beaches. If we are looking for a space away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life Cala Bianca is the place for us.
Ancient ruins face a crystal-clear blue sea, but this enchanting hidden space is also enriched by the greenery of nature.
To get there, the short walk on a dirt road also allows us to admire the Gulf of Castellammare and San Vito Lo Capo.
Snorkeling lovers do not forget masks and fins, the rocky seabed a few meters from the shore composed of fine sand gives a priceless spectacle among fish and marine biodiversity really rare to find elsewhere.
CHIANALEA
Let’s leave the islands and continue the journey among the villages on the tip of the boot: Chianalea and its swordfish fishermen await us for an experience dictated by amazing scents, landscapes, and flavors.
To get there, take the A2 and exit at Scilla, but if the stress of the car is not what suits you, by train, getting off at the Chianalea stop, you’ll arrive comfortably 100 meters from the waterfront promenade.
Also nicknamed “Venice of the South,” in this quaint Italian beach town the houses face the sea of Calabria and are caressed by the water all year round.
Losing yourself in its narrow alleys, the scents of the place accompany you on a tour where ancient architecture reigns supreme and you can admire structures that date as far back as the 1600s.
One of these is the Ruffo Castle, which stands on a stupendous rock where the view that stretches to the Aeolian Islands will leave you breathless.
Lovers of authentic cuisine should aim the alarm clock early and rush down to the port of Scaro Alaggio: local fishermen will delight us with their best catch and lots of tips on how to cook it.
The Costa Viola that is home to Chianalea is full of hidden coves to explore, but if we want to pamper ourselves for a day, the small, well-equipped Lido will give us magical and truly picturesque moments.
As you’ve surely guessed, these destinations in Italy off the beaten track are well worth discovering.
The undiscovered Italian coastal towns I mentioned are among the most beautiful beach towns in Italy.
In addition to giving you an authentic experience away from the tourist centers, they will give you a chance to enjoy the amazing natural landmarks of Italy.
