Vernazza is a town and comune in the Liguria province of La Spezia in northwestern Italy. It is one of the five villages that comprise the Cinque Terre region. Vernazza was built in 1000 A.D. and was ruled by the Genoese Republic beginning in 1276. This town was crucial to Genova's conquest of Liguria for the next two centuries, providing a port, fleet, and warriors until they were eventually eaten by Pisa.

Vernazza crams a lot into a small, colorful community, with an authentic marina, brightly colored cottages, a stunning rocky coastline, a medieval bell tower, and even a private swimming hole and cliffside eateries. Belforte, a medieval castle, was built in the mid-1500s to safeguard the community from pirates. Doria Castle, which clings to the steep slope, is a local favorite. The train ride connecting the Cinque Terre is one of the most beautiful in Italy. Vernazza is also a good starting point for hikes to the other Cinque Terre settlements. Corniglia and Monterosso, in particular, feature the nicest swimming beaches in the vicinity! Take the Cinque Terre Express from La Spezia Centrale and enjoy the splendor of the Ligurian coast. Renting an apartment in Vernazza may be a better alternative if you are visiting with family or a group of friends.

Location: La Spezia, Italy

Google Rating: 5/5

Scilla is a town and comune in Calabria, Italy, and is administratively part of the Reggio Calabria Metropolitan City. It is the fabled home of the Greek mythological sea monster Scylla. The town is divided into two sections: the downtown, which houses the town offices and the patron saint's apartment, and the Marina di Scilla, which is located in front of the strait of Messina. Scilla's coastal district of Chianalea is on the list of the I Borghi più Belli d'Italia organization of tiny Italian towns of historical relevance.

Scilla has lovely beaches, colorful terracotta villages, stunning landscapes, and a rich culinary legacy, so it's difficult to understand why it doesn't attract as many foreign visitors as its other Italian rivals. That is never more visible than on Calabria's Purple Coast (Costa Viola). The shore is overlooked by the Ruffo Castle, a stronghold built by the Dukes of Calabria. Scilla Lighthouse, located on a seaward-facing terrace, is an essential help to ships entering the Strait of Messina from the north. Scilla's sun-baked alleys snake down into the Tyrrhenian Sea, where eateries serve the freshest of fresh seafood and the spiciest of 'nduja, Calabria's famous spicy spreadable sausage. The regional train from Tropea to Scilla, which follows the coast before turning inland to Rosarno, is a lovely excursion.

Location: Calabria, Italy
Google Rating: 4.8/5

Rimini is the capital city of the Province of Rimini in northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. It stretches along the Adriatic Sea, between the rivers Marecchia (ancient Ariminus) and Ausa (ancient Aprusa). Rimini has a humid subtropical climate that is moderated by the Adriatic Sea, with autumn and winter mean temperatures and yearly low temperatures that are among the highest in Emilia-Romagna.

Rimini has long been a favorite among Italian coastal cities, with spectacular ancient architecture to match its 10 kilometers of sandy beach. It is Italy's largest beach resort; you could spend all day every day on different areas of the beach and yet discover new spots after a month. Rimini's nightlife culture is virtually as famous as its beach, so it's not just about swimming and sunbathing. Rimini, only an hour by rail from Bologna and the capital of the province that gave the world Parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, and so much more, is gastronomic heaven. On Frecciarossa trains, you may enjoy a variety of high-quality services, such as free WiFi and onboard entertainment via the Le Frecce portal, spacious leather recliners, at-seat power outlets, and a welcome service with complimentary drinks and snacks in all classes except for standard.

Location: Rimini, Italy

Google Rating: 4.7/5

Sorrento is an Italian municipality on the country's southern coast. It is part of the Province of Naples in the Campania region. The village has many views of Naples and overlooks the Bay of Naples. It is a prominent site of the Sorrentine peninsula. This town is well-known for its agricultural products including fruit, wine, olives, handcrafted furniture, and lemon and sugar-based digestive drinks.

When it comes to experiencing the Mediterranean heat and wind, Sorrento is always the first destination that comes to mind. This town has the world's most gorgeous coastline, stunning bays surrounding it, colorful residences on the cliffs, and traditional Italian delicacies. Piazza Tasso, the city center, is an ancient square. This huge, open plaza is near Italian-style cafes and eateries. Visitors can sit and savor the flavor of Italian coffee while watching each couple walk down the street. The ancient town area also features streets that evoke the Middle Ages. It will be an interesting experience to walk around here. Visitors appear to be lost in the old world's deep but equally intriguing depths. If you get hungry, you can eat at Spaghetti or sip the famous lemonade limoncello. Visitors who visit Sorrento on a bright day will have the opportunity to sail to the surrounding bays.

Location: Campania, Italy

Google Rating: 4.7/5

Vietri Sul Mare is a coastal town and comune in the province of Salerno, in the southern Italian region of Campania. It is located immediately west of Salerno and is only separated from the Port of Salerno by a harbor wall. The town is noted for its polychrome pottery, a tradition that dates back to at least the 15th century, and is considered the Amalfi Coast's gateway.

The Amalfi Coast exemplifies what stunning Italian seaside villages may be. While many communities on the Amalfi Coast have become reliant on tourists, Vietri Sul Mare has remained a traditional fishing settlement. This has enabled this small but thriving beach town to maintain its identity. You can eat possibly the greatest tuna and sardines you've ever had at cliffside restaurants. The Church of St. John the Baptist, a late Neapolitan Renaissance-style structure with a tall bell tower, is the primary attraction. Ceramics are displayed in a number of buildings, notably the Museo Provinciale della Ceramica in the neighboring village of Raito. Vietri Sul Mare, the only Amalfi Coast village with a train station, is only 8 minutes from Salerno and 53 minutes from Naples on Trenitalia trains.

Location: Campania, Italy
Google Rating: 4.7/5

Cefalù is a city and comune in the Italian Metropolitan City of Palermo, located on the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily about 70 kilometers east of the provincial capital and 185 kilometers west of Messina. Despite its small size, it attracts millions of people each year from all over Sicily, as well as from Italy and Europe.

It's difficult to choose which of Sicily's many gorgeous seaside villages deserves to be included here because they all do in some ways. But it's simply impossible to move past Cefalù. Cefalù, which appears to have been chiseled straight out of the cliff that looks above it, has long been a hub of culture and business in Southern Italy, yet it has resisted modernization. Cefalù, 40 minutes from Palermo, is best known for its stunning Norman Cathedral, in addition to its lovely coastline and wonderful restaurants. This majestic structure, with twin towers, was built in the 12th century and is covered in intricate Byzantine mosaics. It is one of nine churches that comprise the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Arab-Norman Palermo.

Location: Sicily, Italy

Google Rating: 4.6/5

Sperlonga is a coastal town in the Italian province of Latina, halfway between Rome and Naples. Terracina to the west, Fondi to the north, Itri to the northeast, and Gaeta to the east are nearby towns. Sperlonga recovered and acquired some noble mansions in the 18th and 19th centuries, while agriculture expanded. If you're in Rome and looking for a beach, go to Sperlonga - you won't be disappointed!

Sperlonga is famous for its whitewashed buildings packed together on a steep peninsula, and its beaches are among the most popular near Rome due to the beauty of its terrain and crystal-clear sea. Sperlonga is most known for the ancient Roman sea grotto excavated on the grounds of the Villa of Tiberius, which houses the famous and stunning Sperlonga sculptures, which are on show in the site's museum. Furthermore, the most ancient church is that of Santa Maria, which is now utilized for cultural events and spectacles: it houses some medieval mosaics unearthed during the most recent renovations. Sperlonga is about an hour and a half by train from Roma Termini; simply get down at Fondi-Sperlonga station and take a bus to the town center, which is beautifully located on a little promontory.

Location: Latina, Italy
Google Rating: 4.6/5

Tropea is a town in the Italian province of Vibo Valentia. According to legend, Hercules founded the settlement on his way back from his labors at the Pillars of Hercules. Near Tropea, Magna Graecian graves have been discovered. Sextus Pompey defeated Octavius off the shore of Tropea. The Romans established a commercial port in Formicoli, about 3 kilometers south of Tropea. For 2021, this coastal community was chosen as the "Most Beautiful Village in Italy."

Tropea is the ideal destination for your summer vacation in Italy, with its gorgeous surroundings and rich history. It is the most well-known tourist resort in Calabria, southern Italy, on its western coast and along a magnificent length of the Tyrrhenian Sea known as La Costa Degli Dei. It's no surprise that the town is referred to as Calabria's "jewel in the crown" because of its clifftop ancient center, beaches, and azure waters surrounding the island rock in front, and valued red onions. Tropea is a complete unknown on the international tourist circuit despite increasing popularity and visibility in recent years. This town can be reached by train from Scilla in around 1 hour 30 minutes using Trenitalia's regional trains. You can get a window seat since the rugged coastline between Tropea and Rosarno is truly spectacular.

Location: Vibo Valentia, Italy

Google Rating: 4.5/5

Polignano a Mare is a coastal town on the Adriatic Sea in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. Tourism, agriculture, and fishing are the mainstays of the local economy. Archaeological investigations in the Santa Barbara area show that the area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Foreign dominance led to more development and recognition for the town. Polignano reached its peak in both economic and cultural dimensions under the Aragonese monarchy, which meant that traders and merchants from all over the world congregated there soon after.

Consider blue oceans and white-pebble beaches, as well as Roman ruins and whitewashed homes. The beach, a local favorite, has crystal blue seas and is backed on two sides by cliffs from which children and teens dive all day until sunset. The town's distinctive monastery and 16th-century tower, perched on a cliff overlooking the glittering Adriatic Sea, is a must-see photo opportunity. On a regional rail, Polignano a Mare is less than 40 minutes from Bari. Polignano has everything you need for a great day out. The little old town, accessible via the Porta Vecchia gate, blends attractive, white-washed streets with exquisite medieval churches like the Chiesa Matrice. You might get lost in the winding streets, but you won't mind at all.

Location: Apulia, Italy
Google Rating: 4.5/5

Viareggio is one of the most beautiful coastal towns in Italy. It is the second-largest city in the province of Lucca, after Lucca, with a population of approximately 62,000 people. The city dates back to the first half of the 16th century when it became the Republic of Lucca's only seaport. Viareggio is also an active industrial and manufacturing hub; its shipbuilding industry has long been famous around the world, and the city's fishing and floricultural industries are still important economic drivers.

The coastal resort town of Viareggio, located in northern Tuscany amid the hills where the marble for Michelangelo's "David" was quarried and only 15 minutes by rail from Pisa and its leaning tower, is rich in history and culture. Viareggio has held one of Italy's largest and best yearly Carnival events since 1873. Its beachfront promenade is slightly under two miles long and adorned with Art Nouveau architecture. The Savoy Cinema, built in 1925, and the 16th-century Matilda Tower, which dates back to Viareggio's early days as a military coastal outpost for the Republic of Lucca, are two more architectural gems in town. Torre Matilde, erected by the Lucchesi in 1541 as a defensive structure against the persistent threat of corsair incursions, may be seen.

Location: Lucca, Italy

Google Rating: 4.5/5