Environmental Experts List the 5 Best Beaches in Italy

There's so much to tempt holiday makers to pick Italy as their destination of choice. Not only does the country boast splendid culture, food, arts and architecture, but the climate makes it ideal for enjoying the glorious Italian beaches. Of course, with so many ofItaly's beaches being of a high standard, it's a difficult task to separate the superior wheat from the good wheat. Fortunately, the good people at Legambiente publish an annual list of the cleanest and most attractive beaches. The 2008 list has just been published, and the top 5 should be on any beach lover's check list when taking a family holiday in Italy, especially when the criteria for ranking takes over 130 factors into account, including clean waters, unpolluted sands, art and cuisine!

5. Nardo - Lecce

Nardo and its villages in the Ionian sea clinched 5th spot, up from 6th last year. As well as having as clean and pristine Italian beaches as you can imagine, Italy's family holiday makers can take in the regional nearby wildlife reserve Portoselvaggio, the famous parkland with 300 hectares of pinewood forest and of course the 7 kilometres of unpolluted coast land, as endorsed by Legambiente. If you're looking for natural beauty, you can't go wrong with Nardo'.

4. Capalbio, Grosseto

Capalbio is a town where it's main feature is the beach, but beyond that it has a quiet sense of beauty and refinement with a handful of great restaurants, and delightful scenery. The beach is of course, the main draw and you can expect the usual high standards, including pristine waters, great nearby restaurants, peace, quiet and clean sands.

3. Cinque Terre, La Spezia

The rocky coastline of the Cinque Terre has a certain rugged beauty about it, only matched by the blue-green colour of the ocean. It's very easy to lose hours here when you only mean to rest on the sands for a couple of minutes! The only downside with this one is that the sheer beauty of the place does mean it can get crowded when the weather is at its best.

2. Pollica, Salerno

If you close your eyes and picture the perfect Italian beach, Pollica's is probably it. The picturesque settlements that line the coastline are the perfect backdrop for the golden sands and vibrant blue waters. When the sun is out, there are few places in the world better for relaxing than this beach in Italy.

1. Isola del Giglio, Grosseto

This is the first year that a full island has been named the best beach in Italy by Legambiente, This special achievement was in recognition to the "great natural value" and the efforts of local councils in "sustainability and safeguarding the environment" according the association's president. He went on to say that the island "presents a snapshot of what Legambiente believes of be the best on offer in Italy."

The island's beaches boast crystal clear waters of an emerald green shade that are teeming with fascinating sea life. 90% of the island is still wild, meaning it's hard to beat when it comes to taking a relaxing break away from the stresses of modern life. Deservedly voted Italy's best beach.

It's safe to say any one of these will offer a thoroughly relaxing experience on a family holiday to Italy. The only downside is having to leave when night falls!

About the author:

Antonio Cresce is the Italy Specialist for Key2Holidays, a travel company that can help each individual customer plan their own perfect family holiday in Italy. They also offer luxury holidays to Australia, Dubai, Mauritius, the Maldives, Cuba, Egypt, the Far East and many other popular destinations.

---

The 5 Best Beaches in Sicily

Sicily's beaches are renowned as some of Italy's best, with transparent blue-green waters, long sandy beaches and nearby picturesque villages. While everyone has his own opinion about which beach should make the top five, here are five of the most popular and possibly the best Sicily has to offer, and certainly worth a visit on your holiday.

Mondello Lido

Near the small fishing village of Mondello on the Mediterranean Sea, is Mondello Lido, just nine kilometres from Sicily's vibrant capital Palermo. Its wide, white sandy beach runs for 2 kilometres from Monte Pellegrino to Monte Gallo. Mondello's bars, cafés, nightclubs and hotels line the shore. In the evenings, join the locals in the seaside restaurants featuring fresh seafood -delicious mussels, clams, and octopus - and afterwards take a stroll along the waterfront.

Be sure to spend some time in Palermo to visit the graceful pallazzos, especially the Palazzo dei Normanni, with its Baroque architecture. You will enjoy the busy street life and the colourful markets around Piazza San Domenico, Here you can check out the elegant shops, and dine in some of Sicily's best restaurants. You might also like to visit the creepy catacombs, then hire a car for a trip to the splendid Monreale Cathedral and the popular little seaside town of Cefalù.

Mortelle

Popular with locals looking to escape the summer heat, Lido di Mortelle, on the northeast tip of the island, 12km north of Messina, has several excellent beaches. Lido dei Tirreno is perfect for children, but there are many smaller beaches where you'll find some peace and quiet.

Messina, the third largest city in Sicily with a population of 250,000, fronts the shallow and narrow Messina Straight, that connects the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west with the Ionian Sea in the east. Attractions include the National Museum of Messina, the rebuilt Norman Cathedral, and the Gothic Church of Santa Maria Alemanna.

Spiaggia Sabbie Nere

This out-of-the-way, black-sands beach, on the island of Vulcano, is the finest of its kind in the Aeolian Islands, which surround Sicily. The island is best reached on a boat excursion, and activities here include a 3-hour hike to the top of the Gran Cratere, which last erupted in 1890. The views from the top are stunning.

Lido Mazzarò

Near the busy resort town of Taormina, and reached by a 15-minute cable-car ride down the hill, is the popular Lido Mazzarò. Bars and restaurants line this sandy beach, which has long been a haunt of the rich and famous. All types of water sports and beach activities are on hand.

Be sure to visit the sea caves of Grotta Azzurra, and Isola Bella, the small island reached by a narrow strip of sand. Once a medieval town, Taormina's quaint streets and laneways are packed with boutiques, art and craft shops, bars, cafes and restaurants.

Giardini-Naxos

Also down the hill from Taormina, Giardini-Naxos is a sophisticated beach resort, with its delightful old town, lively seafront promenade, and bustling Cape Schiso harbour area. The fine, sandy beaches, which front excellent waters for swimming, are within an easy walk, and there is a good selection of water sports available. There are many bars, and the restaurants offer delicious seafood. Take the walk to Alcantara Gorge, just a few kilometres inland, for some dramatic scenery.

About the author:

Rod Ritchie, a travel writer and editor, writes for many publishers including AA Publishing and Fodors. Cottages to Castles offer a range of high quality self-catering holiday villas in Sicily. Visit Cottages to Castles for a selection of quality Sicily villa rentals.