Ten Hidden Beaches to Discover in Tuscany
La Cacciarella
A little cove with a crystal-clear sea at Porto Santo Stefano, this rocky beach sits between two cliffs with a view of the gorgeous Grotta del Turco (the Turk’s Cave). The beach is watched over by a tower named Scaciadiavoli and is reached on foot along a steep path of about 500 meters (a third of a mile), which makes it a paradise surrounded by nature and silence.
The entrance is half-hidden, but inside, the cave is very roomy. Divers, meanwhile, shouldn’t miss the life-size, 250-kilogram (550-pound) statue of Christ the Redeemer that rests at a depth of 15 meters (about 50 feet) on the seabed between La Cacciarella and Cala Grande. The statue is marked by a plaque fixed to the rocks at the surface.
Buca delle Fate
In the Gulf of Piombino, looking out over the Tuscan Archipelago, you’ll find this beautiful bay lapped by crystal-clear water and ringed with olive trees, holm oaks, strawberry trees, and myrtle. It’s most easily reached by sea, since getting there over land isn’t easy, but anyone up for a walk can follow the trail within the Reciso route.
When you reach the unpaved clearing at Reciso, you’ll find three trails; take the one on the right, and once you get to a wooden fence, all you have to do is climb the little stepladder there and keep walking until you reach a dense holm-oak wood, where you’ll come across some underground chamber tombs of a Hellenistic-era Etruscan necropolis, which likely gave the bay its legendary name (buca delle fate means “fairies’ hollow”). The final stretch of the trail opens onto a magnificent coastline, its rock sculpted into extravagant shapes by the elements.
Punta Righini
It isn’t a sandy beach, and if you love the comforts of beach clubs and fully equipped shores, it may not be for you, but on the widest part of the Castiglioncello headland you’ll find this beautiful rocky stretch.
With its lunar-landscape looks, it’s dotted with tiny, inviting coves to dive into. You can only get here on foot, but it will be totally worth it!
Cala Martina
Cala Martina, less well known than the famous Cala Violina, has nothing to envy it, with its fine golden sand and a sea of marvelous colors. In this corner of the Maremma, nature rules: there are no kiosks or tourist facilities, and absolute peace reigns.
Set between Follonica and Punta Ala, inside the Bandite di Scarlino Nature Reserve, about 2 km (a bit over a mile) from Cala Violina, Cala Martina can only be reached on foot or by bike, along a lovely scenic trail. Standing guard over the cove is a monument commemorating the “Hero of the Two Worlds”: Garibaldi set sail from this very beach in 1849, fleeing the soldiers of the Papal States so he could carry on his campaign for the unification of Italy.
Carbonifera
Easily reached by car or by bike, this beach is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Follonica, in the Sterpaia Coastal Park. A centuries-old pine forest, fine golden sand, and a shallow, crystal-clear seabed make it perfect for kids, too. There are both beach clubs and free public stretches, and on the clearest days it offers a stunning view of the islands of Elba and Montecristo.
It owes its name to the old hydraulic station built in 1870 for the reclamation of the area. A nineteenth-century turret and the pier reaching out to sea will help you recognize this charming beach, which once marked the end of the railway that ran through the metal-bearing hills of the Grosseto area, carrying coal from the mines down to the sea.
Cala del Bove
On the western side of the Monte Argentario promontory, a few hundred meters south of Cala del Gesso, you’ll find this cove bathed by an enchanting crystal-clear sea, ideal for snorkeling fans. It’s said to owe its name to the monk seals that once swam in its waters.
If you like sprawling in the sun for hours, it may not be for you, but you can still stretch out on the smooth rocks and soak up the calm of this little beach, one of the least known and least crowded on the Argentario. It’s easy to reach by sea, and over land as well, along a trail of about 700 meters (roughly half a mile).
Cala Peducelli
Between Lido di Capoliveri and Spiaggia dell’Innamorata, there’s a stretch of coast with blocks of pink marble, massive boulders of dark sandstone, and ocher-colored sediment. But the colorful, varied cliffs and the extraordinary clarity of the water aren’t the only spectacle you’ll get to enjoy in this cove: if you love sunsets over the sea, this is the perfect place for you!
From Cala Peducelli you can take in golden sunsets beyond the Monte Capanne massif, across a vast sweep of open sea, with Montecristo and Pianosa in the distance. What’s more, a narrow path winds above the cove, hanging over the sea, and in a few minutes it lets you reach two tiny inlets where, if they aren’t already taken, you can enjoy a totally private slice of paradise!
Spiaggia Buzzancone
Also called Cera, this small pebble beach is tucked into a low, wild stretch of coast and sees few visitors. It’s surrounded by a green, shady valley and is reached by leaving your car at Calanova and continuing on foot along the private road of the Costa dei Gabbiani resort for about fifteen minutes.
On the seabed just off the beach, at a little over thirty meters (about 100 feet) deep, the wreck of a large Roman cargo ship laden with amphorae was discovered; some of the finds can be seen at the archaeological museum in Portoferraio.
Cala del Ceppo
On the enchanting island of Capraia you’ll find this cove along the eastern coast, just past the tip of the Civitata. It’s a beautiful inlet, among the widest on the island, with a seabed that’s almost all sand and pale-blue water, perfect for snorkeling.
It can be reached both by sea and on foot, via a trail of about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) that starts from the village and passes through the Piana area: the hike is a genuine immersion in the nature of the Mediterranean scrub, with its enchanting views, before you reach a swimming spot of absolute tranquility.
Spiaggia delle Cannelle
Cannelle beach lies on the eastern coast of the island of Giglio and faces the splendid Argentario promontory. It’s a tongue of fine white sand with a shallow, crystal-clear sea.
Perfect for families with kids, thanks in part to the convenience of the beach club, but also for snorkeling fans, who’ll find their own paradise here among the seagrass meadows and schools of small, colorful fish. For those who prefer silence and calm, a stroll among the rocks can lead you to more sheltered, less crowded little coves.
