Published on Sunday, August 19, 2018 by Kathy McCabe The pristine white and pink sand beaches of Sardinia attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, many of whom pocket a seemingly insignificant amount of sand or shells as a souvenir. Now, though, visitors who take home more than just a photograph will face a hefty fine: Filling a bottle or baggie with sand, pebbles, or shells is a crime and will incur a penalty of betw...

Published on Sunday, July 1, 2018 by Steve I’m Steve Perillo of Perillo Tours. I have a video series called Steve's Travel Tips to share all the insider Italy travel tips I have learned over a lifetime of travel to Italy. This week I'm talking about enjoying Italy's beaches. It is July and beaches are filling up but come August,  Italy's beaches  will be covered with Italians soaking up the sun and...

Published on Friday, May 25, 2018 by Kathy McCabe Summer is a happy season, and it’s made even happier each year when the international Blue Flag program heralding the world’s cleanest beaches announces it choices. For 2018, a great number of those in Italy are set along the Tyrrhenian Sea in Tuscany. You might find it impossible to choose, and it just gets tougher when you widen the Blue Flag map out to the r...

Published on Saturday, July 16, 2016 by Kathy McCabe A tiny island off the coast of Sardinia, Budelli is part of the La Maddalena National Park and is known for its colorful landscape of crystal-clear turquoise waters, purple rocks and pink sand beach (spiaggia rosa). This a slice of paradise has drawbacks, though, and Budelli has been embroiled in legal fights and protests for years, as it has changed ownership sever...

Published on Friday, August 1, 2014 by Kathy McCabe In general, Italians love the beach. They love lots of togetherness at the beach too - you will see rows and rows of chairs and umbrellas all next to each other. But the summer of 2014 has turned into something of a wash beach-wise, it seems. ANSA reports, "The lingering effects of Italy's recession and the "crazy weather the country has endured so far this summer, wi...

Published on Saturday, July 5, 2014 by Kathy McCabe The Italy Mix is a weekly post about the most interesting Italy and Italy travel news and human interest stories around the Web.  Here are our top picks for this week: Wine Hotels in Italy:  Where to sleep among the vines. Wine resorts are popping up all over Italy's wine regions.  (The Guardian) Etiquette for Rude Russians:  Tuscan hotel owner producesÂ...

Published on Sunday, July 7, 2013 by Kathy McCabe Italians love the beach and will set up shop wherever there is sand and water! This shot is taking in Castiglioncello on the coast of Tuscany. Photo by antmoose, flickr.com...

Published on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The region of Liguria -- home to the Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre --  on Italy's northwest coast has been awarded with more Blue Flag beaches this year than any other region in Italy. With two new entries for 2013 -- La Spezia Mirabello and San Lorenzo al Mare, Liguria now has 20 of the cleanest beaches in Italy. The Blue Flag organization, in conjunction ...

Published on Thursday, April 18, 2013 by Kathy McCabe Ready for the beach? One of the most beautiful beaches in Italy is in the southern Italian town of Tropea in the region of Calabria. Tropea is also known for its stunning Norman cathedral and delicious red onions. Ready to plan a trip to Tropea or Calabria, contact  ItalyVacations.com for help! Photo by simo0082, flickr.com...

Published on Thursday, August 16, 2012 by Kathy McCabe We're deep in the heart of August and that means most Italians are at the beach! Each year, the non-profit  Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) awards select beaches and marinas  a "Blue Flag" or "Bandiera Blu."  A "Blue Flag" beach is one with pristine sand, clear water and organized services. Beaches are given this award by complying with many crite...