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--Italian Vacation Villas

Duna Grande and Duna Piccola are two farmhouses set among the dunes facing the Mediterranean Sea, in the area of the Maremma about 1½ hours from Rome.

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Italians treasure their annual beach vacations

There are many opportunities to enjoy a seaside villa vacation in Italy. In addition to the sun and sand, spending a beach vacation in Italy also provides opportunities for sightseeing and cultural activities. This Website describes seaside properties in the regions of Tuscany, Liguria, Sardinia, and the Amalfi Coast.

Tuscany’s largest stretch of seaside is in an area called the Maremma, a wide strip of fertile land that separates the sea from the mountains. The Maremma is a lesser known part of Tuscany, extending south towards Lazio and Rome, that has been called the “Wild West” of Italy. The Entruscans, who preceded the Romans, originally developed the area and there are numerous examples of their civilization which can be visited. The coast here is unspoiled, and the swimming in the Tyrrhenian Sea is refreshing and relatively uncrowded compared to other seaside areas. One of the more famous parts of this area is the Argentario, a peninsula that is connected to the mainland by a causeway at the ancient town of Orbetello. Its lively port towns of Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole are well-known boating marinas and offer access to several offshore islands such as Giglio. Its steep cliffs and Mediterranean landscape afford much natural beauty. The World Wildlife Fund has established a protected area off the Argentario, the Tombola di Feniglia, known for its long sandy beach and protected lagoons for birds such as the pink flamingo. For those seeking nature walks, the nearby Parco Nazionale della Maremma has trails through the pinewoods and Mediterranean scrub. Not far away are historic towns of Pitigliano, Sovana, Sorano; the hot springs of Saturnia; Viterbo, the “city of the popes;” and the medieval hilltop village of Capalbio.

	The famous Italian ice cream, gelato, goes with a seaside vacation-and every place in Italy

The region of Liguria, with its capital at Genoa, lies on the Ligurian Sea and is like a narrow band stretching west along the coast from France. The part of the coastline that is on the Italian peninsula, extending about 110 miles, is known as La Riviera di Levante, which runs from Genoa to La Spezia. It has attracted people to its seashore for at least a century; its most famous town is Portofino. About three miles from Portofino is the lovely seaside town of Santa Margherita Ligure, which is an excellent base for exploring the area. There are several picturesque fishing villages in Liguria, such as Camogli, and many opportunities to tour the area by ferry from one town to the next. Near La Spezia are the five towns of the CinqueTerre, isolated fishing villages that are connected by train and walking trails, and only recently accessible by automobile.

If you chose a rental villa or farmhouse in this area, the Amalfi Coast offers one of the most spectacular drives in Italy. Following the rugged coastline from Salerno on the east to Positano and beyond on the west, the two-lane highway offers panoramic views as it winds its way for more than 60 kilometers.

		Meals are always colorful and beautiful in Italy

Protected by the mountains that run through the center of the peninsula and facing south, the scenic Amalfi Coast is protected from the cool winds from the north and warmed by breezes from the south. Known as the Pearl of the Amalfi Coast, Positano, a seaside resort, is the most well known destination along the coastline. It nestles in the midst of steep slopes that reach down to the water, and the hillside above the town is lined with white houses with vaulted roofs that are laid out in terraces amid gardens with palms and citrus trees. Positano is an excellent base for land excursions along the Amalfi Coast to the towns of Amalfi, Ravello, Minori, Praiano, and Vietri sul Mare, world famous for its ceramics. Other land destinations within easy reach are Sorrento (by car) and Naples (by car or train from Sorrento) as well as Pompei and Ercolano, two ancient cities destroyed during the 79 A.D. eruption of Mount Vesuvius. From Positano there is regular ferry and hydrofoil service to Capri and other points in the area.