A beach holiday in Tuscany can be so beautiful
Medieval small villages, picturesque cypress avenues, good Tuscan cuisine and lots of culture – all of this comes to mind when you think of Tuscany. But what is probably the most beautiful region in central Italy is also characterized by an extremely varied coast with long sandy beaches, idyllic bays and crystal clear water. As part of the Mediterranean, the Tyrrhenian Sea stretches from the Tuscan coast to the islands of Sardinia and Corsica and merges into the open Mediterranean near Sicily in the south.
In style at the “bagno”
The best time for a beach holiday in Tuscany is between June and September. But unlike on the German North and Baltic Sea coasts, where beach chair after beach chair is lined up, people make it their own beaches of Tuscany on a comfortable deck chair under a shady parasol. The Italian beach resorts are called “stabilimento balneare”, “bagno” for short, and often also offer changing rooms, a snack bar or a restaurant. The prices for a deck chair under a parasol are between 15 and 20 euros per day. But it will be cheaper if you rent for a whole week. Between the “bagnos” there are always free stretches of beach – the “spiaggia libera” – where you can lie down on the beach and swim in the sea for free.
The cleanest beaches in Italy
Tuscany's beaches are considered the cleanest in Italy and the water quality is one of the best in the country. The Tuscany Journal introduces you to the most beautiful beaches:
Beach vacation in Tuscany: Riviera della Versilia
The Riviera della Versilia is located on the north coast of Tuscany. This approximately 30 kilometer long and up to 200 meter wide stretch of fine sandy coastline, which belongs to the province of Lucca (Holiday apartments Lucca and surroundings) and the province of Pisa (Apartments Pisa and the surrounding area), is particularly popular with families because of its mostly gently sloping sandy beaches into the sea. Between Viareggio in the south and Marina di Carrara in the north, the “bagno” are lined up like pearls on a string - every now and then interrupted by a free stretch of beach. Whether La Lecciona, Marina di Pietrasanta or Spiaggia del Gombo - the beaches lined with tall pine trees make the hearts of seaside vacationers and water sports enthusiasts beat faster.
Beach vacation in Tuscany: Costa degli Etruschi
Further south in the province of Livorno (Holiday apartments Livorno and surrounding area) lies the Costa degli Etruschi, the Etruscan Coast, where rugged cliffs alternate with beautiful sandy beaches. While many beaches on the rocky coast between Livorno and Castiglioncello are hidden in small bays, the coast becomes flatter further south and you can find wonderful long and wide sandy beaches here, which are often lined with extensive pine forests. Between the Gulf of Baratti and the port town of Piombino the banks become steeper again and the small bays can often only be reached by sea. The most beautiful seaside resorts on the Costa degli Etrusca include Baratti, Castiglioncello, Cecina Mare, Livorno, Marina di Bibbona, Marina di Castagneto, Piombino, Rosignano, San Vincenzo, Vada and Venturina.
Beach vacation in Tuscany: Maremma in the south
Known as Maremma, the approximately 130 kilometer long southern coast of Tuscany is a popular travel destination for beach fans and water sports enthusiasts. From the hills of the Colline Metallifere to the peninsula of Monte Argentario, the Maremma encompasses the entire province of Grosseto (Holiday apartments Grosseto and environment). The picturesque, former fishing town of Castiglione della Pescaia, with its fine sandy beaches and small bays, is particularly recommended for beach and bathing vacationers, as is the Mozza Tower from Follonica or the Cala Violin in Scarlino.
Tip: Wheelchair accessible beaches You can recognize it by a blue sign that says “Senza Barriere”, “Accesso per Disabili” or “Accesso per Diversamente Abili” and shows a wheelchair.
Dog beaches in Tuscany
Dogs are generally allowed on the free beaches of Tuscany. However, the number of organized, paid services has also increased dog beaches, where dogs are welcome, has increased significantly, so that there are now more dog beaches in this region than in other parts of Italy.
