If you love sun and sea, Tuscany is the right destination for you. In addition to being famous for its cities of art, medieval villages, landscapes, good wine and architectural beauty, it boasts over 500 km of coastline and an archipelago made up of seven major islands and six minor ones, with world-famous seaside resorts. It has something for everyone: white beaches or dark sandy beaches, wild or equipped, fine sand or pebbles, you are spoilt for choice. Whatever your idea of a holiday is, the Tuscan coast will surely enchant you.
Testifying to the fact that Tuscany’s beaches are among the most beautiful in Italy, many of them have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag several times in recent years, the recognition awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) for excellence in bathing water. In addition, many of these beautiful beaches have also been awarded the Green Flag, the recognition that indicates child-friendly beaches and seaside resorts.
But which are the most beautiful beaches in Tuscany? Let’s discover them together.
SANSONE BEACH – ELBA ISLAND
Among the most beautiful beaches in Tuscany, we could not fail to mention at least one on the Island of Elba, a true paradise for sun worshippers and sunbathers. In Portoferraio, the island’s main port and capital, there is Sansone beach, which has nothing to envy from tropical destinations. Set between a steep cliff and the waters of the sea, it is a narrow tongue of polished eurite pebbles about 300 metres long. Usually little frequented, it is perfect for those who do not like confusion. Moreover, the transparency of the water and the beautiful seabed make it an ideal destination for snorkelling enthusiasts. To reach it, you have to cross a footpath, but once you arrive at your destination, you will certainly be speechless at its beauty.
CALA GIOVANNA – ISLAND OF PIANOSA
Just 7 nautical miles south of the Island of Elba is Pianosa, the fifth largest island in the Tuscan Archipelago. Known since antiquity as ‘Planasia’ for the uniqueness of its totally flat terrain, it was for a long time the site of a prison (now closed) and this has ensured that its natural beauty has remained intact. The island alternates between stretches of rocky coastline and enchanting bays, among which Cala Giovanna stands out, the only area on the island where bathing is permitted. Not far from the village and the old harbour, it is a paradisiacal white sandy beach where you can also admire the remains of a Roman villa. The seabed is among the richest in the archipelago because its waters are protected from indiscriminate fishing.
CANNELLE BEACH – GIGLIO ISLAND
Another pearl of the Tuscan Archipelago is the island of Giglio, which boasts a coastline no less than 28 km long in which isolated coves, granite cliffs and sandy beaches of rare beauty alternate. Among these, the wonderful Cannelle beach is definitely worth a stop. The landscape consists of a tongue of fine golden sand and a crystal-clear sea that changes colour throughout the day depending on the refraction of light. The shallow, sandy seabed, which slopes gently out to sea, makes it ideal for families with small children. The beach is also popular with divers due to the presence of posidonia and small, colourful fish. It is just over 100 metres long, so to be sure of finding a place, it is advisable to arrive early in the morning.
MARINA DI PIETRASANTA – VERSILIA
In the north-western part of Tuscany lies Versilia, a beautiful region sandwiched between the sea and the Apuan Alps, known the world over for its long, fine sandy beaches lapped by transparent waters. Among the most beautiful places in Versilia is undoubtedly Pietrasanta, a charming city of art nicknamed ‘Little Athens’ for its exceptional cultural and artistic heritage. The town is also famous for its hamlet Marina di Pietrasanta, whose coastline consists of a long stretch of soft, fine sand lapped by a crystal-clear sea, in whose calm waters children can play safely and undisturbed. Besides offering an extraordinary choice of bathing establishments, it has a cool pine forest behind it that inspired the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio.
LA LECCIONA – VIAREGGIO
Another internationally renowned seaside resort is Viareggio, the southernmost of the Versilia resorts. Also called the ‘pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea’, it is home to over 10 kilometres of long golden beaches, including La Lecciona, the last beach in Versilia to remain free of sunbeds and equipment. It is located at the end of Viale Europa and is set in the uncontaminated context of the Migliarino, San Rossore and Massaciuccoli Natural Park, a magnificent protected area that stretches along the Tuscan coast but also in a more inland strip that reaches as far as the foothills of the Lucca mountains. This splendid wild beach, which still preserves its natural state, offers golden sand dunes that plunge into an incredibly limpid sea. It is perfect for those who do not like crowds.
ROCCHETTE BEACH – CASTIGLIONE DELLA PESCAIA
In Castiglione della Pescaia, a delightful seaside village perched on a promontory on the Maremma coast, is the splendid Rocchette beach, so called because it is dominated by Forte delle Rocchette, an ancient watchtower probably built around the 12th century to protect the coastal populations from Saracen invasions. This little paradise, characterised by fine white sand, is framed by the luxuriant Maremma vegetation. The shoreline also has a cliff with smooth rocks where you can sunbathe in total relaxation. It is a true paradise for diving enthusiasts, who can dive to discover its countless fascinating underwater caves. The shallow, sandy seabed makes it particularly suitable for children.
CALA VIOLINA – SCARLINO
Another beautiful beach not to be missed is the charming Cala Violina. It is located between Follonica and Punta Ala, inside the Bandite di Scarlino Nature Reserve. It has a peculiarity from which its name originates: the sand consists of tiny grains of quartz that, when you walk on them, emit a sweet sound reminiscent of the sound of a violin. Sound beaches are an extremely rare and ancient phenomenon, already narrated by Marco Polo. There are about a hundred of them in the world and among them is Cala Violina. This corner of paradise in the Maremma faces a dense and luxuriant Mediterranean maquis and has an extraordinarily crystal-clear sea. It can be reached on foot or by bicycle through a strenuous path, but it is definitely worth the effort.
FENIGLIA BEACH – ORBETELLO
In the municipality of Orbetello we find the beautiful Feniglia beach, a tombolo (i.e., a sandbar) about 7 km long that connects Monte Argentario to the promontory of Ansedonia like a bridge. Wild and strikingly beautiful, it is taken by storm by bathers during the summer. It is part of the fascinating Dune di Feniglia Nature Reserve and is characterised by an expanse of soft golden sand with a beautiful pine forest and Mediterranean scrub behind it. The sea is crystal clear and limpid, with a sandy, sloping seabed, making it the ideal beach for families with small children. It can be easily reached either by crossing the Orbetello Lagoon by sea or by taking the road to Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole.
BAY OF QUERCETANO – CASTIGLIONCELLO
In Castiglioncello, a small hamlet of Rosignano Marittimo lying directly on the sea, overlooked by scenic cliffs, the enchanting Baia del Quercetano, also known as the ‘Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea’ for its beauty that has inspired actors and poets since the 1950s, is definitely worth a visit. Situated between the railway bridge in front of the village of Castiglioncello, Via Aurelia and Punta Righini, it is characterised by medium-grained amber-coloured sand. Due to its natural conformation, the bay is often sheltered from the winds, making it perfect for all bathers and therefore also for families with children. Along the bay, free beaches, bathing establishments, small bars and restaurants offering delicious fish dishes alternate.
TORRE MOZZA BEACH – PIOMBINO
On the Tuscan coast of the Costa degli Etruschi, a few kilometres from Follonica, is the wonderful Torre Mozza beach, completely immersed in the naturalistic area of the Sterpaia Coastal Park. It is famous for its sand dunes and reed beds, but also and above all because it is dominated by an ancient fortification, built around 1500 by the Appiani family to guard the coast against Saracen incursions. The peculiarity of this stretch of beach is the presence, only thirty metres from the shore, of a cliff that runs parallel to the coast for hundreds of metres and is said to be a stretch of the ancient Via Aurelia. Here, snorkelling enthusiasts can easily come across and admire octopuses, giltheads, sea bass, bream and salps.
Sun, sea, relaxation and much more await you in Tuscany!
