Italy’s coastline pulls you in, not with noise, but with atmosphere. Some towns charm with silent churches by the water.
Others hand you a seafood platter and a glass of white wine before you can even unpack.
The deeper you move along the edges of the boot, the more you realize how food and history aren’t separated—they’re served together.
I’ve walked, ferried, eaten, and sometimes just sat by the shore doing nothing except breathing it all in. Below are seven stops that each gave me something different.
Some fed me well. Others made me quiet. All of them stayed with me.
Table of Contents
Key Highlights
- Hidden coastal towns that serve authentic Italian food without the tourist markup
- Small fishing ports with medieval churches, Roman ruins, and wild beaches
- Unique seafood dishes rooted in local tradition, from octopus pie to smoked eel
- Tips for slow travel by boat, including sailing options through trusted services
- The best town for anchovy lovers (you’ll know it when you taste it)
- Towns where locals still outnumber visitors—even in summer
1. Portovenere – Where Stone and Sea Shake Hands
You won’t find cruise ships unloading here. Portovenere sits like an afterthought beside the more popular Cinque Terre, but it’s older, bolder, and strangely more atmospheric.
The town rises in sharp tiers, with pastel houses pressed against each other like they’re trying to hold on. Walk up the cobbled main street—Via Giovanni Capellini—and you’ll see doors open to little workshops. Fresh focaccia bakes somewhere close. Basil’s in the air.
Food-wise, it’s all about anchovies. Salty, meaty, and preserved using the same method they’ve used for centuries. Locals eat them simply—with buttered bread, or just on their own.
Ask for acciughe sotto sale and trofie al pesto at any family-run trattoria. Then walk to San Pietro Church, built right on a cliff. It looks over a gulf that feels infinite.
2. Cefalù – Where Sicily Sings in Full Voice
Cefalù wraps all of Sicily’s moods into one place: beach, old town, medieval towers, and food that’s fiercely local. It’s the kind of town where you’ll hear dialects over espresso, kids kicking balls in tight alleys, and the clink of forks on ceramic dishes.
The cathedral—built by Norman kings—anchors the town with its twin towers and mosaics. But it’s dinner that truly steals your focus.
Start with panelle, chickpea fritters. Move to grilled sardines or pasta alla Norma. Then there’s dessert—ricotta stuffed cannoli or soft almond biscuits.
Want to move like a local? Rent a bike and ride the promenade at sunset. Or wander up La Rocca, the cliff overlooking the entire town.
Views aside, the walk clears your head after a long lunch and a carafe of Nero d’Avola.
3. Trani – The Cathedral Touching the Sea
In Puglia, Trani feels like the coast pressed pause. It’s still. Elegant. The kind of place where marble steps sink slightly from centuries of movement. The cathedral is its crown jewel—white stone, Romanesque arches, and waves licking its base.
Walk the harbor and you’ll spot men cracking open sea urchins and sipping them straight from the shell. Don’t hesitate. Just try one. Then find a table and order orecchiette alle cime di rapa. The pasta is handmade, the sauce bitter and garlicky in all the right ways.
If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a festival or wedding by the sea. But even on quiet days, Trani feels like it’s holding something sacred. Stay a night or two longer than planned—you won’t regret it.
4. Procida – The Island That Refuses to Perform
There’s no pressure in Procida. No glossy stores. No curated backdrops. Just life as it is. People hang laundry between balconies. Dogs sleep in doorways. Old men play cards in cafés that haven’t changed since the 70s.
The island became Italy’s Capital of Culture in 2022, but somehow didn’t let that go to its head. Fishermen still bring in the morning catch. Try linguine con le cozze—the mussels come with barely any sauce, just brine, garlic, and oil. The flavor stays with you for hours.
To explore the nearby waters—or jump between coastlines from Italy to Malta—chartering a boat is easier than it sounds. Malta Charters is a great example of a service that makes it all seamless. With their wide fleet of sailing yachts and catamarans, they cover not only Malta but also nearby Mediterranean stretches.
Perfect if you want to mix slow travel with some saltwater therapy. You can go with a skipper or bareboat if you’ve got the license. Honestly, sailing into Procida at golden hour? Pure poetry.
5. Camogli – Liguria’s Sweetheart
Camogli doesn’t shout. It waits. Sit by the harbor with fried anchovies wrapped in newspaper and you’ll get it. The buildings glow orange in the afternoon, their windows catching the last sunlight.
What’s special here is the focaccia al formaggio. It’s not the focaccia you know—it’s thinner, greasier, and stretches like melted cheese paper. You’ll want a second portion before finishing the first.
The town hosts an annual fish festival, Sagra del Pesce, where fish is fried in a giant pan right in the middle of the main square. If your timing’s right, don’t miss it. If not, no worries. Camogli always delivers, even on a rainy Tuesday.
6. Gaeta – Lazio’s Best-Kept Secret
Most tourists bolt past Gaeta, gunning for Amalfi. Big mistake. Gaeta has beaches, Roman ruins, and an old town still beating with real life. No packaged experiences here. Just locals doing their thing.
Start with tiella di Gaeta—a two-crust pie filled with octopus, tomatoes, and olives. It’s warm, flaky, and unapologetically fishy. Add a cold beer and you’re set.
Explore Monte Orlando Natural Park. There’s a split mountain (literally)—La Montagna Spaccata—with a handprint in the rock said to belong to a saint. Keep walking and you’ll find ancient tombs, WWII bunkers, and cliffside views that stop conversation.
7. Orbetello – Between Lagoon and Sea
Orbetello’s position is odd—it floats between land strips on a shallow lagoon. The sea is close, but the real culinary surprise is anguilla sfumata—smoked eel. If that scares you, you’re not alone. I hesitated too. But it’s rich, not fishy, and has a smoked sweetness that pairs beautifully with local red wine.
The town feels lived-in, not dressed up for visitors. Narrow lanes lead to family-run delis and bakeries. You’ll hear accents from Florence, sure, but mostly it’s locals catching up over crostini and wine.
You can day-trip to Saturnia’s hot springs or explore the Argentario coast nearby, but Orbetello itself earns your time. Give it more than a drive-by.
Final Word
Italy’s coast isn’t one story. It’s dozens—each shaped by tides, migration, olive oil, and memory. Some towns hand you a menu and a view. Others give you silence and a reason to slow down. That’s the joy of traveling this way.
Skip the obvious. Skip the glossy itineraries. Talk to the baker, rent a bike, take the boat, eat the weird thing on the menu. The stories you’ll tell later? They always begin with towns like these.