News from Italy
The ugliest and best seaside resorts in Europe
The Telegraph has drawn up two lists of European seaside cities: one with the worst and one with the best. The first includes places often industrialised or dominated by skyscrapers. In contrast, the second contains very different places, of which everyday life appreciates different characteristics. The Italian coast is also on the list.
Europe is also famous for its dream beaches, which make it a perfect destination for travel. Yet, there are also some stretches of coast that are not so pleasant to the eye and lend themselves little to exploration due to various factors: blame pollution, overcrowding, or poor maintenance. The Telegraph has collected them all, compiling a list.
One of the locations included in Kemer, Turkey: “Bland, gated hotel complexes, water parks, nondescript restaurants and shopping malls combine to create a lifeless cross between the set of The Truman Show and a Pontins holiday camp.” Overall, it’s not a very edifying review. It was no better in Albufeira, Portugal. It was described as full of “endless bars, pulsating nightlife and cheap accommodation in ugly, modern apartment blocks”. Nothing comparable to the fishing village that initially occupied this place. Also on the list are La Linea in Spain, Ploče in Croatia and Laganas in Greece. On the Italian front, Italy has unfortunately also returned to The Telegraph’s ranking.
The ugliest:
La Línea de la Concepción, Spain
La Línea is a resort with wide sandy beaches located on the border between Spain and Gibraltar. According to The Telegraph, it is among the ugliest because the view is characterized by a series of skyscrapers and its proximity to the largest refinery on the Iberian peninsula. In fact, many oil tankers can be seen on the horizon crossing the Bay of Gibraltar. To make matters worse, crime is widespread in this area. There is, however, some sign of urban regeneration.
Kemer, Türkiye
Kemer is located a short distance from one of the most beautiful locations (Çıralı, they are 20 km away). Still, according to The Telegraph, it is entirely different. It was built in the 1990s with nearby resorts such as Beldibi, part of the same Kemer 2000 project. Over time, it swallowed up the small fishing villages typical of the area. It is characterised by hotel complexes, water parks, restaurants and tourist shops. It remains a reasonably popular destination: around 300 thousand visitors choose it yearly.
Ploče, Croatia
It is located halfway between Dubrovnik and Split, on the coastal road. It developed under Yugoslavia and has a railway running inland to Sarajevo (now operating only in summer, offering a scenic route along the Neretva Valley to Bosnia). The city also has a port with a petrochemical terminal and grain silos.
Ostia, Italy
Italy ranks in this ranking with Ostia, which is near Rome. “Even for a person who still has few terms of comparison, from a seaside point of view, it was clear that while the sand seemed more or less okay, the water was really to be avoided. The rows of modern apartment buildings as a backdrop, with just a hint of green, didn’t help,” comments Tim Jepson in the Telegraph.
Monk
The principality of Monaco is also included in this ranking due to its crowding and crowding and the high number of inhabitants concentrated in a small territory. Skyscrapers pile up, “each elbowing its way forward to have a better view of the sea.” According to the Telegraph, luxury and extravagance are the main characteristics of this particular place, full of skyscrapers crowded together.
The most beautiful:
Llafranc, Spain
This location features a horseshoe-shaped bay with pine trees, low-slung, whitewashed buildings, and elegant sidewalk cafes. Many tourists alternate it with Barcelona, an hour and a half’s drive south. The French border is also close, about the same distance to the north. The water here is shallow and surrounded by rocks. We recommend the Camino de Ronda coastal path for those who want to take a walk.
Rovinj, Croatia
Italian Rovinj has a historic centre perched on a small peninsula and topped by a church at the top of the hill. Different dimensions coexist, from the fishing port to modern summer hotels. From here, you can take a boat to the islet of Sveti Andrija and go on an underwater excursion to the Baron Gautsch shipwreck or cycle along the paths of the Zlatni Rt park.
Comporta, Portugal
It is located in the municipality of Alcácer, in the ancient district of Setúbal. According to the Telegraph, its atmosphere is a bit reminiscent of the South of France. Like some other Portuguese towns, its charm is accentuated by the mix of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, which meet here. It is a centre of few inhabitants, maintaining authenticity over time. The whitewashed buildings with blue finishes are characteristic.
Cefalù, Sicily
The Telegraph calls it a “perfect medieval town” and praises its landscapes, the Norman Romanesque cathedral, palm trees, and cafés of Piazza del Duomo. It also mentions the nearby beaches of Salinelle, Caldura, and Pollina, which offer other options.