Photo: Zocha Group – Finest Coastal Cities in Italy

When traveling to Italy, many people feel Milan, Venice, or Pompeii are some of the best options. Not everyone considers the abundance of picture-perfect coastal towns and cities that Italy has to offer. The colorful and unique architecture, unrivaled views of the ocean, and the cliff-covered landscape that surrounds the towns are enough to spark romance inside of your heart. Whether you’re looking to do some shopping, A-list dining, or outdoor activities, you can find it all and more within some of the finest coastal cities in Italy.

Photo: Zocha Group – The Finest Coastal Cities in Italy

Located at the mouth of a deep ravine and the foot of Monte Cerreto, Amalfi is a small but world-renowned city known for sun-filled piazzas, historic architecture, and luxury vacations. If you’re thinking about booking a trip to Amalfi, consider staying at the Santa Caterina Hotel, set in a hilltop villa on the Tyrrhenian Sea. The upscale hotel presents beautiful views of the water as well as two delicious restaurants and no shortage of amenities for guests.

As a part of the Cinque Terre National Park, Manarola is known for being the ‘most colorful’ city in the world. The buildings resemble an artist’s palette, tightly placed together along a cliff overlooking the ocean. Manarola is one of five towns that make up the Cinque Terre National Park, and every year visitors flock to the park to hike and take in everything Manarola has to offer. On your next trip to Manarola, consider staying at La Torretta Lodge, a unique luxury hotel that boasts a modernized medieval tower and contemporary art-filled rooms that offer breathtaking views over the water.

You will never find a shortage of photo opportunities when visiting Italy’s most picturesque city with quaint homes, rustic hotels, and the most luxurious resorts on the Amalfi coast including the Il San Pietro di Positano. Positano’s location gives visitors the opportunity to travel by boat to Capri, Ischia and the Grotta dello Smeraldo. Enjoy laying out on the beach, hiking the foothills that lie behind the coastal paradise, or feasting on authentic Mediterranean cuisine at restaurants like Ristorante Il Capitano that provide gorgeous views of the sea.

Portofino has become popular with US travelers in recent decades due to its opulence and picturesque scenery. The distinctive half-moon harbor now houses superyachts year-round, and new resorts like Belmond Hotel Splendido and Splendid Mare have sprung up ensuring that guests receive the best treatment possible. The Belmond is all about elegance and refinement, not overtaking the natural charm of the Riviera, but adding to it.

Where the mountains meet the sea and where deep valleys transition into beautiful citrus plantations is where you’ll find the enchanting Italian city of Sorrento. Located in the province of Naples, Sorrento is set on a truly unbelievable landscape. Enjoy sipping fine wines in the Piazza Tasso square, or check out the rolling countryside that leads into the Amalfi coast. After a day of exploring, retire to your room at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, a 19th-century grand dame located on a cliff right above the port.

The historic old town of Polignano a Mare is thought to be one of the most charming as well as the most important towns in the south of Italy. The city is perched upon limestone cliffs overlooking the rich blue Adriatic Sea, creating a perfect location for cliff diving. Consider staying at the Borgobianco Resort & Spa Mgallery by Sofitel, renowned for its friendly service and ultra relaxing atmosphere.

Atrani has long been the escape for the most powerful families of Amalfi. The city still maintains a small fishing village feel even after incorporating a variety of high-end conveniences and places to stay. The town has traditionally designed homes climbing up cliffsides to offer stunning views over the water, and there is a maze of tightly packed alleys and colorful gardens that run throughout. Here, the Belmond Hotel Caruso serves as the height of extravagance and sophistication. Set on a cliff overlooking the coast, this 11th-century palace is in a central location for all the activities you could ask for when vacationing on the coast.

Riomaggiore is the largest and most easterly city located within the Cinque Terre National Park. The city is placed upon the unspoiled blue waters of the Gulf of Genoa and is known for their Sciacchetra sweet wine which is fermented from Bosco, Fermentino, and Albarola grapes. The colorful homes create a backsplash of elegance against the natural, beautifully rough landscape. While roaming Riomaggiore and the rest of the Cinque Terre Park, consider resting your head at the Restaurant Hotel Porto Roca, the welcoming and down to earth hillside slice of paradise.