Summer 2015 Holidays: where to go to the beach

Are you wondering where to go to the beach this summer? We present top 10 destinations to spend a memorable holliday with your family and kids. 

Follow our advice on the most beautiful beaches of the Lazio litoral.

GAETA

Gaeta, with its sandy beaches, is beyond doubt one of the most beautiful beach resorts throughout Lazio.

10 kilometers of beaches only spaced out by small inlets and rocky peaks. From the slopes of the Split Mountain arrives until the suggestive grottoes of Sperlonga.

The common singularity to all these beaches is the presence of light and very fine sand, clear water and surrounded by thick Mediterranean vegetation.

At the same time, each presents particular features that make them unique: Ariana Beach, for instance, has been awarded several times the Blue Flag for its clear water and Sant'Agostino Beach is famous for the great amount of bars and restaurants, but also for the wide space of free beach.

There's really for all tastes! If you wish to know them in detail, read our in-depth article about 7 beaches in Gaeta.

SPERLONGA

Sperlonga, named after the natural caves (speluncae) that open alond the coast, is a real pearl of the Lazio coastline and a favourite tourist destination. It is no coincidence that its wonderful beaches have earned the Blue Flag certification.

Among the most famous beaches is for sure Canzatora, ideal for families with children, or Fontana, one of the most busy. It's also worth going to Salette, Bonifica, Angolo, Bazzano and Bambole.

Finally, we can't help but mention the well-known Cave of Tiberius, an evocative natural cave that was in the past part of the Villa of Emperor Tiberious and is today frequented by snorkelers. Not far from the remains of the villa is the National Archeological Museum of Sperlonga, where important sculpted groups from the cave are preserved.

Sperlonga, besides offering sun, sea and splendid beaches, is also a fascinating sea town hidden behind a rocky spur streching out into the Tyrrhenean sea. Walking along the tiny alleys and the steep steps you can go down to the thin sandy beach as well as going up to the peak of the promontory to reach Torre Truglia, a lookout tower symbol of the city that perfectly divides Riviera di Levante (East Coast), stretching until the Cave of Tiberius, and Riviera di Ponente (West Coast) lapping Sperlonga low side.

SPERLONGA

Sperlonga, named after the natural caves (speluncae) that open alond the coast, is a real pearl of the Lazio coastline and a favourite tourist destination. It is no coincidence that its wonderful beaches have earned the Blue Flag certification.

Among the most famous beaches is for sure Canzatora, ideal for families with children, or Fontana, one of the most busy. It's also worth going to Salette, Bonifica, Angolo, Bazzano and Bambole.

Finally, we can't help but mention the well-known Cave of Tiberius, an evocative natural cave that was in the past part of the Villa of Emperor Tiberious and is today frequented by snorkelers. Not far from the remains of the villa is the National Archeological Museum of Sperlonga, where important sculpted groups from the cave are preserved.

Sperlonga, besides offering sun, sea and splendid beaches, is also a fascinating sea town hidden behind a rocky spur streching out into the Tyrrhenean sea. Walking along the tiny alleys and the steep steps you can go down to the thin sandy beach as well as going up to the peak of the promontory to reach Torre Truglia, a lookout tower symbol of the city that perfectly divides Riviera di Levante (East Coast), stretching until the Cave of Tiberius, and Riviera di Ponente (West Coast) lapping Sperlonga low side.

SAN FELICE CIRCEO

San Felice Circeo, one of the sea towns in the Pontino litoral, is particularly appreciated by Romans for its clean water and golden sand. Also this year it has earned the Blu Flag recognition.

Steeped in Mediterranean scrub, with a beatiful promontory dominating it from above, this beach offers visitors really unique views. Actually, it is located within the Circeo National Park, one of Italy's oldest natural protected areas.

The area is also very windy, making it a paradise for surfers and windsurfers. Also people who love scuba diving will go wild thanks to the wonderful sea bottom, enriched by the presence of some sank statues, like the bronze statue of Christ of Circeo, placed under the sea in 1992, and the statue of the Face of Christ, by artist Ignazio Colagrossi.

PONZA AND THE PONTINE ISLANDS

The archipelago of the pontine islands is in the middle of the Tyrrhenean Sea, and it is formed by two groups of islands: on the one hand, Ponza, Palmarola, Zannone and Gavi north-west and, on the other hand, Ventotene and Santo Stefano south-east. The two groups are 22 nautical miles away from each other and in the middle of the archipelago, isolated, rises the rock of the Botte. Around it are organized splendid dives.

Ponza and Ventotene are the only two inhabited islands, but some bars can be found in Palmarola as well. Zannone is part of Circeo National Park while S.Stefano houses the former Bourbon prison.

Chiaia di Luna is beyond doubt the best-known beach in Ponza, and Cala Nave in Ventotene has achieved the Blue Flag recognition foour years in a row. In this island, like in the other islands of the archipelago, are many things to do and see. Relaxation, nature and clear waters are waiting for you!

SABAUDIA

On the opposite side of the mount Circeo is Sabaudia, a Blue Flag beach, really appreciated and frequented by VIPs. The 15-kilometer beach is characterised by splendid Quaternary sand dunes and by Mediterranean vegetation.

The clean sea and the crisp, oxygenated air of the Circeo Forest, together with a usual life in peace have made Sabaudia a privileged destination for a holiday in pursuit of relaxation.

The access to the beach is made easy by boardwalks, placed along the whole coastline, allowing the dunes to remain untouched. In summer, some reserved areas are set up with several stands that offer various services to tourists.

ANZIO E NETTUNO

The beach of Anzio is a particular example of Mediterranean scrub, with clean water and many services for tourists. That's why it has been awarded well five times the Blue Flag certification. Within Anzio area there is also the Regional Natural Reserve of Tor Caldara, housing 15 different species of mammals, 9 species of reptiles, 5 species of amphibious and 50 species of birds.

Nettuno is a splendid sea resort, about 60 kilometers away from Rome. The Medieval Hamlet of Nettuno finds its roots in the old Roman town of Antium (today formed by the towns of Anzio and Nettuno). Inside the small village there is the Castle of Nettuno, which towers date back to the fourteenth century and other historical buildings like Palazzo Baronale, Palazzo Doria Pamphilj and the Church of San Giovanni.

One of the most famous beaches of Nettuno is for sure Torre Astura, where you can find golden sand and clean waters, as well as the tower itself, which makes everything more interesting.

LADISPOLI: DA MARINA DI SAN NICOLA A TORRE FLAVIA

Ladispoli is one of the towns that Romans like the most. They come here in summer to spend their holidays. In fact, the city is just 40 kilometers away from Rome and can be easily reached by public transports. With 25 equipped sea resorts, Ladispoli coastline really offers many alternatives to tourists.

One of the nicest beaches is Marina di San Nicola, suburb of Ladispoli and famous because it is an ideal spot for surf and windsurf. The beach is equipped to welcome both adults and children. In the immediate vicinity you can also admire the archeological ruins that have brought to light an old Roman villa.

Although no doubt the most famous beach of Ladispoli is Flavia Tower, an unspoilt stretch characterised by the remains of an old sixteenth-century tower and by a light blue, clear sea with a sandy sea bottom. The Natural Monument of Flavia Tower Marshland, behind, is one of the few marshlands of the Lazio coast. It is an important natural habitat for migratory birds  and for birdwatching lovers.

If you want to find out more about this fascinating area, read our in-depth article about the Oasis of Flavia Tower.

SANTA MARINELLA AND SANTA SEVERA

Santa Marinella, nicknamed the Pearl of the Tyrrhenean Sea, has one of the nicest and cleanest sea stretches of the North coast. Here you can choose between reef and beach. It is not far from Rome (1 h) and well connected by public transports and by train.

With its Art Noveau villas, the wonderful Castle Odescalchi and the Small Tourist Port, this is a charming and elegant town.

It is no coincidence that in the 60's Ingrid Bergman, international movie symbol, chose this place to establish her home.

Santa Marinella is specially appreciated by surf lovers: actually, the particular relation between the sea bottom morphology and the position of the coast, make it possible in some stretches for waves to be created, such as to draw the attention of surfers from all over Europe.

Santa Severa is only a small suburb of Santa Marinella, at 45 minutes by car from Rome, and yet, every summer its beaches are filled by Italian and foreign tourists who come here to spend their holidays.

Many have fallen in love with this tiny sea town and its famous Castle, born in Medieval times where the old settlement of Pyrgi, the Etruscan port of the neighbouring city of Caere (today Cerveteri), was placed.

Counting 16 sea resorts and some stretches of free beach there's for all tastes. In the hottest months, specially during the weekend, the beaches in Santa Severa are really heaving with people!

If you are coming by car, bear in mind that you won't easily find a parking spot and, if you are staying several days in an apartment, your bike will become a great allied.

This place has beyond doubt something magic, so much as to inspire the imagination of directors and writers, such as Giorgio Basssani, Mario Monicelli and, more recently,  Federico Moccia.

Here have also stayed some former Presidents of the Italian Republic, like Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Francesco Cossiga.

Suggestions for your holidays:

• The amazing Castle of Santa Severa has reopened its doors this year and can be visited until the 13th of September 2015 with prior online reservation. An experience we highly recommend not to miss if you are coming here. Read how to make your booking!
• Wether you love surf or not, you can't absolutely miss one of the most long-awaited events of summer 2015. We are talking about Italia Surf Expo 2015. The event that every year gathers over 20,000 visitors will be held from the 24th until the 26th of July along the beautiful beach stretch in front of the Castle of Santa Severa, in a simply unique corner. Three unmissable days, enlivend by fun, music, shows and pretty girls. Read more.

TARQUINIA

One of the nicest beaches in Tarquinia is Pian di Spille, also known as Grande Ciambella (Big Doughnut). It is 10 kilometers long, with a mixture of sand and Mediterranean pine forests, that surround a splendid sea where it is also possible to practise naturism.

The beach of Bagni di Sant'Agostino is very beautiful as well. It is particularly famous for its sand dunes, alternating with thick pine forests. It is placed just before the district with the same name in the city of Tarquinia, at about 15 kilometers from Civitavecchia. This beach of soft golden sand is characterised by a wide and long coast giving onto a small gulf and behind it are sand dunes spotted with scrub.

In the area, there is also the Natural Reserve of Tarquinia Saltworks, place of great naturalist interest, due to its particular greenery and for its birdlife. It is actually not rare to watch herons, flamingoes and many other species.

Enjoy your holidays and the beach!