Italian Dolce Vita: 3 must-visit places in Summer

Do you want to live your best Mediterranean summer and need some ideas? Here 3 places and some itineraries you shouldn't miss in Italy.

1. Argentario (Tuscany)

"Monte Argentario is a promontory of rare beauty almost completely surrounded by the sea".

Where is the Argentario located? It is entirely included in the province of Grosseto. Costa d'Argento begins on the border with Lazio and reaches as far as Talamone, having Monte Argentario in the centre. We are in the south of Tuscany, in the Grosseto Maremma.

It is joined to the mainland by the two beaches of Giannella and Feniglia, and by the artificial road that cuts the Orbetello lagoon in two. There are many places on Monte Argentario that are worth a visit: we will tell you some of the main ones here below.

Porto Santo Stefano

This renowned seaside resort is the main inhabited center of Monte Argentario. It develops close to the commercial port of Valle and the small tourist port of Pilarella. The 17th century Spanish fortress dominates the upper part of the town, and at its feet, numerous very suggestive alleys and stairways wind their way. Here you can have a suggestive walk, leading to Piazza dei Rioni, along the seafront, where you can see the luxurious moored yachts and sailing boats during summer.

Porto Ercole

An ancient fishing village, today a famous summer holiday resort. It is "supervised" by the mighty fortresses built at the time of the Spanish garrisons. The oldest part of the village, the one under the Rocca, can be visited only on foot, and has kept the architecture and atmosphere of past centuries intact.

The beaches

Long sandy beaches but, above all, many fascinating coves that can be reached by sea. The beaches of Monte Argentario are not always easy to reach, but the effort of the journey is always rewarded by the sight of these paradises of crystalline sea.

The beaches are sometimes called "cala" or "caletta" because to reach them you often have to take long walks also among the rocks. Here are some of the ones you must visit (you can reach them on foot or renting a small boat called "gozzo"):

• Cala del Gesso

• Cala la Cacciarella

• Spiaggia delle Cannelle

• Capo d'Uomo

• La Cantoniera

• Spiaggia del Pozzarello

2. Cinque Terre (Liguria)

"Cinque Terre has it all: mystery, romance, history and unforgettable views of the sea".

Cinque Terre are not just nature, sun and beaches. The five seaside villages contain pleasant surprises in their typical architecture which highlights the history of these lands. Each locality deserves a visit to discover its centuries-old history: it's not a coincidence that the Cinque Terre are a UNESCO site, a world heritage site. Not only the sea: these places are famous for their wine and other typical products such as oil, honey, lemons and anchovies. A quality cuisine that is associated with DOC wines such as "the white of Cinque Terre" and the "Sciacchetrà".

Here below are the names of the five small villages to visit, but also of some "must-visit places" near them. If you are looking for more detailed information about Cinque Terre, just read our article here.

• Riomaggiore

• Manarola

• Corniglia

• Vernazza

• Monterosso

• Portovenere

• Lerici

• La Spezia

3. Costiera Amalfitana

"A jewel warmed by the sun, characterized by an unrivaled gastronomic tradition, by towns overlooking the sea and by a historical heritage of inestimable value: the Amalfi Coast".

It may seem a biased point of view, having origins from these areas, but the Amalfi coast is definitely one of the most suggestive places if you want to experience the Italian Mediterranean life to the fullest.

Among the most visited areas of Campania in the world, this stretch of coast extends from Positano to Vietri sul Mare along the Tyrrhenian coast of southern Italy. In front of the Gulf of Salerno, behind the Lattari Mountains.

Its high cliffs, enchanting coves and small bays, the terraces dotted with citrus, vines and olive trees, but also the high fashion shops and artisan workshops make it one of the most popular destinations in the world.

Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a perfect example of a Mediterranean landscape with great cultural and natural value: it is made up not only of internationally famous locations such as Amalfi and Positano, but also of small villages with a traditional and ancient atmosphere.

Extensive and fascinating, the Amalfi Coast includes 16 wonderful municipalities: Amalfi, Atrani, Cava de' Tirreni, Cetara, Conca dei Marini, and its cave dello Smeraldo, Furore, Maiori, Minori, Praiano, Positano, Raito, Ravello, Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino, Scala, Tramonti and Vietri sul Mare.

The beaches of the Amalfi Coast, although not very extensive (due to the conformation of the coast), are among the most beautiful in the Tyrrhenian Sea and in the world.

Equally loved, the caves of the Amalfi Coast are also an indispensable attraction for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in natural caves full of charm.

If you are looking for more travel tips, write in the comments or follow us on Instagram @wordsoftravel.

Have a nice (and conscious) journey!

© Claudia Spinato, 2023.