how to hit the beach in italy

Your guide to enjoying Italy’s beautiful beaches

HOW TO HIT THE BEACH

IN ITALY

As soon as the weather starts to warm up, Italians head to the seaside.

As summer progresses, the miles and

miles of coastline all along the country

fills up with vacationers and visitors.

Weekends are the busiest.

Tonnara di Scopello in Sicily

Most of the beaches in Italy are

divided up into private beach

clubs called stabilimenti

balneari.

Stabilimenti balneari

Although you need

to pay an entrance

fee, this will give

you access to a

whole range of

facilities and activities.

A typical stabilimenti in Capri

Each of the different stabilimenti has a

range of facilities ranging in levels

from simple to luxurious.

Umbrellas on the beach, Biodola, Portoferraio, Isola d'Elba in Tuscany

Services usually include parking,

changing rooms, bathrooms and

showers, a lifeguard, a bar for coffee,

snacks and light meals and a full

service restaurant.

Marciana Marina, Isle of Elba in Livorno, Tuscany

Some clubs have children’s playgrounds, pools, boats and kayak for rent.

You can rent a chair and umbrella

for the day. Expect to pay

between €10 to €40 depending on

the resort.

Get in line.

Umbrellas and beach chairs in Positano

You may have a choice between a

sdraio for a low slung beach chair or

lettino for a full sized beach lounger.

If you want a prime spot near the

water, you need to get to the

beach early, by about 9:00am or

you can call ahead and ask

for prima fila, the first row.

Get there early.

Umbrellas, beach chairs and lounges along the shore.

Even on when on vacation,

Italians stick to a schedule.

What time is it?

Morning is spent tanning and reading.

Lunch is between 1:00-2:00. You can

have a full meal at the club’s sit down

restaurant or have a sandwich or salad

from the bar.

San Vito lo Capo beach in Sicily

The hours after lunch are spent

napping, lounging and card

playing.

Don’t go in the water.

Monterroso al Mare at Cinque Terre

You will probably have the sea to your self

in the hours right after lunch as Italians

prefer to digest on land. Small children

will often be brought back home for an

afternoon nap, returning later in the

afternoon.

The main beach activity in Italy is taking in the rays. Make sure you pack your high SPF sunscreen and a big hat.

Bring your sunscreen.

Positano in the Amalfi Coast

It is a badge of honor to return home

from a holiday with a deep, dark tan

and be greeted with the words

buona abbronzata (great tan.)

Pack a bikini. No matter the

shape, from teenagers

to nonna, you will be hard

pressed to find anyone in a one

piece bathing suit.

Less is more.

The beach of Tropea in Calabria

For men, Speedos are not

required. You will see both the

skimpy European style and surfers

baggies

being sported.

Once the sun sets, the crowds

clear and some stabilimenti even

close. There are some places that

serve sunset aperitvo.

After Dark.

Sunset at the beach

After dinner and late into the night, a

number of the beach clubs are

transformed into dance clubs with

music and dancing sometimes until

dawn.

Caletta beach of Cala Domestica in the Sulcis area of Sardegna

There are free beaches to be found

all up and down the

coast. Some even

with bathrooms,

chairs and

umbrellas to rent.

If wild, sandy spaces are what you are

searching for head to either

Sicily, Sardinia or the Maremma

coast in Tuscany.

Cala Luna in Sardegna

Zingaro Natural Reserve in Sicily

For more information about travel to Italy,

visit our website www.touritalynow.com or call our travel experts

at 800.955.4418.