Has anyone come across small coastal villages in Southern Europe that haven't been overly commercialized? I lived in Italy in the early 1970's and would drive the coast scuba diving as we went. There were many small villages at that time that weren't exposed to commercial tourism. I would like to stay in such a village for a couple of months in any of the southern countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece where the people are friendly and the water is on the warmer side. If you have experience visiting or staying in such a town, please post some details.
Posted by
1 posts
The Croatian coast is very beautiful and the sea is warm. If you want more peace then I recommend a village on some island.
Posted by
Northeast Ohio, USA
683 posts
You might also look at lesser-known Greek islands.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
1005 posts
You might consider Kardamyli on the Peloponnese in Greece. It's one of Rick's favorites, and it's not overly touristy. I wouldn't call it a fishing village anymore, since there was only one fisherman when I was there, but it is hasn't been ruined by beachfront high-rises. There are also quite villages on Crete that might meet your needs. See Matt Barrett's Greece pages for more ideas.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17912 posts
Montenegro.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
126 posts
Have a look at the French Spanish coast from Collioure (France) to Sant Feliu de Guíxols -(about 100Kms north of Barcelona).
There’s a dive centre in Collioure
Some of the towns along this stretch of coast are still quite small and undeveloped – but others….. ah that’s progress.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2126 posts
One of the prettiest fishing villages I've seen is Gallipoli, in Puglia, in southern Italy. Gorgeous little town on the "heel" of the boot, near Lecce.
Of course Sicily has some wonderful small towns, as does the coast of Croatia. The small, less-touristed Greek islands would also be a great choice -- look at the Dodecanese chain (Leros, Kalymnos, Nisyros, Lipsi).
Posted by
Northern Rockies, British Columbia, Canada
532 posts
Aeolian Islands. Very rugged, mostly locals.