Sorrento1

I would like to go to Italy this summer for about 10-14 days. I want to be in an area where we can go to the beach AND make day trips by rail or bus to small towns. I want to go to a relaxing place and see the countryside rather than be in a large town.
Any suggestions?

StCirq

We loved our week in a small town near Sperlonga and Gaeta. The beaches were great, the towns had a nice array of shops and cafés and restaurants, the seafood was fabulous, the countryside inland was beautiful, there were plenty of interesting historical and cultural sights, and the train that runs along the coast made it easy to get around and even into Rome.

TexasAggie

Monterosso in the Cinque Terre region. Monterosso is one of 5 small fishing villages along the Italian Riviera (the Ligurian Coast). It has the best beach. The 5 towns are connected by hiking trails, frequent trains, and boats in the summer. It is a beautiful and charming area, so scenic and relaxing. You are only 2.5 hours from Florence via train and even closer to Pisa and other Tuscan villages for daytrips if you desire.

petertherabbitt

check viareggio this city is below pisa an the coast has excellent pay beaches and you can go to many other smaller towns from that l;ocation ie carrara

madameX

We loved the lower-key atmosphere of the Cinque Terre in Monterosso. We stayed at the Porto rocco, which had its own section of chairs and umbrellas onthe pebbly beach in the area. there may be other laid-back places in Itlaly, but the Cinque Terre is easily accessible from Milan and Rome via train. But be warned: this is a rugged rea of fice towns clinging to cliffs -- beaches are very small and pebbly.
Want the beautiful people's high end? Costa Smerelda, an island in the Mediteranean.

Something in between? Santa Marguerita, near cinque Terre, but the larger city/town has more cafes, etc.

I hear the southeastern reaches of Italy are fabulous for laid-back locations, but have never been check other posts.

madameX

We loved the lower-key atmosphere of the Cinque Terre in Monterosso. We stayed at the Porto rocco, which had its own section of chairs and umbrellas onthe pebbly beach in the area. there may be other laid-back places in Itlaly, but the Cinque Terre is easily accessible from Milan and Rome via train. But be warned: this is a rugged rea of fice towns clinging to cliffs -- beaches are very small and pebbly.

Want the beautiful people's high end? Costa Smerelda, an island in the Mediteranean. Other travels would ivolve moving to other locations on teh mainland, not daytrips.

Something in between? Santa Marguerita, near cinque Terre, but the larger city/town has more cafes, etc. Both SM and Cinque Terre have easy day tripping access to Milan, Pisa, each other, etc.

I hear the southeastern reaches of Italy are fabulous for laid-back locations, but have never been. Check other posts. Less daytrippig of note, I asume, other than interesting small towns.