10 Italian Cities Just As Beautiful, But More Affordable, Than The Amalfi Coast - TheTravel
A trip to Italy without a few nights at the Amalfi Coast? Unthinkable! The 50km stretch of Mediterranean coastline in Southern Italy is home to some of the most picturesque beach towns in all of Europe. With the extravagant views, top-notch seafood, chic shopping streets, and cliffside luxury retreats, however, you also get sky-high prices.
There's a reason why the Amalfi Coast is known to be the seaside escape for the affluent and a place where you'd bump into A-list celebrities. Everything on the Amalfi Coast is appallingly expensive, and during peak seasons, the spiked prices of hotels and restaurants can make Amalfi Coast the most expensive destination in all of Europe. But no one said that Amalfi Coast is the only place in Italy with specular beachy views. Considering the fact that most of Italy is surrounded by the sea, there are several cities that are at par with the Amalfi Coast in beauty but happen to be far more affordable. As a bonus, you'll even skip the touristy crowds of Amalfi.
Pescara
Located in the region of Abruzzo, which is east of Rome, Pescara is Abruzzo's largest city. If you're looking for more affordable beachside resorts and weeks spent sunbathing by the sea, Pescara is the place to be. After the city suffered lasting damages from the bombings of World War II, much of the city's culture has been replaced by a modern look. Because there's not a whole lot else to do, the 16km stretch of sandy beaches in Pescara is a welcome respite from the overcrowded beaches of Amalfi, especially during the summers.
Lecco
Besides the Amalfi Coast, there's one other region in Italy that attracts the crème de la crème of the world: Lake Como. Celebrities like George Clooney, Richard Branson, and Sylvester Stallone are known to own luxe villas overlooking Lake Como, and those who aren't lucky enough to own a lavish property on the lake often flock to nearby towns like Bellagio. But there's one other town on Lake Como's banks that offers equally stunning views of the landscape. Flanked by mountains on two sides, the small city of Lecco opens up to Lake Como. With classic architecture, freshly caught seafood from the lake, easy access to ski slopes, and plenty of hiking trails, Lecco is an underrated Italian gem.
Bari
The port city of Bari packs everything that you'd imagine an Italian holiday to be: maze-like streets in an old town, harbors lined with pasta bars and cafes, hidden beaches with cliffs and crystal blue waters, flea markets, and a rich culture with theaters, castles, museums, and churches. Bari is also home to an established university, and where there are students, there are affordable eateries, hotels, and, most definitely, a buzzing nightlife. You can eat gelato for breakfast, sunbathe on the beaches in the afternoons, catch a play in the evenings, and end the day with a glass of wine at a harbor-side bar — all without the dent in your wallet that a day at Amalfi would make.
Brindisi
Home to one of two major airports in Puglia, most travelers think of Brindisi as a place to arrive at or depart from. But those willing to explore Brindisi beyond its airport will find a port city that opens up to the sea and pulses at its own slow-paced rhythm. With medieval streets, ancient cathedrals, promenades along the sea, and castles that sit on small islands off the harbor, Brindisi is an affordable coastal town that you'll never want to leave.
Scilla
Scilla is the most prominent town located along the La Costa Viola, or The Violet Coast, which is a 35km stretch of coastline, much like the Amalfi Coast. The picturesque fishing town is believed to be where the sea monster Scylla from Greek mythology resides. Scilla is divided into two parts: downtown, where the town offices are located, and beachfront, where hotels, restaurants, and well, beaches exist. Despite its beauty, few know of Scilla, and so the town is usually free of tourists, crowds, and ridiculously high prices.
Lecce
Lecce has been dubbed the Florence of the south because the charming 2,000-year-old city is as stunning as you'd expect an Italian city to be. Lecce is meant for lazy strolls, long lunches, and wine-filled evenings. Because the city is fairly sparse in crowds compared to the likes of Amalfi, Lecce is a wonderful city to explore on foot, where every walk will reveal hidden piazzas and coffee shops tucked away from the streets. Besides, Lecce is barely 30 minutes away from some of the most stunning beaches in southern Italy, so it's a great place to stay at if you want to be near a beach but don't want the pricey room rates that come with it.
Vieste
Located in the mountainous Gargano Peninsula region of Puglia, Vieste is a seaside town that offers a little bit of everything: dense forests for hiking, old town architecture and sea caves for exploring, the wide sea for diving and sailing, and white rocks with sandy beaches for eating, drinking, and sunbathing. Vieste is also home to several rock formations, and a short climb to Pizzomunno, in particular, will reveal unbeatable views of the town and the sea below.
Ponza
Ponza isn't exactly a city, but that's the best part. Located between Naples and Rome, Ponza is a small island with views that are at par, if not better, than the Amalfi Coast. The island is a summer retreat for locals, and few tourists find their way there. That may be because Ponza has little to offer in terms of attractions, but what it does have is stretches of sand and sea as far as the eye can see. For those who want the seaside activities of Amalfi without the crowds that go with it, Ponza is the ideal place for a few days of sunbathing, sailing, and swimming in the sea.
Genoa
Genoa is one of Italy's biggest cities, and its port is the busiest one in the country. Regarded as a cheaper and northern version of Amalfi's Positano by some, Genoa is where Christopher Columbus' childhood home still stands, the largest aquarium in Europe exists, and where pesto is believed to have been invented. Better yet, Genoa is located in the heart of the Liguria region and has everything that attracts travelers to the Amalfi Coast: winding roads and colorful buildings that all open up to the Mediterranean Sea.
Monte Argentario
Technically, Monte Argentario is a commune rather than a city, but the peninsula is perhaps Tuscany's best-kept secret and one of the closest alternatives to the Amalfi Coast. Monte Argentario was once an island and is now connected to Tuscany via two narrow sandbars. Surrounded by mountains on one end and the sea on the other, Monte Argentario is home to several towns — all of which open up to the sea —seaside resorts, beaches, and coves. Monte Argentario is pretty much like the Amalfi Coast in that you can plan an entire trip to Italy without ever leaving Monte Argentario and its seaside towns, except you'll end up spending far less.
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