Italy naturist beaches

Acquarilli is a small, wild cove on the southern coast of Elba, in the municipality of Capoliveri, tucked into a horseshoe-shaped bay below the coast road that runs west from Capoliveri towards Lacona. It sits under steep slopes and is one of the island's better-known naturist spots; Elba has long been described as the home of naturism in Tuscany. The shoreline is a mix of dark gravel and pebbles with rocky outcrops, and patches of sand mainly towards one end. Rocks in the middle of the beach split it into two parts, and the nude section is on one side of those rocks, with clothed bathers using the other, so visitors should check which side they are on. The water is exceptionally clear, which makes it popular for snorkelling. There are no services on the beach and little natural shade, so you need to bring water, food and an umbrella. Because the descent puts many people off, it stays relatively quiet, though non-naturists do come down in peak season.

Galeazza is a stretch of rocky Ligurian coastline just east of Oneglia, the eastern half of Imperia on the Riviera di Ponente, running toward Diano Marina. Rather than one beach it is a chain of small coves and inlets below the hillside, with a mix of sand, gravel and flat rocks; the water is clear and the rocks are used for diving and sunbathing. Naturist use here is informal: Italian travel roundups include Galeazza among the naturist spots of western Liguria, but one local guide describes nudity as tolerated rather than designated and practised mainly in the more secluded coves, away from the stretches used by clothed swimmers. There are no beach services, no lifeguards and no sunbed concessions, so this is a bring-everything place. Expect a quiet, local crowd outside August; finding the nude-used coves means walking along the shore and choosing the less visible inlets.

Capo Falcone is the rugged headland at the north-western tip of Sardinia, just beyond the famous La Pelosa beach near Stintino. Wikipedia lists the coves and rocks around the cape as a naturist spot, where nude sunbathing takes place away from the crowded main beaches. It is informal rather than designated, with no services and rough access over rocks, so bring water and shade. Note that La Pelosa itself has access rules and booking in summer.

Costa dei Barbari is a stretch of wild shoreline below the limestone cliffs of the Karst coast just south of Sistiana bay, in Duino-Aurisina municipality, about half an hour's drive north-west of Trieste. The beaches here are narrow strips of pale pebbles and flat rocks at the foot of a wooded slope, facing clear, deep Adriatic water. There is no commercial activity at all: no bars, no sunbed rental, no lifeguards. The coast has been used by nude bathers since the 1960s, and Italian beach guides describe it as a long-standing nudist spot that locals want to keep that way. Nudity is customary rather than authorised; Costa dei Barbari is not on the Italian Naturist Federation's list of official naturist places. Because the only way down is a steep woodland path from the coast road, it is usually much less crowded than the lidos of Sistiana bay, and it attracts a mixed crowd of nude and clothed bathers. Visit Italy notes naturists here like to watch the sunset over the bay. In strong bora wind the sea can turn rough.

The beach at the mouth of the Platani river lies on Sicily's south-west coast in Cattolica Eraclea municipality (province of Agrigento), next to the Greek archaeological site of Eraclea Minoa and within the Foce del Fiume Platani nature reserve. Sicily's regional tourism department lists Foce del Fiume Platani among the island's principal naturist sites, describing a beach about 5 km long between the white marl headland of Capo Bianco and the river mouth, with very fine golden sand below white limestone cliffs. The developed part of Eraclea Minoa, with bars, lidos and parking, is busy in summer; nude bathers use the quieter stretches away from the beach establishments, toward the river mouth. Behind the sand are Aleppo pines and Mediterranean scrub. The coast here suffers from serious erosion: in 2019 access to parts of the Eraclea Minoa beach was closed because of collapsing cliffs and falling trees, and the crumbly marl of Capo Bianco remains prone to landslides, so keep away from the cliff base. Nudity is customary rather than formally designated.

I Tronchi, also called Spiaggia delle Capanne after the driftwood huts built on it, is the wild stretch of sand south of Principina a Mare, towards the mouth of the Ombrone and the Maremma Regional Park. Beyond the last bathing establishments the beach is backed by pine forest and scattered with tree trunks, and a fair number of naturists sunbathe nude there. Walk south along the shore from the village; there are no services, so bring shade and water.

Is Benas is a long, wild sandy beach on the Sinis coast of western Sardinia, in San Vero Milis municipality (province of Oristano), between the resort of Putzu Idu to the north and the Is Arenas coast of Narbolia to the south. Behind the sand rise large dunes and the Is Arenas pine forest, described by the Italian Naturist Federation (FENAIT) as the largest planted coastal pine wood in Sardinia. The beach is known locally as the 'beach of shells' because of the huge number of bivalve shells washed up along the tideline. In April 2022 San Vero Milis's municipal executive (Giunta) unanimously approved a resolution (no. 51/2022), proposed by the naturist association ANITA Sardegna, opening a stretch of Is Benas to naturism; the designated section is the southern part bordering Is Arenas, and press reports say it was later enlarged in the municipality's revised coastal plan. It is one of Sardinia's few officially authorised naturist beaches. The setting is undeveloped: open sand, dunes, low scrub and pines, on Sardinia's open west coast. Naturist volunteers have organised clean-ups here; one in July 2024 removed around 2.5 tonnes of washed-up rubbish, mostly plastic.

La Feniglia is a six-kilometre sandy beach on the tombolo that links Monte Argentario to the mainland, backed by the pine forest of the Duna Feniglia state nature reserve. The beach has no road along it, so the stretches furthest from the car parks at Ansedonia and Porto Ercole stay quiet, and nude sunbathing is practised informally in the dunes there. Walk or cycle in along the forest track, bring shade and water, and keep off the protected dunes.

La Lecciona is a long, wild beach of fine sand between Viareggio and Torre del Lago Puccini in Tuscany, backed by high dunes and the holm-oak and pine woods of the Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli regional park. Unlike most of the Versilia coast it has no beach clubs, and you can reach it only on foot. On 22 April 2022 Viareggio's municipal executive designated the stretch between rescue points 13 and 15 for naturism, at the request of the Italian naturist association ANITA and with the park authority's approval; the resolution notes the area had been used by naturists for many years. The stretch must stay free and open to all, with signs agreed with the park. It is one of Tuscany's busiest nude beaches, with naturists and a large gay crowd. Bring shade and water, since there are no services on the nude stretch.

Lago di Martignano is a small, clean crater lake in the countryside north-west of Rome, between Anguillara Sabazia and Campagnano. Visitors enter from the Anguillarese road and walk down to a grassy main beach with kiosks and boat hire. The far right-hand side of the shore, a long walk from the entrance, is traditionally used by nude bathers, who ask that visitors avoid loud music. The water is calm and good for swimming, and the lake lies inside a regional park.

Le Piscine is a stretch of smooth pale granite on the south-west coast of Elba, in the municipality of Campo nell'Elba, between the sandy bays of Fetovaia and Seccheto. The name means 'the pools': the sea washes over the flat slabs and fills hollows in the rock, leaving shallow natural basins warmed by the sun, with clear deep water just beyond for snorkelling. There is no sand and no beach establishment, only granite shelves stepping down to the sea, with maquis scrub above and the slopes of Monte Capanne behind. The rocks are a long-standing naturist spot, and the official Tuscany tourism site includes Le Piscine in its feature on Elba's naturist and gay-friendly beaches. Nude bathers spread out along the slabs away from the road, and the shore faces south-west, so it gets sun until evening. Because the rock gets very hot and there is no shade, mid-morning and late afternoon are the most comfortable times, and a thick mat makes a big difference.

Lido di Dante's naturist beach lies on the Adriatic south of the small resort of Lido di Dante, about 10 km southeast of Ravenna, between Lido di Dante and Lido di Classe toward the mouth of the Bevano river. Locally known as the 'Bassona', it is a wild stretch of fine sand backed by protected dunes and the Classe pine forest, within a nature reserve managed with the Carabinieri biodiversity service. Nude bathing here goes back about half a century and is now authorised each summer by mayoral ordinance. In 2026 (ordinance 554/2026) Area 1 runs for about 400 m starting 50 m from the pinewood access path, open from 30 May to 20 September; Area 2 opens from 15 July or 1 August, once Kentish plovers have finished nesting. Until 2010 the nude area stretched about 2 km to the Bevano mouth before the forestry service cut it back. There are almost no facilities, a lifeguard service runs in season, and the beach is popular with Italian and Northern European naturists, with the Associazione Naturisti Emilia-Romagna (ANER) organising volunteer clean-ups.

Calabrian coast naturist beach with crystal-clear waters, nearby Greek ruins, and a growing naturist community in southern Italy.

Nido dell'Aquila (the Eagle's Nest) is a stretch of the long sandy shore inside the Parco Naturale di Rimigliano, between San Vincenzo and the Gulf of Baratti on the Etruscan Coast of Tuscany. The park is a narrow belt of dunes, maquis and stone pines between the Strada della Principessa and the sea, so the beach feels wild even though it is only a few kilometres from a busy resort. Naturism is practised on a section of the beach roughly 300 metres south of the point where the path from the road reaches the sand; regulars have long marked the area with a large yellow kite. The beach is fine sand with gently shelving water and no natural shade apart from the dune edge. Nude bathers have used this coast since the 1970s, and several guides say the municipality of San Vincenzo assigned the stretch to naturism in 2010, which is why it is often described as the only authorised nude beach in Tuscany. It is popular: the regional tourism board puts weekend numbers between May and September at several hundred naturists, so it is far from secluded in high summer. Couples, older regulars and families all use it, alongside clothed beach-goers outside the naturist stretch.

Cesano is a free public beach at the mouth of the Cesano river in Senigallia, on the Adriatic coast of the Marche. Its name, 'Oasi naturista', has not been an official designation. Naturists have used the stretch for more than twenty years, but the Comune has never recognised it as a naturist area. Nude bathing takes place near the 'Le Piramidi' complex, and the beach is reached over pedestrian crossings that pass the railway. Its closeness to private homes has caused friction with residents. Naturists have asked the Comune several times to set the stretch aside, and earlier requests were refused, with a former mayor reported as saying there would be no reserved area for naturists. In a later episode, police identified some naturists, asked them to dress and issued no fines. The mayor, Olivetti, agreed to meet the group, but we found no record of the outcome. The reason the Comune has not created a naturist area is not documented in the sources we read.

Presidio naturista sul Ticino - Malpensa is a nudist-friendly beach in Italy. Nudity is optional.

Punta Combara, better known as Calignaia, is a small, secluded cove on the Romito coast south of Livorno, where the Via Aurelia runs along high cliffs between Antignano and Quercianella. It lies just beyond the large road bridge over the Calignaia valley, and a stone stairway drops from the road to a tiny inlet of pebbles and flat rocks. Its hidden position has made it a naturist spot for a long time, and it is one of two naturist areas on this coast, the other being Sassoscritto (Punta del Miglio) a few hundred metres north. Several guides describe both as authorised naturist areas. The water is clear and deep close to shore, the seabed is rocky and good for snorkelling, and there is no sand. There are no services. On summer weekends this whole coast is crowded with locals and visitors, so the cove fills early.

Punta Ferruccio is a small headland and beach on the Adriatic just north of Ortona, in the province of Chieti, inside the Ripari di Giobbe regional nature reserve on the Costa dei Trabocchi. The shore here is a narrow strip of white pebbles and rocks at the foot of steep cliffs, with a rocky seabed and clear water that suits snorkelling. A travel guide to Italian nude beaches describes a stretch of cliffs at Punta Ferruccio, within the reserve, as dedicated to naturism; local beach guides describe the spot without mentioning nudity, so expect a mix of naturists and clothed swimmers and keep away from the main access point if you want to undress. The beach is undeveloped: there are no bars, lifeguards or rental services, and very little shade under the cliffs. The coastal railway runs close behind the shore, which some visitors find detracts from the setting. Its isolation and the effort of the walk keep numbers low compared with Ortona's sandy town beaches.

Punta del Miglio, usually called Sassoscritto, is a stretch of rocky shore on the Romito coast just south of Livorno, below the Via Aurelia between the Sassoscritto and Romito restaurants. A signed trail drops from the road through the scrub and down steps to large flat rocks at the water's edge. It is one of Livorno's two naturist areas, together with the Calignaia cove (Punta Combara) a few hundred metres south, and the Tuscan tourism board includes Sassoscritto in its guide to naturist beaches. There is no sand: people lie on the rock shelves and swim straight into deep, very clear water over a rocky seabed that is excellent for snorkelling. There are no services and little shade. The coast is very popular with locals in July and August and at weekends, and Sassoscritto in particular is known as LGBTQ-friendly. It is a good choice for strong swimmers and people comfortable on rocks rather than for small children.

Scogliera del Bunker, the bunker cliff, is a short stretch of rocky shore on the east side of the Stella gulf near Capoliveri on Elba, between the sandy coves of Felciaio and Lido di Capoliveri. A wartime bunker marks the spot, and the flat rocks around it are used for nude sunbathing away from the busier beaches. Reach it on foot along the coast from either neighbouring beach. There are no facilities, so bring water and shoes for the rocks.

Scogliera del Sentiero is the rocky headland that separates the coves of Barabarca and Zuccale on the south-east coast of Elba, near Capoliveri. It is reached by the footpath that leads from the shared Barabarca-Zuccale car park: the left branch goes down to Barabarca, a small white-sand cove reached by a dirt path and a stairway, and a branch bearing slightly right leads out onto the cliff between the two beaches. The Tuscan tourism board includes Barabarca and this flat cliff in its guide to naturist beaches in Tuscany, describing it as a place for lovers of flat rocks. People sunbathe on the rock shelves and swim from them in clear water. There are no services on the rocks; Zuccale has more facilities.

Casello 41 is a stretch of wild sandy shore inside the Riserva Naturale Foce del Fiume Belice, on the south-west coast of Sicily between Marinella di Selinunte (Castelvetrano) and Porto Palo di Menfi. The reserve protects the mouth of the Belice river and a belt of high, vegetated dunes, and the beach is broad, sandy and backed by those dunes, with a generally calm sea. Nudity here is tolerated rather than authorised: the Sicilian regional tourism department names Casello 41 in its guide to naturism in Sicily and recommends it especially outside high summer, and naturist directories list it as a free beach where naturists are a regular presence. There are no services. The setting is quiet and spacious. Reserve rules apply: no drones, no walking on the living dunes and no litter left behind.

Cava Casali is a small rocky beach below the cliffs of the Trieste coast near Sistiana, reached from the coast road (SS14) around kilometre 137. Like neighbouring Costa dei Barbari, it is one of several spots on this shore used by nude bathers, with flat rocks for sunbathing and clear, deep water. There are no services, and the path down is steep, so good shoes are useful. Nudity is customary rather than formally designated.

Spiaggia del Mort is the beach in front of the Laguna del Mort, a small coastal lagoon of more than 600 hectares formed by the old sand bars at the mouth of the Piave, on the Adriatic between Eraclea Mare and Cortellazzo/Jesolo in the province of Venice. A strip of pine wood and low dunes separates the lagoon from a long, wide stretch of pale sand with shallow water. Unlike the serviced beaches of Eraclea Mare and Jesolo, this stretch has no beach establishments, and Italian naturism guides describe it as one of the best-known naturist spots in northern Italy, used by nude bathers for many years as a free beach. It is not a designated naturist beach: nude and clothed visitors share the sand, and Beach Atlas notes the beach is not reserved for nudists. The area is a protected natural site, popular also with walkers and birdwatchers.

Spiaggia Le Vele is a nudist-friendly beach in Italy. Nudity is optional.

Spiaggia Naturista is a nudist-friendly beach in Italy. Nudity is optional.

Torre Salsa is a long, wild sandy beach on the south coast of Sicily in the province of Agrigento, inside the Riserva Naturale Orientata Torre Salsa, which was created by the Sicilian Region in 2000 and is managed by WWF Italia. The reserve covers about 6 km of coast between Siculiana Marina and Eraclea Minoa. The beach is very fine pale sand backed by some of the last natural dune systems in Sicily and by striking white gypsum and marl cliffs, with clear, clean water. Loggerhead turtles nest on the sand, so parts of the beach may be marked off in summer. The end of the beach toward Siculiana, close to the white cliffs, has long been used by naturists from across Sicily; it is an informal, tolerated nude area rather than a designated one. There are no facilities of any kind inside the reserve: no bars, toilets, umbrellas or lifeguards. The beach is broad and rarely crowded because every access involves a walk or a rough track, and in the 1980s WWF's Fulco Pratesi called it the most beautiful beach in Italy. Shade is scarce, so bring an umbrella.

Spiaggia Naturista Lido Le Morge is a nudist-friendly beach in Italy. Nudity is optional.

The Ponte della Becca is the long iron road bridge over the Po at its confluence with the Ticino, near Linarolo, about 40 km south of Milan and just outside Pavia. The river banks around the bridge and the confluence form a wide area of sandbanks, grassy embankments and riverside woodland, with several points where you can reach the water. A beach downstream of the bridge has been used discreetly by naturists since the 1970s, making it one of the longest-running informal nude spots in Lombardy. It is not authorised by the comune, and the crowd is mixed, with naturists and clothed visitors sharing the banks, and privacy varies a lot depending on where you settle. The area is also known as a gay meeting place. The Po and Ticino here are large rivers with strong currents and shifting sandbanks, so swimming is risky; most visitors simply sunbathe on the sand. It suits people who want a riverside nude spot near Milan and are comfortable with an unofficial, low-key setting.

Spiaggia Naturista di Monti Russu is a nudist-friendly beach in Aglientu, Sardinia, Italy. Nudity is optional. On-site amenities include parking.

Piscinas is a wide, wild beach on Sardinia's Costa Verde, in the comune of Arbus, between Capo Pecora and Capo Frasca. Behind it rise some of the largest sand dunes in Europe, reaching about 100 m and stretching around 2 km inland; they are mobile and reshaped by the wind. The sand is coarse and beige, the coast faces the maestrale, and the surroundings are almost empty: the only building near the shore is a luxury hotel converted from old mine warehouses. Arbus's coastal use plan of 2010 allowed part of Piscinas to be used for naturism, and a municipal resolution then authorised naturist tourism there; FENAIT lists it among Italy's official naturist places. The area is rich in wildlife, with partridges, foxes, kestrels and buzzards, occasional deer near the stream, and loggerhead turtles nesting on June and July nights, so respect any fenced nests. Inland, the half-ruined mining village of Ingurtosu is part of Sardinia's historic and environmental geomining park.

The Porto d'Adda naturist beach is a stony riverbank on the Adda between Cornate d'Adda and Paderno d'Adda, about 50 km north-east of Milan, hidden by thick riverside vegetation. The area lies within the Parco Adda Nord, a protected wooded stretch of the river valley. The beach itself is a small, pebbly strip by the water, reached after a walk through the woods from the sanctuary of Santa Maria della Rocchetta. It has a long naturist tradition and appears in lists of long-established Lombard nude spots, but it is not authorised: the use is tolerated and subject to occasional checks. The Adda flows fast here, with an irregular bottom, so guides advise bathing only in the small sheltered bend to the left of the beach. There are no facilities. It is a quiet option for naturists who do not mind a walk and a rustic, informal setting.

Spiaggia Nudista Chiavari is a nudist-friendly beach in Italy. Nudity is optional.

Spiaggia Romana is a nudist-friendly beach in Naples, Pozzuoli, Italy. Nudity is optional. On-site amenities include parking.

Spiaggia Scoglio della Vela is a nudist-friendly beach in Italy. Nudity is optional.

The Termitosa naturist beach lies on the Ionian coast of Puglia in the commune of Castellaneta (province of Taranto), south of the resort strip of Castellaneta Marina, near the mouth of the Lato river. Behind the shore is the pine and Mediterranean scrub of the coastal woodland (sometimes called Bosco della Marina), with low dunes between the trees and the sand. The beach itself is fine golden sand with shallow, clear water. In June 2024 a municipal ordinance signed by mayor Gianni Di Pippa set aside about 150 m of shoreline for naturism, reported as the first officially designated naturist beach in Puglia, and the national federation FENAIT lists it among Italy's officially recognised naturist beaches. The designated strip is short, so the naturist area is compact and easy to find once you reach the river-mouth end. There are no facilities at all: no bar, no toilets, no umbrella rental. Rules reported for the area prohibit sexual behaviour, photographing people without consent and lighting fires. Pine shade near the back of the beach helps in the afternoon, and sunsets over the Ionian are a highlight.

The Alberoni beach is the southern end of the Lido, the 12 km sand barrier that separates the Venetian lagoon from the Adriatic. Unlike the rows of beach huts and private concessions further north, the last 2 km here are free beach, backed by tall dunes, pine woods and the WWF Oasi Dune degli Alberoni, a protected area of about 160 hectares that shelters nesting Kentish plovers and rare dune plants. The sand is fine and the sea shallow and calm. Nude use is not official, but naturists have long sunbathed discreetly on the quieter stretches at the far southern end, towards the Malamocco-Alberoni breakwater, well away from the bathing establishments near the main entrance; the dunes and woods give some privacy. Expect clothed beachgoers and naturists spread out along the sand, with fewer people the further south you walk.

Spiaggia dei Filtri FKK is a nudist-friendly beach in Duino, Trieste, Italy. Nudity is optional.

The Lazzaretto is a riverside park on the Adige in the south-east of Verona, named after the ruins of a 16th-century plague hospital. Below it a broad sandy bank, known locally as the Lazzaretto beach, is used for sunbathing and paddling, and naturist lists record informal nude use along the quieter stretches. It is a river shore, not a seaside beach: there are no facilities, the current can be strong after rain, and nudity is tolerated rather than authorised, so stay discreet and well away from the cycle path.

Tuscany beach near San Felice with a shipwreck landmark and a thriving naturist community on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast.

The Spiaggia fluviale del Trebbia is a river beach on the Trebbia in the Apennine hills of the province of Piacenza, downstream of Bobbio, in the comune of Corte Brugnatella. Locals call it the Secchiello beach, after the bend in the river where it lies. It is a typical Trebbia shore of white pebbles, gravel and rock slabs beside the clear river water. Corte Brugnatella's municipal executive formally established it as a naturist beach by resolution no. 34 of 23 June 2021, and the Italian naturist federation FENAIT lists it among Italy's official naturist sites. It is one of only two river beaches on FENAIT's official list. Reaching it means fording the river, so it feels secluded even though the road is close. There are no services of any kind.

The Spiaggia del Troncone is on the Cilento coast in Campania, between Palinuro and Marina di Camerota, inside the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. The naturist stretch is about 400 m long and lies to the left (east) of the lido I Trettrè, in three coves divided by rocks. The first, nearest the access, is tiny and holds only seven or eight people. The second is about twice the size. The third and largest, with room for around 150 people, is reached by wading ankle-deep around the rocks when the sea is calm. The shore is a mix of pebbles, small stones and coarse sand, with clear water. FENAIT lists Troncone among Italy's official naturist beaches recognised by the municipality. The naturist association has pointed to it as an example of a naturist beach bringing tourism to the area.

Spiaggia dell'Arenauta is a long sandy bay on the Riviera di Ulisse in Lazio, on the stretch of the Via Flacca (SS213) between Gaeta and Sperlonga in the province of Latina. It lies below a steep wooded hillside, with fine golden sand, clear water and the promontory of Monte Orlando and Gaeta in view to the south. Part of the bay is occupied by beach clubs (stabilimenti), while other sections are free public beach. Naturists have used the wilder, free stretches for decades, and Italian beach guides describe it as a historic spot where nudism is tolerated rather than designated; according to spiagge.it, the naturist part is now confined to the wildest section, away from the beach clubs. Expect a mixed crowd: clothed bathers, families at the stabilimenti and nude bathers in their own area. The long staircase down from the road filters out some visitors, and the beach is quieter outside August.

The Commenda is a stretch of the Ionian coast at Campomarino di Maruggio, in the province of Taranto, between the Capoccia-Scorcialupi and D'Ayala beaches. The coastline runs for several kilometres, with soft golden sand backed by a fine dune ridge, pine woods, vineyards and olive groves. Sand alternates with low rocks at the water's edge. There are no lidi or beach establishments, so it stays natural. A nude area towards the Campomarino end has been used by naturists for more than twenty years and is described as even quieter than the rest of the beach. It is reached by footpath and feels isolated. The beach is not an official naturist beach, and nudity here has caused friction. In August 2016, after complaints from other bathers, the coast guard, local police and carabinieri cleared a stretch of the Commenda occupied by naturists and fined them. The Italian naturist association protested and asked the municipality to authorise the site. No authorisation has been found since.

Spiaggia delle Marze is the far northern end of the Marina di Grosseto shore, past the last beach club and close to the old Forte delle Marze tower, where the coast runs on towards Castiglione della Pescaia. A belt of pine forest backs the sand, and naturists use this stretch with great discretion. Park along the Strada delle Collacchie near the fort and walk through the pines. There are no facilities, so bring shade and water.

Le Tombe is a small, wild cove on the south-west coast of Elba in Campo nell'Elba, between Fetovaia and Pomonte, below the panoramic coast road. The beach is mostly dark stones, and the water is very clear and deep, good for snorkelling over the rocky seabed. Le Tombe is one of Elba's naturist beaches and appears in both of the Tuscan tourism board's guides to naturist beaches; visitors report a nudist atmosphere, though clothed bathers come down too. Its relative remoteness keeps numbers modest. There are no services at all and very little shade, and the stones get hot, so bring an umbrella, a mat, water and food. Jellyfish can appear in some summers.

Bulala is a long, wild stretch of sand and dunes on the Gulf of Gela on Sicily's south coast, east of Gela town, in the contrada of the same name near the Biviere di Gela coastal lake. The Comune di Gela authorised nude bathing here in 2016 along the shore between the eastern mouth of the Canale Scolmatore and the mouth of the Dirillo river, a run of roughly 6 km, and for some years it was described as the only authorised naturist beach in Sicily. The setting is open dune coast backed by scrub and coastal ponds, with fine sand, a gently shelving sea and plenty of space; you rarely have neighbours close by. There are no bathing establishments, kiosks, toilets or lifeguards on the naturist stretch. The Sicilian naturist association ASINA reported in 2023 that the beach is in very poor condition, and aggregator listings warn that environmental quality varies along the coast and that some sections near the industrial area have long-standing bathing bans, so check local notices before swimming.

Cala Fighera is a small rocky cove on the Sella del Diavolo promontory, the headland that separates Cagliari's Poetto beach from the bay of Calamosca, just outside the city centre. It sits below the cliffs near old military structures on the headland, with clear, deep water and a rugged setting of limestone rock and Mediterranean scrub. There is little or no sand: visitors spread out on flat rocks and ledges by the sea. The cove has long been the traditional gathering place of nudists from Cagliari and the surrounding area; L'Unione Sarda described it in 2017 as a historic naturist spot that, like other Sardinian nudist beaches, grew up spontaneously and is unsigned. Italian travel guides also list it among the best-known nudist spots in the province of Cagliari and describe the crowd as mostly naturists who are polite and respectful. It is small, so it can feel busy on hot weekends, and there are no facilities at the cove.

Capo Canata is a small, secluded cove on the south coast of Elba at the eastern end of the Gulf of Lacona, in the municipality of Capoliveri. It sits below a headland and is reached by a steep stairway that starts inside the campsite above, which keeps it quiet. The beach is small black pebbles and gravel, with rocks either side and a rocky seabed that the Tuscan tourism board calls wonderful for snorkelling, recommending a mask. Capo Canata appears in both of the board's guides to naturist beaches in Tuscany and on Elba, and it has long been used for nude sunbathing. There are no services and little shade.

Capo Feto is a low, flat cape on the south-west coast of Sicily, a few kilometres west of Mazara del Vallo towards Torretta Granitola. Its beach of pale, fine sand runs for more than 5 km, backed by dunes and by one of the last surviving coastal marshes in Sicily, now part of a protected nature area. There are no buildings, beach clubs or services along the shore, and the water is clear and shallow. Its isolation has made it popular with both naturists and kitesurfers, who use the steady winds off the open coast. Nude bathing is not official, but it has long been practised discreetly and is tolerated; naturists simply walk away from the parking areas until they find space, and the long beach rarely feels crowded outside August weekends. The dunes and wetland are fragile, so stay off the vegetation.

Capocotta is the stretch of dune-backed sand south of Ostia along the Litoranea coast road to Anzio, between about km 8 and km 10, next to the Castelporziano presidential estate. It was once Savoy family land, and after a fence went up along the estate boundary, people reached the beach through gaps, which earned it the nickname 'il buco'. It became a meeting place for naturists and the LGBT+ community, and in 1999-2000 Rome's city council created the Oasi Naturista here, the first official naturist beach in Italy. Today the oasis covers about 200 m of fine sand in front of fenced, protected dunes of Mediterranean scrub, run by a social cooperative with its own kiosk and lifeguard. Entry is free and open to everyone; nudity is optional, but you must dress to go to the kiosk. The atmosphere is quiet, with no phones or loud music, and a sign bans photos, camping and sexual activity. Between the oasis and the neighbouring lido lies about 100 m of unmanaged free beach that locals call 'no man's land'.

Feraxi is a long sandy beach in Muravera, in south-east Sardinia (province of Sud Sardegna), just north of Costa Rei and the headland of Capo Ferrato. It runs for about 3 km in front of the Feraxi lagoon, part of the protected wetland of the Stagni di Colostrai e delle Saline, where flamingos, cormorants and black-winged stilts feed. The sand is wide and pale, and the water is clear, turquoise and shallow for some distance, which makes it easy for swimming. In June 2022 Muravera council approved a naturist stretch of about 400 metres at the southern end of the beach, running up to the Capo Ferrato promontory; it was reported as the fourth naturist beach in Sardinia and the first on the east coast. The naturist stretch is marked by signs but not fenced, and the rest of the beach remains an ordinary public beach with a kiosk, bars and sunbed and umbrella rental. FENAIT, the Italian naturist federation, lists Feraxi among its naturist places.

The naturist beach of Forza d'Agrò lies on the Ionian coast of north-east Sicily, between Taormina and Messina, below the hill town of Forza d'Agrò and close to Sant'Alessio Siculo and the headland of Capo Sant'Alessio. The naturist area is in the locality of Contrada Parrino. Visit Sicily, the Sicilian Region's tourism site, says naturists are welcome here and calls it the first official naturism oasis in Sicily. A beach guide describes a moderate-length beach of fine sand with clear turquoise water that shelves gently, with conditions ranging from calm to choppy; there is a campsite (Forza d'Agrò Mare) on the same stretch of coast. There are no permanent services on the naturist shore itself, so visitors bring their own water, food and shade. The atmosphere is described as calm and respectful.

Mari Pintau ('painted sea') is a cove on the coast road from Cagliari to Villasimius, in the municipality of Quartu Sant'Elena, about 20 km east of Cagliari near the resort area of Geremeas. Its name comes from the colours of the water, which shifts from emerald to deep blue over a clear seabed. The beach is made of smooth, rounded granite pebbles and stones rather than sand, backed by Mediterranean scrub and rocky slopes. The main cove is a regular public beach, and Sardegna Turismo notes a beach concession with equipment rental and a kiosk-bar. Its naturist reputation rests on the rocks and smaller coves on either side, reached by scrambling over rocks and through wild scrub; Italian travel guides list Mari Pintau among the best-known nudist spots in the province of Cagliari, alongside Cala Fighera and Calamosca. Nude use is informal and discreet, away from the main beach.

Marina di Alberese is the main public beach of the Parco Regionale della Maremma, south of Grosseto in southern Tuscany. It is a long, wild stretch of grey-gold sand, more than 7 km in total, backed by dunes, umbrella pines and dense Mediterranean scrub, with no buildings and no beach establishments. Driftwood trunks carried down by the Ombrone river and the sea are scattered along the shore, and visitors use them to build their own shade shelters. The nude area is not at the car park: naturists walk a couple of kilometres south along the sand from the main access point, where the beach empties out towards Collelungo and the rocky Uccellina hills. The further south you go, the more nude bathers you meet; the northern part near the access is clothed. Because the park limits car access through a single paid car park, the beach rarely feels crowded even in August. There is no natural shade and nothing to buy on the sand, so it suits people prepared to carry water, food and an umbrella. The sea is generally clean and shallow, with fine sand underfoot.

Marinello is the long, curving sand spit that runs out below the cape and sanctuary of Tindari on Sicily's Tyrrhenian coast, between Oliveri and Patti in the province of Messina. Behind the spit lie the Laghetti di Marinello, a set of small brackish lagoons whose shape changes with the sea, protected as a regional nature reserve. The beach nearest Oliveri is partly occupied by a holiday resort, but the shore becomes wilder the further you walk towards the cape. Nude bathing happens at the far, quieter end of the spit near the lagoons, at the foot of the Tindari promontory, and is done discreetly: the regional tourism department mentions Marinello in its guide to naturism in Sicily, while a 2017 regional newspaper summary described naturist use there as sporadic. The spit is sand, with no shade or services, and reserve rules apply: keep off the lagoon edges and dunes. Expect clothed walkers and swimmers, especially in August.

Spiaggia di Mottagrossa is a nudist-friendly beach in Italy. Nudity is optional.

Spiaggia di Porto Sa Ruxi is a nudist-friendly beach in Italy. Nudity is optional.

The naturist beach of San Saba lies on the Tyrrhenian coast of the Comune di Messina, in north-east Sicily, at the eastern end of the village of San Saba towards Capo Rasocolmo. It is the far stretch of the long San Saba beach, beyond the large sand hills locals call the Montagne di Sabbia, and you can only reach it on foot. In 2022 the Comune di Messina, then run by an extraordinary commissioner, issued an ordinance setting aside this stretch for naturism, and it is now listed by FENAIT, Italy's national naturist federation, among the country's officially recognised naturist places. Local press describes it as the only authorised naturist beach in Sicily. The beach is a mix of sand and pebbles with clear Tyrrhenian water, and the walk in keeps it secluded and fairly quiet compared with the village beach. There are no services on the naturist stretch itself; bars, restaurants and shops are in San Saba village. Views open towards the Aeolian Islands on clear days.

Spiaggia di Torre Guaceto is a nudist-friendly beach in Carovigno Brindisi, Apulia (Puglia), Italy. Nudity is optional. On-site amenities include restrooms, food & drinks, parking.

The free beach of Capalbio is the long, straight stretch of sand on the southern Maremma coast, in the province of Grosseto, that runs in front of the Lago di Burano, a coastal lagoon protected as a WWF oasis. Tuscany's official tourism site lists it among the region's naturist beaches, describing about 8 km of shore that, apart from by sea, can only be reached by walking along the beach. The beach is backed by dunes and Mediterranean scrub with the lagoon behind; there are no roads to the shore along the reserve, so the middle of the stretch stays quiet even in August while the access points, including the Macchiatonda area and the Chiarone end with its famous beach club, are busier and clothed. Nude bathers spread out along the empty section between the access points. The sand is fine and the water shallow; there is no shade on the beach and no services once you leave the access points.

Marina di Bibbona is a seaside village on the Costa degli Etruschi in the province of Livorno, between Cecina and Marina di Castagneto Carducci. Its long sandy beach is backed by pine woods and dunes. Tuscany's official tourism site says the southern side of the beach is a dedicated naturist area, reached by walking south from the main beach, with free access. Near the village the shore is lined with beach clubs and is a family resort; heading south the establishments end and the free beach (spiaggia libera) continues as a natural stretch with dunes and pine wood, where nude bathers gather. The sand is fine and the water shallow, typical of this coast. There is no shade on the sand itself, but the pine wood behind the dunes offers some, and there are no services on the naturist stretch. This beach is separate from the better-known Nido dell'Aquila naturist beach further south at San Vincenzo.

Sabbie Nere ('black sands') is the naturist beach of Santa Severa, on the Lazio coast about 50 km north-west of Rome in the comune of Santa Marinella. It lies south-east of the medieval Castello di Santa Severa, beyond the archaeological zone of the ancient port of Pyrgi, on a stretch of open shore backed by low scrub. The sand is dark volcanic sand mixed with fine gravel, which gets very hot in the sun, so footwear is useful. The naturist sector starts roughly 500-600 m along the shore from the castle area, past an old Second World War bunker, and is recognised by the municipality as an 'oasi naturista'; FENAIT, the Italian naturist federation, lists it among Italy's officially recognised naturist beaches. A naturist association looks after the area and part of it has been run as an equipped, supervised section, with free unequipped stretches either side. Further south the Macchiatonda WWF nature reserve begins, and nudity is not allowed inside it. Being an easy train ride from Rome, it can get crowded at weekends, when volunteers from a regional naturist association often keep an eye on the beach.

Capo Mortola is a low headland at the far western tip of Liguria, between Latte and the Balzi Rossi caves, a few kilometres from Ventimiglia and the French border at Menton. The coast here is a chain of small pebble coves and pale limestone rocks below the coastal road, with very clear water and a rocky seabed that suits snorkelling. This end of the Riviera has a long tradition of naturism linked to the border area, and the coves around the cape are among the spots Italian guides list for nude bathing. Nudity is tolerated rather than authorised: there is no designation, signage or facilities, and the coves are shared with clothed bathers and fishermen. Each cove is small and offers shelter and a sense of isolation, so the experience depends on finding an empty one. Exposed points can get choppy when the libeccio or maestrale blows, and access over the rocks needs care. It suits experienced, discreet nude bathers rather than families looking for sand.

The naturist beach of Fiumicino is a stretch of Focene, a sandy section of the Roman coast in the comune of Fiumicino, between Fiumicino and Fregene, beside Rome's Fiumicino airport. The Comune di Fiumicino authorised naturism on this stretch in winter 2015, through the resolution that sets the permitted uses of its beaches, and the Italian naturist federation FENAIT lists it as an official naturist place. The beach is open fine sand on a flat coastline, with no shade or services: you need to bring everything with you. FENAIT warns that a bathing ban appears to be in force on this stretch, so sunbathing is fine but swimming may not be allowed; check signs on arrival. It is a simple, no-frills option close to Rome.

Marianelli is a wild beach on the south-east coast of Sicily, inside the Vendicari nature reserve in the comune of Noto, between Calamosche and the ancient site of Eloro. It is a long arc of fine golden sand backed by dunes and Mediterranean scrub, with clear shallow water and no buildings or services. Naturists have used it for around forty years, making it one of the best-known nude beaches in Sicily. In July and August visitors informally divide the beach into three: the northern end is used by naturists, the central part by clothed bathers, and the southern part is mainly a gay meeting area. In recent years more non-naturists have come, so expect a mixed crowd near the access path, with nudity more common on the stretches furthest from it. Naturists also come in autumn and even in mild winter weather, many of them staying in Noto. It is a beautiful but unsupported place: bring water, shade and food.

Porto Ferro is a long, open bay on the north-west coast of Sardinia, in the Nurra between Capo Caccia and L'Argentiera, administratively in the comune of Sassari close to Alghero. The beach runs for about 1.6 to 2 km in three coves of coarse, yellow-red sand, closed at each end by red trachyte cliffs. The seabed is mostly sand and shelves gently, but the bay faces west and catches the maestrale and libeccio, which makes it a well-known surf spot and can bring strong waves. Behind the beach are dunes, a pine plantation and scrub, and nearby is Lago di Baratz, Sardinia's only natural lake. In July 2018 the Sassari city council unanimously designated a naturist section here, under a 2017 regional law that allows municipalities to create naturist beaches; it is listed by FENAIT. The bay is part of a Natura 2000 site, has held a Blue Flag since 2016, and also has a dog-friendly section. There are no resorts, only a small bar-grill by the main car park.

The Sesia river beach at Varallo is one of the few inland naturist spots in Piedmont, on the Sesia river in Valsesia, below the hamlet of Balangera just downstream of Varallo. It is a secluded stretch of riverbank in the wooded Valsesia, at the foot of the Alps. The Italian naturist federation FENAIT lists it among Italy's naturist places, and the national association ANITA keeps an entry for it, which is why the record carries the ANITA name. The beach is reached by a meadow path and a staircase from the road, so it feels secluded even though it is close to the town. As with any Alpine river, the water is cold and the level can change after rain, so take care when swimming. There are no services at the river.

The Diaterna is a clear mountain stream in the Tuscan-Romagnol Apennines, in the municipality of Firenzuola (Metropolitan City of Florence), that runs down to join the Santerno river near Ca' Maggiore. Tuscany's official tourism site says naturism is practised along a stretch of the Diaterna at Scheggianico, describing it as a green area that is wild but accessible, and a regional swimming guide notes that the naturist zone is reached by walking up the course of the stream from its confluence area. This is a river spot, not a sea beach: the stream runs through a wooded valley with small gorges, little waterfalls and natural pools of clear blue water, and people sunbathe on pebble banks and rocks beside the pools. The tourism board's directions lead to a parking area just before the bridge at Scheggianico, after which everything is on foot. Water levels depend on recent rain, so pool depth varies through the summer. There are no facilities in the valley; Firenzuola, about 9 km away, has shops and cafés. The Diaterna is also used for guided 'aquatrekking' walks through its pools, so expect to meet some clothed hikers and swimmers.

The Farma is a clear, rocky torrent on the border between the provinces of Grosseto and Siena in southern Tuscany. Upstream of the hot springs at Bagni di Petriolo, several pools and gravel banks along the river are known destinations for naturists, who sunbathe and swim nude in the woods away from roads. There are no facilities; access is on foot along riverside paths, and the spots are informal rather than officially designated, so discretion is advised.

Punta Crena is a headland between Varigotti (Finale Ligure) and Noli on the Riviera di Ponente, topped by an old Saracen watchtower. Tucked under its cliffs is a tiny eroded cove, roughly 40 m wide, about 250 m from Varigotti's pier and next to the Baia dei Saraceni. The cove has light sand and strikingly clear turquoise water that is often compared to the Caribbean. Varigotti is regarded as one of the historic naturist spots of Liguria, and Italian travel guides name the Punta Crena cove as a place where nude sunbathing is practised; there is no designated section and the cove is so small that everyone shares it. Motorboats are barred from landing, so most visitors arrive by swimming or paddling from Varigotti beach. It has no services at all and gets very busy in high summer, when early arrival or a weekday visit is the way to find space.