Spiaggia delle Ghiaie

The Best Beaches in Italy

"Think of Tuscany and you’re more likely to dream of a bottle of Chianti Classico than of viridian-blue seas and bright-white sand. But the island of Elba in the Tyrrhenian Sea would like to introduce itself with a cheeky little ciao. As the third largest Italian island in the Med, it’s home to many contenders for this list, but Sansone edges out the competition. Its pristine shore—a mixture of sand and smooth white pebbles—leads you to calm, transparent water. It’s shallow, too, making it popular among families and snorkelers. When visiting Elba, base yourself at the lovely Hotel Villa Ottone, which stands just outside Portoferraio, the largest city on the island. To get there, take the ferry from Piombino, which in turn is a two-hour drive from Florence; or take a ferry from Bastia, a city in Corsica, France. Speaking of, here’s a fun fact: Napoleon spent a year in exile here during the Bourbon restoration. His home, purchased by the Russian aristocrat and Napoleon superfan Anatoly Demidov in the 19th century, still stands today and welcomes visitors." - Matt Ortile