Most first-time visitors to Italy tend to concentrate on cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice, but if you ask us, off-the-beaten-path Italian coastal towns are some of the most beautiful places in the country. After all, Italy has nearly 5,000 miles of coastline, and some of the country’s coastal settlements predate the Roman Empire. From Liguria all the way down to Calabria, not to mention the Adriatic Coast and the islands, there are charming seaside villages that offer a wide variety of experiences. You might want the glamour of world-famous resort towns like Portofino, Capri, and Taormina, where your dolce vita fantasies can come to life. Or perhaps you’d prefer more under-the-radar towns like Maratea and Carloforte, where you can get an authentic taste of local life.
In Italy, most coastal towns come alive in the summer, when visitors from around the world hit the beaches. If you want to avoid the crowds, plan to visit coastal towns in the off-season, but keep in mind that some of them all but shut down in the winter. Spring and fall are usually a good compromise. Read on to learn about 25 of the best Italian coastal towns, with Condé Nast Traveler-approved recommendations of where to stay.
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