With over 4,700 miles of coastline freckled with some of the world’s most beautiful resort towns and beaches, there’s no doubt that Italy is a top summer destination.
From the pastel-colored towns of the Cinque Terre, the Italian Riviera, to the romantic villages of the Amalfi Coast, there are plenty of beaches to partake in il dolce far niente, the Italian sweetness of doing nothing.
Every week, America Domnai will release a list of the top five beaches in each coastal region to prepare you for the summer months ahead. This week’s list will take a look at the Campania region, home to the Amalfi Coast and Naples.
Spiaggia dei Maronti (Ischia)
(Photo Credit: Giorgio Galeotti via Wikimedia commons)
Ischia is a volcanic island located off the coast of Naples, renowned for its mineral-rich thermal waters. The Spiaggia dei Maronti is located on the island’s southside and is its longest beach. The sandy stretch is peppered with beach bars and restaurants and was once a favorite landing spot for pirates, who buried their loot beneath the sand.
Spiaggia del Fornillo
(Photo Credit: Mihael Grmek via Wikimedia commons)
This is Positano’s second-largest beach, home to a number of popular summer beach bars which easily fill up at sunset. It is backdropped by dramatic rocky cliffs crawling with vegetation and is a laid-back spot to soak in the sun.
Spiaggia della Marina
(Photo Credit: Giovanni Mattiello via wikimedia commons)
Located right in front of the historical center of Cetara, one of the 13 towns on the Amalfi Coast, Spiaggia della Marina is encircled by rows of palm trees, colorful fishing boats, and the 14th-century Viceregal Tower. It is a popular beach with locals and is an ideal pick for those looking for a more low-key and authentic Italian beach experience.
Cala Bianca
Although hard to reach, this beach is one of the most beautiful in Campania. With turquoise waters and a white pebble beach, the remote beach is an escape into untamed nature – there are no establishments here, only a small refreshment booth.
Spiaggia di Miliscola
Roughly 1.5 miles long, this long stretch of sand just outside of Naples has views of the Gulf of Naples and the islands of Ischia and Procida. With crystal clear waters, dark brown sand, and very few establishments, it’s a great getaway from the busy city.
Asia London Palomba
Asia London Palomba is a trilingual freelance journalist from Rome, Italy. In the past, her work on culture, travel, and history has been published in The Boston Globe, Atlas Obscura, The Christian Science Monitor, and Grub Street, New York Magazine's food section. In her free time, Asia enjoys traveling home to Italy to spend time with family and friends, drinking Hugo Spritzes, and making her nonna's homemade cavatelli.