In This Issue:
Italy - The Coastal Towns of Italy

The Coastal Towns of Italy

With a long and varied shoreline, Italy's coastal towns represent everything from old fishing villages to charming hillside towns that offer some of the world's most spectacular scenery.

The Ligurian Sea - Set in the Blue

Villages struggling to find enough space, set like tiny jewels between the blue expanse of the sea and the luxuriant greenery of the mountains looming above them. Here, the buildings clinging boldly to the hillsides are painted in the brightest colours. Silent alleyways wind their way among the houses, clustered close together to make the best use of every square inch wrested from an untamed nature. The towns and villages on the Ligurian Sea show themselves a little at a time, proud guardians of truly ancient traditions. They also offer unforgettable views: the picturesque square in Portofino, the scene of thousands of meetings between the powerful. The five villages of the Cinque Terre: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore with the Via dell'Amore, the path of love, that connects them. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And the thousands of little villages that, from the tops of the mountains, enjoy the peace and beauty of marvellous views.

The Tyrrhenian Sea - Steeped in History

Long beaches of golden sand, ancient towns, sheer cliffs plunging into the sea. The Tyrrhenian is an endless succession of experiences and emotions linked by a single common denominator: the bright blue of the waters that mark the boundary between land and sea. A journey through history in which all are free to stop in the place closest to their hearts: the sunny, well frequented beach resorts of Versilia with their lively night life, the wild countryside of the Maremma, the historic coasts once home to the mysterious Etruscans, the celebrated Sorrento peninsula, the romantic Amalfi Coast, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997, or the suggestive, untamed coast of Calabria with Tropea. Ringed by cliffs and wonderful sandy beaches, the Tropea promontory is still undiscovered by the big tour operators. Wherever you stop, there is a certainty: a stone's throw from the seashore, a world of art and culture lies waiting to be explored.

The Ionian Sea - Sun kissed

A marvellous curve of wild, sun kissed beauty: more than any other area, the Ionian Sea offers profoundly close contact with nature. Corners of unchanging beauty where the vivid colours of the vegetation alternate with the extraordinary remains left by the many ancient peoples who, seduced by the landscape, put down their roots there: from the Phoenicians to the Greeks, and from the Normans to the Arabs. A wreath of small tourist centres overlooking an enchanted sea, where you can enjoy the relaxing rise and fall of the waves. The coastline is a continuous succession of linear white beaches and rocky arches, cliffs and caves. The southern part, with places such as Cir Marina, Copanello, and Le Castella showcase a shoreline with a backdrop of dunes covered with Mediterranean maquis.

The Adriatic Sea - Family pleasures

A welcoming sea that deepens only very gradually, thus enabling everyone to feel confident in the water. Enormous stretches of sand on which to relax. Brightly coloured ranks of beach umbrellas that encourage encounters and friendships in their welcoming shade. Convivial beaches where mothers can devote themselves to reading their favourite novel and fathers can keep themselves in shape with a variety of sports while the kids have fun with their new playmates. Enchanted castles to be built together on the sand when the day is about to give way to the evening. The Adriatic is lined with an interminable series of really wide beaches, where families with children can share the pleasures of a holiday together. A paradise of tranquility that none the less offers some agreeable surprises: the glittering night life of the Riviera Romagnola, the evocative charm of the promontory of Conero with Sirolo, Numana and Portonovo. The rugged coastline of Puglia with the promontory of Gargano, Polignano a Mare, an ancient town built on a spur of rock directly above a magnificent, clear blue sea and Ostuni with its whitewashed houses, small roads, staircases and arches.

From your airfare to sea-side Accommodation, Flight Centre can take care of all your travel needs. Contact a travel consultant today at 1 866 317 4794 to begin planning your scenic trip around the coastal towns of Italy.

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