Ok slight background 4 person 2 week trip me my husband and his parents ages range 38-73. All have been to Italy previously on the usual major city tours. I went last July with my sister independently we travel to Roma, Sperlonga, Positano, Firenze, Venezia. That being said came home with pics of sperlonga and now my inlaws are wanting a trip there....which is fine but they want to rent a villa and take day trips from the villa. So they want a central location to still be able to travel to see "sites" things they havent seen before. The train to Sperlonga is not a fast speed train so travel from there doesn't seem that feasible to me, unless there are busses I'm not aware of, there for making sperlonga possibly the best choice?. Sooooo my request is for a great beach town on either coast of Italy that is central and has better transpiration!! As my inlaws are getting older and are not a patient as they use to be. We also want a time of year that isn't sweltering but hot enough to swim in the ocean???? Like I said tall order any replys very much appreciate!!!!!!!!
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Pesaro on the Adriatic coast has excellent rail connections (less than 2 hrs to Bologna with a frequent non-stop service). The town itself has historic sites and you are less than 30 mins from Urbino and Rimini.
Posted by
35 posts
For the best time of year, I would suggest September, when the summer crowds have thinned out and the water is still warm.
For a location, some part of the Italian Riviera could be good, perhaps the area of Viareggio for example.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15193 posts
I shall give you some options, not knowing which locations you want to visit and whether you are willing to rent a car.
Italy is not as large as the US, but it is as long as California from North to South, therefore you can't access everything from one location. Regarding renting a villa, since these tend to be out of town, if that is your choice I recommend renting a car.
North: A good location for mixing swimming and sites is the Veneto region. In particular around Verona or even somewhere on lake Garda. Lake Garda is not the Ocean (there is no Ocean in Italy, at most the Mediterranean Sea). However the lake is known as "Il Mare dei Tedeschi" (The Germans' Sea). It's full of beautiful beaches. Verona is only minutes away and a perfect place to visit onto itself. But within easy reach are also the Dolomites, Vicenza, Padua, Venice.
Tuscany/Central Italy: I know the Rick Steves' tribes swear by the Cinque Terre, but those are not the best base to visit much else. The seaside resort town of Viareggio however might fit the bill. It has beaches, and it's within easy reach of Lucca, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Apuan Alps (Carrara marble) and even Florence isn't far (just over 1 hr).
South: Golfo di Napoli. From Sorrento or the Amalfi coast, you can get in the water and also visit several sights nearby such as Pompeii, Paestum, Naples, Islands (Capri, Procida, Ischia) Amalfi Coast, Ercolano, Vesuvius.
Sicily: lots of water around an island and plenty of sights all over. The area of Scopello and also the area of Cefalu would make an excellent base for Western Sicily. Near Giardini Naxos/Taormina would be a good base for Eastern Sicily. Sicily might be more efficiently visited with a rental car, especially if staying outside of cities like Palermo or Catania, where a car is not needed.
June or September have weather warm enough for a swim, but not too hot to gasp (at least generally). I prefer June to September because of the longer daylight hours.
Posted by
OP
48 posts
Thank you for your replys!!! I talked to my husband and he said he would drive if it would make things flow better. That being said Viareggo and Tropea sound interesting..... Would love to hear from some ppl who have been. I've read reviews but trust the expertise of this group a lot more.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I have been to Tropea a couple of times, let me know if you want a hotel recommendation with parking onsite. It's a beautifully situated city, two beach areas.
You might consider Sicily; Cefalu has good beaches, a beautiful cathedral, plus plenty of places to visit within driving distance. Palermo is an hour away by train. Taormina has beaches as well, below the main town.
Posted by
OP
48 posts
Zoe I'm so excited that you posted you seem so familiar with southern Italy!! Do u think Tropea is a good choice as a base? Or another beach town more amazing? Meaning better beaches more central, less touristy?? I'm open as I'm just in the finding mode.