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Ravenna Beach locations, or other beach between Ravenna and Venice?

Just curious if the beaches near Ravenna are recommended and if you'd suggest an overnight anywhere on the adriatic coast of italy between Ravenna and Venice (our next stop on the itinterary)?

This is for Summer - early July.

Posted by
11613 posts

I haven't been to Ravenna Lido, but you can use Google Maps to take a look at it.

Posted by
10344 posts

These beaches are not Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii, or Southern California beaches.

Posted by
11613 posts

From what I could see, it seems typical of the Adriatic beach resort areas, some big hotels, not much ambiance.

Posted by
16893 posts

These are long, sandy beaches with plenty of lounge chairs to rent, but not much of architectural interest or pretty rock formations, etc (unlike the Cinque Terre, for instance). You might go for a day at the beach as a rest break from a long trip, not usually as a destination on a short trip. Italians might stay for a week, but their vacation goal is different.

Posted by
500 posts

Thanks, Laura - that's kind of what I was wondering. We're on a 1 month journey, were just looking for a plot of sand to relax on.

Posted by
7737 posts

Look into Rimini and see if that's what you're looking for. It's a little south of Ravenna. Or Venezia Lido might be what you're looking for. It's a more convenient location.

Posted by
15041 posts

From Ancona all the way to Trieste, the Adriatic coast is flat (just like Florida), therefore the beaches are wide and the water not too deep. The sand is not white (kind of beige), therefore the effect you get is not of the Blue Caribbean.
In the seaside cities, especially from Rimini down to Cattolica, there is a lot nightlife and lots of people, especially after July 1.
North of Rimini, the towns are more geared to families, therefore still plenty of vacationers but not la "vida loca" of Rimini/Riccione.
Although I've driven through it often, including 2 years ago, however the last time I spent a real beach vacation there (Riccione) was 1980 (still a teenager). But when I was a little kid I spent several years there with my parents (my father loved the Adriatic because it was cheaper than the Tyrrhenian side). I've stayed over the various years at Pinarella, Cesenatico, etc. and (between Ravenna and Venice) Lido di Spina and Lido di Pomposa. I was too small to remember much now, all I remember is huge sand beaches, and huge pine forests along the coast. Most of those beaches have those concessions where you can rent umbrellas, chairs etc., but there are also large portions of beach that is undeveloped, especially between towns and along the Reno River and the Sacca di Bellocchio Natural Reserve. During my days near that reserve there was a military training area (maybe still there), that is where I learned I'm not the best shooter with automatic rifles. If you see bullets in the most unexpected places, it was probably from my assault rifle.

However the Valli di Comacchio (basically a huge swampy lake) is there too, so you can count on the largest mosquitoes on Earth. I was a small kid, so it was a long time ago, but I remember the pesky mosquitoes at night best.

Posted by
500 posts

Thanks Roberto!
I detest mosquitoes. I do not recall mosquitos on my first (and only) visit to Italy which was almost 15 years ago. I gather from this and another thread that they have made their way into Europe since that time. We are revising our itinerary to avoid Ravenna after all - saving it for another trip, perhaps in a cooler month - and stick mainly to the Dolomites, Lombardy and Friuli-Venezia. Hopefully we can avoid the really, big, juicy mosquitos there (please tell me we can!)

Posted by
32505 posts

Well there were certainly plenty of mosquitos in and around Comacchio when my father (late a British Commando) was fighting there during the war. I remember the stories he used to tell me.

That being said, he remembered two places he fought with the most affection - Comacchio and the days he spent on Vis, just across the water.

So there must have been big juicy ones at least 70 years ago.

Posted by
1501 posts

I have family in Riccione - quite near both Rimini and Catolica. They are exceptionally proud of their 'sabbia' sand! It is the finest sand in all of Italy, unlike the rocky/pebbly beaches on the other side and also in Sicily. The Med, while beautiful azure is always freezing/heart stopping cold! The Adriatic sea is warm and pleasant to swim in, with a gentle incline into the sea. My husband loves the food here - the lovely seafood which is brought in by boat daily, and I love the little flat breads that are unique to this region - piadina!! Last time I was in Rome, I was surprised to find it in a sealed package in the grocery store, so apparently it's catching on elsewhere, but no where is it better than in Riccione - where it's made fresh daily.

If you want a day of sand and sun, you should go to Rimini or Catolica or Riccione. Be aware that even if you stay in a beachside hotel, you will have to pay for a chair and umbrella, as the beaches are owned separately from the hotels. Last time I was there it was @ EU20 for the day.

The atmosphere here on the Adriatic is very festive in the summer, with vacationing Italian families and Italian Honeymooners. As you can tell by this post, I love this area and hope to get back there in the next year or two!

Posted by
2118 posts

Jtraveler -- Just in case you put a beach back on your itinerary, we absolutely loved Senigallia. We had a couple of nights there during a month in Italy a few years ago and it was a wonderful break.

Senigallia is pretty little town, a little south of Cattolica. It has an old fort, and markets almost every day. We were there in late September, and no mosquitos. Just miles and miles of wide, beautiful beach, sloping gently into the sea. And a couple of Michelin starred restaurants, if you're into that. Plus more casual restaurants with tables & umbrellas right on the sand where you can enjoy a beer or wine (with free snacks at our favorite, La Tartana) while gazing at the beautiful Adriatic.