Coasts, archipelagos and coastal rivieras in Italy
A journey across the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, the Tuscan Archipelago, Costa Smeralda and Salento
The shoreline as the story of Italy
Italy doesn’t have a single coastline: it has dozens, each with a different shade of sea, a different dialect and a different way of putting fish on the table. In this editorial itinerary we’ve chosen five stretches of coast that, taken together, capture the country’s variety: the sheer verticality of the Amalfi Coast, the terraced geometry of Cinque Terre, the marine solitude of the Tuscan Archipelago, the built-from-scratch luxury of Costa Smeralda, and the baroque architecture facing the sea in Salento. Source: Italia.it
Three of these destinations — the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre and the Tuscan Archipelago — are recognized or protected internationally for their landscape and natural value, while Costa Smeralda and Salento tell two more recent stories of Italy: one of the luxury tourism born in the 1960s, and one of the contemporary rediscovery of the South. Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Landscapes shaped alongside nature
The Amalfi Coast joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997 precisely because it represents a Mediterranean landscape where extreme topography — the Lattari Mountains plunging into the Tyrrhenian Sea — has been tamed by centuries of terracing for vineyards and lemon groves, shaping villages such as Amalfi and Ravello. Source: UNESCO/Beni Culturali Italia
Cinque Terre tells a similar story further north: here, dry-stone walls built over centuries made the cliffs of eastern Liguria cultivable, an interaction between people and nature that UNESCO recognized as an outstanding cultural landscape in 1997. Source: Sagicharter
The Tuscan Archipelago, by contrast, is the realm of protected marine nature: the national park that safeguards it is the largest marine park in Europe, spanning more than 61,000 hectares of sea and nearly 18,000 hectares of land across seven islands of differing geological origin — granite, limestone, volcanic. Source: Giglioinfo.it
What sets these coasts apart
🏛️ Widespread UNESCO heritage
Amalfi, Ravello, Positano and the other towns of the Amalfi Coast belong to a site made up of twelve municipalities, with evidence ranging from first-century Roman villas to the majolica-tiled domes of Vietri sul Mare. Source: Unesco.it
🥾 Trails that are heritage in their own right
The Sentiero Verde Azzurro (formerly CAI trail no. 2), the ancient mule track that connected the five villages of Cinque Terre before any modern road existed, is now walked by roughly five million visitors every year. Source: Trekking24
🛥️ A 20th-century tourism invention
Costa Smeralda didn’t exist as a destination until 1962, when Prince Karim Aga Khan launched the development of the area, until then known as “Monti di Mola” and inhabited mainly by shepherds. Source: Il Post
The wonders of each coast
Positano, Amalfi, Ravello
Positano cascades toward the sea with its colorful houses; Amalfi preserves its Cathedral and the memory of the ancient Maritime Republic; Ravello towers over the coast with its historic villas, Rufolo and Cimbrone.
Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, Riomaggiore, Corniglia
Five fishing villages linked by trails and by the La Spezia–Levanto railway line; Corniglia is the only one not directly facing the sea, reached by a staircase of 365 steps.
Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli
Lecce is the capital of Apulian baroque; Otranto, a UNESCO-listed village among the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy,” preserves the Aragonese Castle and the Cathedral with its famous mosaic floor; Gallipoli’s historic center sits on a limestone island connected by a 17th-century bridge.
Porto Cervo, Baia Sardinia, Romazzino
Porto Cervo, designed by architect Luigi Vietti and inaugurated in 1964, is the heart of Costa Smeralda; the Stella Maris church, designed by Michele Busiri Vici, overlooks its marina.
Elba Island and the seven islands
Elba is the largest of the Park’s seven islands (223.5 km²) and lies about 10 km from Piombino; Montecristo, the most isolated, sits 68 km from the mainland and has strictly regulated access.
Marine Protected Area
Off the five villages lies the Marine Protected Area of the Cinque Terre National Park, which bans unauthorized navigation and intensive fishing to preserve the seabed.
Baia dei Turchi and Porto Selvaggio
On the Adriatic side, Baia dei Turchi near Otranto is a white-sand beach fringed by pine forest; on the Ionian side, the Porto Selvaggio Nature Reserve in Nardò alternates pine woods and rocky coves.
Spiaggia del Principe and Capo Ferro
Spiaggia del Principe, among the most photographed beaches in Sardinia, takes its name from the Aga Khan, who made it his favorite; the Capo Ferro headland overlooks Porto Cervo with its lighthouse perched above the sea.
Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone
Villa Rufolo, whose garden inspired Wagner, and Villa Cimbrone, famous for its Terrace of Infinity, are the two historic estates that made Ravello a destination for intellectuals and artists.
Villa dei Mulini and the Medici Fortresses
In Portoferraio, Villa dei Mulini was one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s residences during his exile; the Medici Fortresses, commissioned by Cosimo I de’ Medici, still dominate the bay.
Piazza del Duomo and Lecce’s baroque
Piazza del Duomo in Lecce is considered the pinnacle of Apulian baroque, with facades carved from the soft local stone that lends itself to elaborate decoration found nowhere else in Italy.
Stella Maris Church
Inaugurated in 1968 to a design by Michele Busiri Vici, the Stella Maris church was conceived as both a place of worship and a work of mural art, and remains today an architectural symbol of Costa Smeralda.
A culinary journey along the coast
Every stretch of coast has its own lemon, its own wine, its own way of preparing fish: from the Amalfi Coast to Salento, the cuisine follows the geographic outline more faithfully than any administrative border. Source: Sale&Pepe
🍋🐟🍝 Dishes and products not to miss
Sfusato Amalfitano
The PGI lemon with its elongated shape, grown on the terraces of the Amalfi Coast, the base of authentic limoncello.
SourceScialatielli and ndunderi
Fresh Amalfi-style pasta; the ndunderi of Minori are considered by UNESCO among the oldest pasta shapes in the world.
SourceMonterosso anchovies
Caught and hand-processed in Cinque Terre, salt-cured or marinated: a culinary emblem of the village.
SourceElba-style gurguglione
A vegetable stew from Elba Island — tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, onions, peppers and aromatic herbs.
SourceCiceri e tria
The signature dish of rural Salento: fresh pasta (tria), chickpeas and a portion of fried pasta for crunch.
SourcePasticciotto leccese
Shortcrust pastry filled with custard, invented in Galatina in 1745 at the Ascalone pastry shop; typically eaten warm, often for breakfast.
Source🍷 The wines of these coasts
On the Amalfi Coast, the Costa d’Amalfi DOC is produced mainly around Furore, Ravello and Tramonti on ancient terraces; in Cinque Terre, the Cinque Terre DOC (Bosco, Albarola and Vermentino grapes) pairs with anchovies and focaccia, while Sciacchetrà, a rare and sweet passito, is drunk at the end of the meal. Source: Costadiamalfi.info · Source: Cookist
On Elba Island, the Aleatico Passito DOCG — a wine that, according to local tradition, accompanied Napoleon Bonaparte’s exile — was granted its Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin in 2011. In Sardinia, Vermentino di Gallura DOCG is the island’s only DOCG and the natural companion to the seafood dishes of Costa Smeralda; in Salento, the red wines Negroamaro and Primitivo di Manduria dominate. Source: Assoenologi · Source: Gallura Oggi · Source: Veratour
Traditions renewed every year
🕷️ Notte della Taranta (Salento, August)
The Notte della Taranta International Festival, culminating in the final concert in Melpignano, has turned the traditional music of pizzica into a cultural phenomenon that draws audiences from across Italy. Source: Salento Easy
⛵ Offshore sailing in Porto Cervo
Founded in 1967 by the Aga Khan, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda is based in Porto Cervo and represented Italy with Azzurra in the 1983 America’s Cup, cementing Costa Smeralda’s sailing vocation. Source: Wikipedia — Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
🎣 Markets and seafood festivals
In the villages of Liguria and Salento, weekly local markets — such as those in Levanto, Bonassola, Monterosso and Vernazza — remain the most authentic way to encounter local products away from the tourist circuit. Source: Cinque-terre.org
Styles that tell different eras
On the Amalfi Coast, the architecture recalls the ancient Maritime Republic and its trade routes toward the East: Amalfi’s urban layout, with houses clinging to the slopes among alleyways and staircases, reflects an influence reaching well beyond the western Mediterranean. Source: Italia.it
In Porto Cervo, the urban plan is instead a project drawn from scratch: architect Luigi Vietti designed the historic village in the 1960s, while the Hotel Cala di Volpe — a masterpiece by Jacques Couëlle — introduced an organic style inspired by Mediterranean villages but entirely invented for luxury tourism. Source: The Wom Travel
The slow rhythm of Italy’s coasts
In the villages of Cinque Terre, life is still organized around the trails: fishermen, farmers and even funeral processions walked them before the railway arrived in 1874, and today the same route — the Sentiero Verde Azzurro — remains the social artery of the five towns. Source: Trekking24
In Salento, a typical day alternates the morning at the beach with evening strolls through the historic centers of Lecce, Otranto and Gallipoli, where outdoor tables, stonework crafts in local Lecce stone, and ceramics stalls keep the summer evenings lively late into the night. Source: The Wom Travel
Recommended itineraries for each coast
Each of the five destinations lends itself to a different style and length of itinerary: the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre reward those who like to walk, the Tuscan Archipelago suits lovers of open water and boats, Costa Smeralda appeals to those seeking exclusivity, and Salento is ideal for combining baroque art with beaches. Source: Campania.info
🗺️ Short itinerary (3 days): Amalfi Coast
Day 1: Positano, a stroll through alleys and staircases down to the sea. Day 2: Amalfi and the Cathedral of Sant’Andrea, then Atrani on foot. Day 3: Ravello, Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone with the Terrace of Infinity.
🗺️ Extended itinerary (5 days): Cinque Terre on foot
Walking the Sentiero Verde Azzurro from Riomaggiore to Monterosso, with dedicated stops in each village, it’s possible to cover the whole park in about five days, alternating coastal stretches with higher panoramic routes such as the Alta Via delle Cinque Terre. Source: CAI Torino
Getting around these coasts
🚆 Getting there and getting around
Cinque Terre is reached by train from La Spezia station via the Cinque Terre Express, which connects all five villages in a matter of minutes; Elba Island is reached by ferry from Piombino, roughly 10 km of crossing. Source: Agriturismo Ca’ del Bosco · Source: Infoelba.com
🏨 Where to stay (by type)
Historic hotels and villas
In Ravello and Porto Cervo, hotels are often housed in historic villas and residences, frequently with panoramic gardens overlooking the sea, such as Villa Cimbrone or the Cala di Volpe area.
Farm stays and the inland countryside
In Salento and the Ligurian hinterland, farm stays in masserie or farmhouses offer a more authentic and less expensive alternative to the busier coastal centers.
📅 When to go
Spring and early autumn remain the best times for walking the coastal trails without the heat and crowds of July and August, while events such as the Notte della Taranta (August) or the regattas in Porto Cervo draw crowds right at the height of summer. Source: Smartbox
Protected designations and products
Along these five coasts you’ll find several official designations: Limone Costa d’Amalfi IGP (Sfusato Amalfitano) lemons, Costa d’Amalfi DOC wine, Cinque Terre DOC and Sciacchetrà, Aleatico dell’Elba DOCG, Vermentino di Gallura DOCG, and the Negroamaro and Primitivo di Manduria wines of Salento. Source: Albadamare.it · Source: Infoelba.com
Dream wedding locations
Ravello, with the terraces of Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone overlooking the Amalfi Coast, and Porto Cervo, with the Stella Maris church and the settings of Costa Smeralda, remain among the most sought-after Italian locations for international weddings. Learn more about destination wedding services.
Luxury real estate along Italy’s coasts
Costa Smeralda and the Amalfi Coast remain among Italy’s most established high-end real estate markets, with historic villas and beachfront properties concentrated around Porto Cervo and around Positano-Ravello respectively. Learn more about the luxury real estate market.
Types of dining along the coast
🐟 Seafood trattorias in the fishing villages
In Manarola and Riomaggiore, harborside trattorias focus their menus on the day’s catch, often paired with a glass of Cinque Terre DOC.
Source: Arbaspaa🍷 Wine bars with tastings
In the villages of Manarola and Monterosso, local wine bars offer guided tastings of Cinque Terre DOC and Sciacchetrà, often paired with crostini and focaccia.
Source: Travelocity🌿 Masserie and farm stays in Salento
Salento’s masserie serve dinners featuring dishes such as octopus alla pignata or pitta di patate, often paired with local Negroamaro or Primitivo.
Source: Salento.itFive stops, five coasts
Positano — Amalfi Coast
The most scenic village on the coast, with white houses cascading toward the sea among stairways and narrow lanes.
Vernazza — Cinque Terre
The village built around a harbor of Roman origin, a central stop on the Sentiero Verde Azzurro.
Portoferraio — Elba Island
The “capital” of the Tuscan Archipelago, the main ferry landing point and home to the Medici Fortresses and Napoleon’s Villa dei Mulini.
Porto Cervo — Costa Smeralda
The heart of Costa Smeralda, with the Piazzetta delle Chiacchiere, the marina and the Stella Maris church.
Otranto — Salento
A UNESCO-listed village on the Adriatic, with the Aragonese Castle, the Cathedral, and Baia dei Turchi just a short walk away.
FAQ — Italy’s coasts, archipelagos and rivieras
In general, late spring and early autumn reduce crowds and heat compared with July-August; some events, such as the Notte della Taranta, take place right in the middle of summer, however. Source
The most convenient way is the Cinque Terre Express regional train between La Spezia and Levanto, along with the hiking trails connecting the five villages. Source
By ferry from the port of Piombino in Tuscany, about 10 km from Portoferraio, the island’s main landing point. Source
Because it originated from a unified tourism project launched by Prince Aga Khan in 1962, with hand-picked architects and infrastructure built from scratch in an area that, until then, was nearly uninhabited. Source
Costa d’Amalfi DOC and Cinque Terre DOC (including Sciacchetrà) on the Tyrrhenian coast, Aleatico dell’Elba DOCG on the archipelago, Vermentino di Gallura DOCG in Sardinia, and Negroamaro/Primitivo di Manduria in Salento. Source
It’s washed by two seas, the Adriatic and the Ionian, with a baroque heritage concentrated in Lecce and UNESCO-listed villages like Otranto sitting directly on the sea. Source
The most scenic trails involve elevation changes and staircases (such as Corniglia’s 365 steps); the regional train remains the more accessible option for moving between villages without walking the hiking routes. Source
Elba, Capraia and Giglio are largely open to visitors; Giannutri can be visited with authorized guides, while Montecristo, Pianosa and Gorgona have regulated access for environmental protection reasons. Source
Five coasts, one common thread
From the verticality of Positano to the geometry of Cinque Terre, from the protected islands of the Tuscan Archipelago to the built luxury of Porto Cervo, all the way to the baroque architecture facing the sea in Salento: each stretch of coast tells a different story of Italy, yet all of them share the same close bond between landscape, food and a community that still lives by that sea.
Five coasts, one way of understanding a holiday: slow, authentic, always looking out to sea.
Who wrote this article? On what basis?
📋 Transparency and verifiability
Who wrote it: Giuseppe Baldassarri — ItalyTrade.org.
What it’s based on: verified public sources linked at the end of every paragraph (UNESCO, regional tourism boards, protection consortia, trade publications).
Statistical data omitted: we did not include visitor counters, origin-of-visitor charts or price ranges, because there is no single, official, verifiable figure for a broad category such as “Italian coasts.”
Possible undisclosed interest: none. Independent editorial content.
Giuseppe Baldassarri
Sales & Account Manager · Destination & Export Digital Marketing Manager · Travel Designer · TTO
Website: ItalyTrade.org — Travel & Business | Italy: Made in Italy
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