Italy east coast (beach) resorts
Dec 21st, 2006, 06:55 AM
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Italy east coast (beach) resorts
I am thinking about a trip to Italy, maybe starting in Venice and ending in Rome. I want to include Ravenna and Assisi - so I will be on the eastern side of the country. I am thinking about including a few days of sunning - any suggestions of resorts along the way? I think in the past I have read some negative comments on the Ravenna area but is there a beach there? We will be travelling by train. Grazie!
Dec 21st, 2006, 07:15 AM
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The beaches on the Adriatic coast vary greatly. But they are European style resorts and not like Carribean or Florida beaches...can't comment on Australian beaches as I have never been.
European resorts are very crowded compared to what the ideal is likely to be for North Americans. You rent a chair/umbrella, by the day or week and get to know your neighbours who are, by and large, Italian families on holiday. They will adopt you if you let them as Italians consider it sad for singles or couples to travel to the seaside alone.
Just above the beach area there are a myriad of small shops for snacks, cafe, gelato, newspapers and beach toys. They are either tacky or authentic depending on your POV. Just beyond that you will find a town and excellent fish restaurants, generally much less expensive and simpler than the offerings of Rome, Venice or even Bari.
They generally do not open until late June and are closed the first week in September as a general rule. (Those in Puglia which attract large number of Germans have longer seasons.)
They vary greatly in price-point: some have private beach areas, though that is rare. You either love 'em or hate 'em. If you are a people watcher, you will be very happy. If you like glamour and chair-side waiters with rum punches on offer, you will be disappointed.
European resorts are very crowded compared to what the ideal is likely to be for North Americans. You rent a chair/umbrella, by the day or week and get to know your neighbours who are, by and large, Italian families on holiday. They will adopt you if you let them as Italians consider it sad for singles or couples to travel to the seaside alone.
Just above the beach area there are a myriad of small shops for snacks, cafe, gelato, newspapers and beach toys. They are either tacky or authentic depending on your POV. Just beyond that you will find a town and excellent fish restaurants, generally much less expensive and simpler than the offerings of Rome, Venice or even Bari.
They generally do not open until late June and are closed the first week in September as a general rule. (Those in Puglia which attract large number of Germans have longer seasons.)
They vary greatly in price-point: some have private beach areas, though that is rare. You either love 'em or hate 'em. If you are a people watcher, you will be very happy. If you like glamour and chair-side waiters with rum punches on offer, you will be disappointed.
Dec 21st, 2006, 07:47 AM
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One of the places on the Adriatic I've always been interested in visiting is Cesenatico, a port designed by Leonardo da Vinci. It is now a beach and boating resort, but it's just 30 miles south of Ravenna.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesenatico
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesenatico
Dec 21st, 2006, 07:49 AM
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Dec 21st, 2006, 08:36 AM
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LJ and nessundorma thank you for the great responses. I looked at the info on Cesenatico - very attractive - now I'm off to www.venere.com to see if they have some hotel listings. I also put Cesenatico into the Fodor's search function - very few postings - it must be practically undiscovered by Americans. Shhhh! nobody tell Rick Steves! We went to Monterroso in the CT last Sept. ......oh my goodness! too many Americans with their RS guidebooks! but what can I say.....there we were with RS in our backpack! LJ - I like the idea of being "adopted" by an Italian family!
