Are there any campsites/ sostas right on a pretty beach in Italy?

[Mici]

We are thinking of going to Italy next month for 4 ish weeks. At some point we would like to find a campsite or stopping place for a few days on or right next to a pretty beach with views and be able to have a swim before the sea starts to get cold. Looking at camper contact , S4S , google etc , Italy does not seem to have such places - am I wrong ??

 

[peterc10]

What part of Italy are you going to. It is a big country

Plenty of beachside campsites on the Venice lagoon at Lido do Jeselo. But they are not cheap!

 

[Mici]

Thank you peterc10- We are hoping to travel down Italy as far south as possible to keep the weather on our side. so we wondered which are the best , the west or east coast beaches if any ?
We like coves and good snorkelling opportunities and is the only time we... A -stay at a campsite and B- stay some where for more than a couple of days, if we find somewhere good by the sea. We love the mountains too and have not done Italy properly so we know there is plenty else to see and do, but we are beginning to think that it may be better to head to Croatia again just for a bit of the warm sea and beautiful coast line.
If we had more time we would be heading for Greece !

 

[peterc10]

Thank you peterc10- We are hoping to travel down Italy as far south as possible to keep the weather on our side. so we wondered which are the best , the west or east coast beaches if any ?
We like coves and good snorkelling opportunities and is the only time we... A -stay at a campsite and B- stay some where for more than a couple of days, if we find somewhere good by the sea. We love the mountains too and have not done Italy properly so we know there is plenty else to see and do, but we are beginning to think that it may be better to head to Croatia again just for a bit of the warm sea and beautiful coast line.
If we had more time we would be heading for Greece !

Our visit took about 5 weeks. We crossed via France and Switzerland and entered Italy at Como (much cheaper and shorter than using the French tolls and the Frejus tunnel), and headed South along the West Coast until we got to Sorrento. We then crossed over to the Adriatic coast and drove up the Adriatic side to Rimini (disappointing) before cutting across via Bologna and Milan to Como again, with a stop to visit the Enzo Ferrari museum in Modena and the Ferrari museum, test track and factory at Maranello, a must do trip for any F1 fan, even if you don't support Ferrari.

From what we saw the West (Mediterranean) side of Italy is more scenic than the East (Adriatic). Can't really comment on snorkelling because we have never done it.

First try looking at the Cinque Terre area, which consists of 5 villages on a rugged coast and linked by a coastal path and a railway line. They are chocolate box pretty with lots of good views if you walk the coastal path. But be aware the path is very winding and goes up and down a lot, so it is more difficult than it looks on the map. You will not be able to get to them by motorhome (unless you have a very small camper). We stayed at Camping Aqua Dolce in Levanto, which is a nice little seaside town in its own right situated North of the villages. From there you can get a day ticket for the train which you can use to hop on and off and look at the villages. You probably need at least a couple of days to see them all, especially if you want to use the coastal path. But beware this area is getting very popular so visit during the week, because the weekends will be packed. Levanto itself has some nice beaches and seaside walks as well.

From there you can visit the area around Tuscany which will give you lots of views and ancient towns and Cities. Places like Pisa, Sienna and Florence are a must see if you have not already been there.

From there Rome is worth a visit (of course) and then the Naples area, including the Amalfi Coast, Pompei, Vesuvius, Isle of Capri and Sorrento. My advice is to stay at a campsite in the Pompei area as the coastal road get narrower further South and are very busy with coaches and kamikaze scooters. From there you can catch the train to Naples one way and Sorrento the other way, from which you can get a ferry to Capri and a bus along the Amalfi Coast to Amalfi itself. Don't ever try that road in a motorhome!

 

[Mici]

Our visit took about 5 weeks. We crossed via France and Switzerland and entered Italy at Como (much cheaper and shorter than using the French tolls and the Frejus tunnel), and headed South along the West Coast until we got to Sorrento. We then crossed over to the Adriatic coast and drove up the Adriatic side to Rimini (disappointing) before cutting across via Bologna and Milan to Como again, with a stop to visit the Enzo Ferrari museum in Modena and the Ferrari museum, test track and factory at Maranello, a must do trip for any F1 fan, even if you don't support Ferrari.

From what we saw the West (Mediterranean) side of Italy is more scenic than the East (Adriatic). Can't really comment on snorkelling because we have never done it.

First try looking at the Cinque Terre area, which consists of 5 villages on a rugged coast and linked by a coastal path and a railway line. They are chocolate box pretty with lots of good views if you walk the coastal path. But be aware the path is very winding and goes up and down a lot, so it is more difficult than it looks on the map. You will not be able to get to them by motorhome (unless you have a very small camper). We stayed at Camping Aqua Dolce in Levanto, which is a nice little seaside town in its own right situated North of the villages. From there you can get a day ticket for the train which you can use to hop on and off and look at the villages. You probably need at least a couple of days to see them all, especially if you want to use the coastal path. But beware this area is getting very popular so visit during the week, because the weekends will be packed. Levanto itself has some nice beaches and seaside walks as well.

From there you can visit the area around Tuscany which will give you lots of views and ancient towns and Cities. Places like Pisa, Sienna and Florence are a must see if you have not already been there.

From there Rome is worth a visit (of course) and then the Naples area, including the Amalfi Coast, Pompei, Vesuvius, Isle of Capri and Sorrento. My advice is to stay at a campsite in the Pompei area as the coastal road get narrower further South and are very busy with coaches and kamikaze scooters. From there you can catch the train to Naples one way and Sorrento the other way, from which you can get a ferry to Capri and a bus along the Amalfi Coast to Amalfi itself. Don't ever try that road in a motorhome!

Thank you for all the info. We will certainly look at some of theses places.
Looks like Italy will not be our favourite place for beaches and the seaside ( hate umbrella land sand !) but we can't wait to taste and see the other parts of the country.

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[Mici]

This is more our style.....
1. Portugal
2.Croatia
3. Calshot - Hampshire
Unless Italian beaches can do the same , looks like we are heading for the mountains !

 

[Riverbankannie]

We stopped for one night, and stayed for 10! at this Dutch run campsite. Not by the sea but near a pretty hilltop village with a funicular up and down to the lovely spa town. Fantastic infinity pool looking out over Tuscany hills.

Montecatini Alto - History & how to arrive - Visit Montecatini Terme

Montecatini Alto is a Medieval town located above Montecatini Terme. Find out about it's history and how to get there by funicular, walking or car.

visitmontecatiniterme.com

Camping Belsito
+39 0572 504263

Camping Belsito · Via Delle Vigne, 1, 51016 Vico PT, Italy

Camp

goo.gl

The lovely campsite we stayed in at Lerici for Cinque Terra, on the terraced olive groves right on sea shore with bathing platform , unsuitable for bigger than the VW T4 we had at the time unfortunately.
Campeggio Maralunga
+39 0187 966589

Campeggio Maralunga · Via Carpanini, 61, 19032 Lerici SP, Italy

★★★☆☆ · Campsite

goo.gl

After visiting Cinque Terra, the immediate southern coast was not nice with permanent type pitches rather than touring. However a visit to the Carrera Marble caves a must.

We went to
Carrara Marble Tour
+39 0585 779673

Carrara Marble Tour · Via Fantiscritti, 2, 54033 Carrara MS, Italy

★★★★★ · Tour operator

goo.gl

 

[peterc10]

This is more our style.....
1. Portugal
2.Croatia
3. Calshot - Hampshire
Unless Italian beaches can do the same , looks like we are heading for the mountains !

The first one is Foz de Arelyo (not sure of the spelling). We love it and return there often, but in the summer and at holiday weekends it becomes what you call umbrella land sand when all the Lisbonners arrive.

When we stayed in Levanto in the spring we could have had the beach to ourselves. Same with Amalfi. And the Adriatic coast had hundreds of miles of sandy beaches with nobody about. But no little rocky coves you asked for. But we were not there for that type of holiday, hence why we preferred the West Coast.

 

[Mici]

We stopped for one night, and stayed for 10! at this Dutch run campsite. Not by the sea but near a pretty hilltop village with a funicular up and down to the lovely spa town. Fantastic infinity pool looking out over Tuscany hills.

Montecatini Alto - History & how to arrive - Visit Montecatini Terme

Montecatini Alto is a Medieval town located above Montecatini Terme. Find out about it's history and how to get there by funicular, walking or car.

visitmontecatiniterme.com

Camping Belsito
+39 0572 504263

Camping Belsito · Via Delle Vigne, 1, 51016 Vico PT, Italy

Camp

goo.gl

The lovely campsite we stayed in at Lerici for Cinque Terra, on the terraced olive groves right on sea shore with bathing platform , unsuitable for bigger than the VW T4 we had at the time unfortunately.
Campeggio Maralunga
+39 0187 966589

Campeggio Maralunga · Via Carpanini, 61, 19032 Lerici SP, Italy

★★★☆☆ · Campsite

goo.gl

After visiting Cinque Terra, the immediate southern coast was not nice with permanent type pitches rather than touring. However a visit to the Carrera Marble caves a must.

We went to
Carrara Marble Tour
+39 0585 779673

Carrara Marble Tour · Via Fantiscritti, 2, 54033 Carrara MS, Italy

★★★★★ · Tour operator

goo.gl

Thank you - some lovely suggestions, Got very excited about Campeggio Maralunga but they only allow up to 7.30m vans. wonder if the extra 20cm on ours will be ok , always worth a phone call.

 

[Mici]

The first one is Foz de Arelyo (not sure of the spelling). We love it and return there often, but in the summer and at holiday weekends it becomes what you call umbrella land sand when all the Lisbonners arrive.

When we stayed in Levanto in the spring we could have had the beach to ourselves. Same with Amalfi. And the Adriatic coast had hundreds of miles of sandy beaches with nobody about. But no little rocky coves you asked for. But we were not there for that type of holiday, hence why we preferred the West Coast.

Always out of season and keep away from the coast or touristy spots on weekends is our mantra also ! Hence in the pictures (Foz do Arelho is always quite full !) we are almost on our own or at least not as crowded. Able now to do this more as thankfully semi retired.
Perhaps we will try to dip our toes in the Med at one point during our Italian wander.

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[Mici]

OK decision made- we are going down through a rainy France ( knew the weather would change as soon as we start a holiday!) to Barcelona.
But we are not abandoning our Italian holiday altogether. So why, you may ask, are we going to Spain if we want to go to Italy?
Because we have booked the ferry from Barcelona to Sardinia ( it was the only ferry which had cabins available at short notice )
Mountains , good beaches, and hopefully some decent last minute sun shine. Lets hope this works!
back via Toulon 2 1/2 weeks later for an autumnal slow road through France back home.
so are there any good sites / sostas suggestions for Sardinia ?