Beaches in Italy

The bathing establishment is what surprises visitors most and it is the norm from Liguria to Puglia. Along much of the coast the sand is divided into licensed concessions charging by the day for a numbered umbrella and two loungers, with free public sections that are marked and limited; the system dates from the nineteenth century, is a century old in its present form, and is ordinary rather than exceptional. Where it does not apply — Sardinia's protected coves, the Cinque Terre, the Amalfi pebble beaches under cliff, the far south — the beaches are correspondingly wilder, and several of the best now cap daily numbers and require booking, La Pelosa and Cala Mariolu among them. Sardinia is a different coast altogether, granite and quartz sand with water that has no business being that colour in the Mediterranean, and its northern beaches have removal-of-sand fines to go with it. Practically: concession prices vary enormously by region and by row, the free sections are marked and fill first, and the season effectively ends in mid-September when the establishments close and the beaches revert to empty sand in warm water. Ferries to the islands book out for August months ahead.

Each is a different kind: five shores across five beach worlds. All sit on sheltered water. Together they account for 15 km of shore. · computed from the 5 records below