Nine Lovely Italian Coastal Towns For A Summer Holiday
01 May, 2019
- Words by
- Gilly Hopper
Evenings
Evenings
spent rewatching Fellini favourites have left us
hankering after
Italy‘s rose-tinted Mediterranean light. Italophilia has taken
hold, Skyscanner alerts are set and we’ve shortlisted nine of the
best coastal towns to explore once we arrive.
Camogli
Italy
Romantic Camogli, with its multi-storey palazzi presented in
muted pink, yellow and terracotta hues, is just a two-hour drive
from Milan.
The small fishing village is a well-kept secret among locals,
meaning that shops, restaurants and a large piazza (which caters to
coffee sipping and people-watching) are rarely overcrowded.
Praiano
Italy
Sandwiched between Amalfi and
Positano, Praiano offers the best of both coastal towns. Spend
your morning at secluded beaches, such as Marina di Praia, before
taking a water taxi to the tough-to-reach Da
Adolfo restaurant for a beachside lunch. Few places beat this
stretch when it comes to romantic sunsets.
Manarola
Italy
One of the oldest towns in the Cinque Terre, Manarola is geared
towards those who prioritise fishing, wine-making (or sampling) and
hiking while on holiday. Via dell’Amore – meaning Lover’s Lane – is
a must for those in the latter camp.
Portofino
Italy
What can be said about Portofino that hasn’t been iterated
already? One of Europe’s most-beautiful ports, Portofino is home to
high-end boutiques, pastel-coloured houses and a fringe of seafood
restaurants which run along its piazzetta.
Ravello
Italy
Sitting high above beachfront towns and offering panoramic
coastal views,
Ravello brims with culture and beauty. Stay at (or visit)
Villa Cimbrone where legendary
manicured grounds have hosted some of history’s most illustrious
characters including Virginia Woolf, Greta Garbo and Winston
Churchill.
Conca Dei Marini
Italy
This tiny fishing village boasts a tranquil beach and hidden,
emerald-hued grotto. Find a spot for lunch among lemon-scented
orchards and sample the region’s beloved sfogliatella Santa
Rosa.
Sorrento
Italy
A compulsory stop on the 19th-century Grand Tour,
Sorrento has lasting appeal. Straddling the cliffs, it’s a
great base for glamourous explorers, with the Amalfi Coast to your
east and Pompeii further north.
Vernazza
Italy
One of the five villages that make up Cinque Terre,
Vernazza is perhaps the quaintest of the quintet. We think it’s
something to do with the village’s trademark Genoa-style caruggi
(narrow streets).