10 Small Coastal Towns In Italy That Remain Authentic And Untouched

Tellaro – The Pearl of the Gulf of Poets

Tellaro is listed as one of I Borghi più belli d’Italia (“The most beautiful villages of Italy”) and is proudly one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. Perched on a cliff along the Ligurian coast of La Spezia, its coloured buildings worn by the sun and the sea cocoon the small harbour that opens into the ocean, ranked as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Unlike the overcrowded Cinque Terre just next door, this tiny fishing village maintains its authenticity. The village dates back to the Roman Empire and was originally built as a fishing village, and today Tellaro remains a small fishing village, but its rich history is still visible in its architecture, cuisine, and culture.

Local folklore tells a tale that makes this place even more magical. According to the story, on a stormy night in the 17th century, a giant octopus landed on the shore and climbed the bell tower to ring the bells of St. George’s, warning the inhabitants of an impending pirate attack. This unlikely hero is said to have saved the village from carnage, contributing to the charm and folklore surrounding this beautiful Tellaro landmark.

Scilla – The Mythical Fishing Village of Calabria

Scilla’s fishing harbor, Chianalea, is considered one of the last remaining authentic fishing villages in Italy, with its narrow alleyways and colorful houses built directly over the water. The charming fishing village overlooks the Strait of Messina and has a mix of idyllic beaches, a picture-perfect old town, and a surprisingly good food scene. Step into Chianalea, the Venice-like historic district built right on the water, where houses are reflected in the sea. This place sits where myth meets reality, as Scilla is home to the mythical sea monster known as the Scylla, described in Homer’s Odyssey.

The town’s Ruffo Castle, perched atop a rocky promontory, is built on the ruins of an ancient Greek temple dedicated to the sea god Poseidon. What makes Scilla special is that summer brings a lively but affordable atmosphere, and travelers absolutely must try the local street food hero: a simple swordfish sandwich that’s become a cult favorite. Scilla is one of the best hidden beach towns in Italy, still relatively under the radar, easy to reach by car or train, and an excellent base for exploring the entire Costa Viola.

Maratea – The Pearl of Basilicata

Maratea, the “Pearl of Basilicata’s Tyrrhenian Coast,” is a hidden gem that offers a peaceful respite in Italy’s south. Despite its stunning coastal scenery and historic charm, the town remains less frequented than the nearby Amalfi Coast due to limited transportation links. Maratea’s unique character is marked by its cluster of small villages and hamlets strung along the rocky coastline. Maratea is the only municipality in the Basilicata region that has direct access to the Tyrrhenian Sea, offering a unique coastal experience within this largely landlocked Italian province.

The town’s most recognizable landmark towers above everything else. The town’s centerpiece is the colossal statue of Christ the Redeemer, standing 21.13 meters tall with a 3-meter-long face and 19-meter arm span, making it one of the largest statues of its kind in the world. What keeps tourists away but makes it perfect for authentic experiences is the limited transportation access – meaning only determined travelers seeking genuine Italian coastal culture make it here.

Sperlonga – Ancient Roman Hideaway Near Rome

When the late-afternoon sun beats down on white, bougainvillea-draped walls, casting long shadows across the narrow alleyways and steep steps in Sperlonga’s medina-like centre, you feel as though you’ve stepped onto a film set. Hugging a rocky promontory above a long curve of golden beach lapped by the turquoise Tyrrhenian Sea, Sperlonga is a beauty. Yet, miraculously, the coastal stunner has somehow sidestepped the tourist spotlight.

This coastal pearl boasts some serious ancient Roman credentials. Emperor Tiberius, before retiring to Capri, used to escape to Sperlonga. The ruins of his villa on the shore survive, complete with a grotto, and you can admire some of the villa sculptures at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale. Sperlonga is situated approximately midway between Rome and Naples and its most notable feature is the ancient Roman sea grotto found within the Villa of Tiberius, where the remarkable Sperlonga sculptures were unearthed. The fact that it’s easily reachable yet remains untouched makes it perfect for escaping Rome’s chaos.

Sant’Angelo – Ischia’s Traffic-Free Haven

Sant’Angelo, Ischia: This traffic-free fishing village features whitewashed houses, volcanic beaches, and a laid-back island atmosphere, far from the crowds of Capri. What makes this place extraordinary is that cars literally cannot enter – everything must be done on foot. The village sits on a tiny islet connected to the main island by a narrow strip of sand, creating one of the most picturesque settings in the Mediterranean.

The thermal springs that bubble up naturally from the volcanic island create unique beach experiences you won’t find anywhere else. Local fishermen still haul their nets each morning while visitors can enjoy the healing waters that have drawn people here for centuries. Unlike its famous neighbor Capri, Sant’Angelo maintains prices that locals can actually afford, keeping its authentic character intact rather than becoming just another playground for the wealthy.

Pisciotta – Cilento Coast’s Hidden Treasure

Pisciotta, Campania: A charming town near the Cilento Coast, Pisciotta offers unspoiled beaches, olive groves, and authentic Italian hospitality. This hilltop village overlooks the pristine waters of the Cilento National Park, where ancient olive trees dot the landscape and the pace of life hasn’t changed much in decades. The town is famous for producing some of Italy’s finest olive oil, and many families still harvest their groves using traditional methods passed down through generations.

What keeps Pisciotta authentic is its distance from major tourist routes and the fact that most visitors are Italian families who have been coming here for generations. The beaches below the town are accessed by footpaths that wind through Mediterranean scrub, and you’ll often find yourself sharing the sand with more locals than tourists. The restaurants serve whatever the fishermen caught that morning, and prices reflect local rather than tourist economics.

Camogli – Liguria’s Colorful Fishing Port

Italy’s best coastal towns must include Camogli, with its tall, painted houses reflecting in the harbor waters. The pebbly beach is perfect for swimming and sunbathing, while the historic fishing port adds authentic charm. The promenade comes alive at sunset with locals and visitors enjoying gelato and village life. Camogli is a beautiful village situated on the western side of the Portofino peninsula, overlooking the Golfo Paradiso on the Riviera di Levante in the region of Liguria, northern Italy.

The town’s painted houses create a rainbow effect when viewed from the harbor, but this wasn’t just for beauty – the bright colors helped fishermen spot their homes from far out at sea. Today, fishing boats still crowd the harbor each morning, and you can buy the daily catch directly from the fishermen. The annual Fish Festival in May sees locals frying up thousands of sardines in a massive pan right on the beach, showing how food traditions remain central to community life.

Levanzo – Sicily’s Smallest Island Escape

The smallest of the Egadi Islands, off the Sicilian coast, has no large hotels and no beach clubs. Its sole village, a crescent of sugar-cube houses that approximately 450 people call home, looks more Moroccan than Mediterranean. The only sight is the Grotta del Genovese with its 10,000-11,000-year-old paintings. The sea is gorgeous – the island is in a national marine park – and footpaths go across a rugged interior to beautiful bays like Cala Minnola. If you’re looking to do nothing more pressing than sleep, eat and experience the dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing), you’ll fit right in.

With only 250 permanent residents, everyone knows everyone else’s business, but in the best possible way. The island generates its own electricity and catches its own fish, creating a self-sufficient community that has remained largely unchanged for decades. Visitors arrive by boat from Trapani, but most come just for the day, leaving residents and a handful of overnight guests to enjoy the spectacular sunsets in peaceful solitude.

Atrani – Amalfi Coast’s Best Kept Secret

The smallest Italian seaside towns often hold the biggest charm, and Atrani proves this perfectly. This tiny gem preserves authentic coastal life with its intimate beach, medieval architecture, and lack of tourist crowds. Summer days here revolve around swimming in the clear waters, enjoying long lunches in the square, and watching local fishermen bring in their catch. The beach, though small, provides the perfect setting for peaceful Mediterranean moments.

Squeezed between towering cliffs on the Amalfi Coast, Atrani is technically Italy’s smallest municipality by area. Its main piazza can hold maybe fifty people comfortably, and the single beach fits about the same number. What makes it special is that it’s sandwiched between the famous tourist magnets of Amalfi and Ravello, yet somehow most visitors walk right past without noticing. Local families have been running the same restaurants and shops for generations, and prices remain reasonable because they cater primarily to locals rather than tourists.

Vietri sul Mare – The Last Authentic Amalfi Town

The Amalfi Coast is the epitome of what beautiful Italian coastal towns can be. While many Amalfi Coast towns have come to rely on tourism, Vietri sul Mare has remained a traditional fishing village. That has helped this quaint but vibrant seaside town retain a high level of authenticity. The only Amalfi Coast town with a train station, Vietri sul Mare is a mere 8 minutes from Salerno and approximately 55-60 minutes from Naples on Trenitalia trains.

Famous worldwide for its ceramics, Vietri still has workshops where artisans hand-paint the colorful pottery that decorates kitchens across Italy. In cliffside restaurants, you can taste possibly the best tuna and sardines you’ll ever try. Stroll the winding old streets up to the town’s central beacon, the Church of Saint John the Baptist, for incredible ocean views. What keeps it authentic is that it functions as a real town rather than just a tourist attraction – locals shop in the same streets where visitors browse, and the fishing fleet still brings in the daily catch that appears on restaurant tables that same evening.

Conclusion

These ten coastal gems prove that Italy’s most authentic seaside experiences lie off the beaten path, where local fishermen still mend their nets each morning and family recipes remain closely guarded secrets. From Tellaro’s legendary octopus to Levanzo’s prehistoric caves, each destination offers something you simply cannot find in the crowded hotspots. These villages survive and thrive precisely because they’ve resisted the temptation to transform themselves into tourist theme parks, instead maintaining the rhythms of daily life that have sustained their communities for centuries.

The beauty of these authentic coastal towns isn’t just in their stunning settings or historic charm – it’s in the genuine warmth of communities where tradition still matters more than tourist dollars. What would you discover in one of these hidden coastal treasures?