Italy: Enjoy beaches in summer

Rome: Italy has 4,723 miles of coastline, dotted with some of the most beautiful beaches and seaside towns in the entire world; white sand, limestone cliffs, and the bluest, clearest waters imaginable.

It is hard to pick which beaches are the most beautiful, but we have narrowed it down to the following list.

From Sicily to Sardinia, and everywhere in between, here are 10 super beaches in Italy, as follows:

Marasusa, Calabria: Marasusa Beach is located in the town of Tropea, widely regarded as the jewel of Calabria and christened La Costa degli Dei, or “The Coast of the Gods.”

It is easy to see why deities would approve: Marasusa is home to scenic cliffs, pristine white sand, and calm, clear waters.

Baia dei Turchi, Puglia: Not to be confused with the beach at Scala Dei Turchi in Sicily, this beach is tucked

away in a protected nature reserve in Puglia, just north of Otranto.

Backed by a dense pine forest, Baia dei Turchi has a mile of white sand and water that happens to be some of the cleanest in the country, hence its Blue Flag status, an honor awarded to beaches that meet stringent environmental criteria.

Cala Goloritzé, Sardinia: Cala Goloritzé is one of Italy’s most famous beaches, located at the base of a ravine on Sardinia’s picturesque northeastern coast.

It is tiny, but no less beautiful with its limestone cliffs, soft ivory sand, and striking, blue-green ocean. In fact, it is so special that it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Y 1995.

Vendicari Nature Reserve, Sicily: Right near the beautiful and underrated city of Siracusa, the Vendicari

Nature Reserve is a protected haven where flamingos, herons, and storks are more populous than humans and the pale aqua waters are calm and clean.

The miles-long national park is home to little coves and beautiful beaches where you will have more than enough room to spread out for the day.

Cala Pulcino, Lampedusa: The scenic Cala Pulcino is located on Lampedusa, the largest of the Italian Pelagie

islands. You will need to spend about 30 mins hiking over rocks and through thick vegetation to get there, but upon arrival you will be rewarded with powdery sand, spectacular views, and the endless blue Mediterranean stretching into the distance.

Cala di Volpe, Sardinia: Cala di Volpe is located on Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda, one of the most beautiful (and expensive) stretches of coastline in all of Italy.

The beach is famous for its Bermuda-blue water and the glamorous Hotel Cala di Volpe resort behind it, you do not need to be a guest to swim there.

Isola di Spargi, Sardinia: Located in the Maddalena Archipelago between Corsica and Sardinia, Isola di Spargi’s coastline could almost be mistaken for tropical Tahiti.

The beaches here are not flanked by dramatic cliffs like in most other areas in Italy; instead, they are backed

by palm trees and lush island plants. The shallow turquoise waters are perfect for snorkeling and the silvery sand is made for all-day sunbathing.

Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle, Marche: This super-secluded beach on the spectacular Riviera del Conero is accessible only by shuttle or boat from Porto Numana.

The shore is made up of fine, white pebbles, which lead into the striking, emerald green Adriatic.

The best views are from the ocean, where you can admire the steep white cliffs of Monte Conero towering over the beach before you.

Baia delle Zagare, Puglia: Accessible by land through its namesake hotel or via boat from Mattinata, Baia

delle Zagare is as secluded and exclusive as they come.

Sheltered by steep limestone cliffs, the half-mile beach allows just 30 visitors a day outside of hotel guests,

keeping its shoreline pristine and perpetually uncrowded.

Added bonus: The beach looks out toward some seriously photo-worthy rock formations, which jut out dramatically from the Adriatic.

Cala Tonnarella, Sicily: It is no easy path to get to Cala Tonnarella, a hidden cove in the Zingaro Nature

Reserve on the Gulf of Castellammare.

The beach is inaccessible by road, so you will have to hike about an hour to get there from the reserve’s southern car park.It is worth the effort: Upon arrival, you will be met with a secluded and uncrowded paradise.

Spiaggia di Sansone, Elba Island: Tuscany’s Elba Island is home to many contenders for this list, but Sansone edges out the competition. Its pristine shore, a mixture of sand and smooth white pebbles leads you to calm, transparent water. It is shallow, too, making it popular among families and snorkelers.