The most beautiful beaches in the Tuscan Maremma

An itinerary to discover the golden beaches and crystal clear seas of the Maremma

"[...] we set out for a forest/ that was marked by no path./ Not green foliage, but of a gloomy color;/ not straightforward branches, but gnarled and twisted;/ there were no apples, but sticks with tòsco:/ they have no such harsh brushwoods nor so thick/ those wild beasts that have in hatred/ between Cecina and Corneto the quiet places" (If. XXV, 19-24). Many things have changed since the Supreme Poet described the Maremma as an impassable, inhospitable place covered with unhealthy marshes, the important reclamation works begun under the Lorraines have in fact transformed it into one of the most beautiful coastal areas of the Italian peninsula. This large area, which begins south of the provinces of Pisa and Livorno and stretches as far as the Lazio province of Viterbo, offers today endless and varied suggestions, not only for its splendid sea, but also for the greenery of its hinterland and the many protected natural areas. We have traveled it from north to south to select the 15 most beautiful beaches of this incredible and multifaceted territory.

A land masterfully recounted in the book commissioned by the Consorzio Tutela Vini della Maremma Toscana and published by Gruppo Editoriale: MAREMMA TOSCANA – A journey through people, places and tastes with texts by journalist and food and wine critic Aldo Fiordelli and unpublished photographs by photographer Dario Garofalo.

Maremma is not only sea but also full of beautiful villages, here you can find our article on the most beautiful ones and here the one on the best restaurants to eat in. If instead you want to stop and eat on the beach in this article you will find a list of the best restaurants by the sea. For your choice of wine rely on our article on the great wines of Maremma found here.

Instead, here you will find the most beautiful attractions to see along the coast, beyond the sea, and the most exclusive places to stay, eat or do sports.

Sterpaia Park - Follonica (LI)
Sterpaia Park is located in the gulf between Piombino and Follonica and consists of crystal-clear waters embraced by an 8-km-long stretch of sandy beach behind which rises a narrow dune strip rich in pine trees and herbaceous vegetation. The entire coastal strip is organized with eateries, bathing establishments, some small stores and several picnic areas. Beaches are located at Perelli, Carlappiano, Mortelliccio, il Pino, Carbonifera, and Torre Mozza, and each has parking facilities.

Puntone Beach - Scarlino (GR)
That of Puntone is a wide sandy beach that stretches for 11 km. Here the water is transparent, the seabed is shallow and slopes gently as you go offshore, a detail that makes it ideal for families with children or for those who cannot swim! The beach is partly free and partly equipped with numerous facilities, including some sports centers that offer the possibility of Kitesurfing, Stand Up Paddle or Windsurfing. For pet lovers, there is also a small dog beach where dogs of all sizes are accepted. In addition, if you stay until sunset time you will enjoy an unforgettable view of Elba Island.

Cala Violina - Scarlino (GR)
Framed by the thick Mediterranean scrub of the Bandite di Scarlino Nature Reserve, this beautiful beach, enclosed between two promontories, owes its name to a peculiarity that makes it unique: the sand is made up of tiny grains of quartz that when trampled by the footsteps of bathers emit a melody reminiscent of the notes of a violin. It is therefore a magical and beautiful place that attracts so many tourists every summer, which is why for the past few years, in order to preserve its beauty and nature, access to the beach is allowed to a maximum of 700 people per day and therefore a reservation service is available, which you can access by going to www.calaviolinascarlino.it and for which a small contribution of 1 euro is required.

Cala Civette - Scarlino (GR)
Also within the Scarlino reserve, just south of Cala Violina, is another beautiful beach, less well known and less crowded during peak season, named for the 16th-century watchtower that towers over the beach from the promontory, the Torre Civette. It is the perfect place for those seeking peace of mind: there is a thick pine forest protecting the beach, a clear sea full of fish, perfect for diving, and the sand is very fine and golden. The beach is not equipped with services, there are no sunbeds, umbrellas or establishments; you will literally be immersed in a completely unspoiled landscape.

Punta Ala - Follonica (GR)
Lying on the tip of the promontory from which it takes its name, at the southern end of the Gulf of Follonica, Punta Ala is a tourist and very elegant seaside resort. In fact, since the 1970s there has been a marina, the Marina di Punta Ala, which has made it an extremely elite resort thanks to the many yachts moored there. The beaches in this small town are varied and for all tastes: if you head north you will find long and comfortable sandy beaches, but if you head south there are many small coves that can only be reached on foot and in a not too agile way, but are incredibly wild and unspoiled.

Rocchette Beach - Castiglione della Pescaia (GR)
The Rocchette beach, just outside Castiglione della Pescaia, also owes its name to a historic building, the Rocchette Fort, which, with its mozza tower, has overlooked this beach since the 12th century. The water here is also very clear and the seabed is quite shallow and slopes gently, a detail that makes this beach perfect for children and snorkeling enthusiasts. A good part of the beach is free but there are also bathing establishments, bars, and a restaurant by the sea.

Riva del Sole - Castiglione della Pescaia (GR)
Another beautiful beach, with crystal clear sea, thin beach, and lots of Mediterranean scrub framing it. There are services, lifeguards, and a miniature golf course and a baseball field. There is also a beautiful resort, the Riva del Sole, nestled in the green pine forest, which provides sunbeds and umbrellas, has swimming pools, a spa, and a restaurant, where you can enjoy a relaxing stay surrounded by an unforgettable landscape.

Capezzòlo Beach - Castiglione della Pescaia (GR)
Enchanting long narrow beach, golden sand and clear sea from which you can enjoy the view of some of the islands of the Tuscan archipelago, Giglio, Elba and Montecristo. The beach at Capezzòlo is equally divided between free beach and bathing establishments, among which the Valletta Beach Club certainly stands out, with 5,000 square meters of beach, a play area for children, beach volleyball courts, a bar and an excellent restaurant located right on the beach.

Marze Beach - Castiglione della Pescaia (GR)
Wonderful long and mostly free beach, located north of Marina di Grosseto, on the road to Castiglione della Pescaia, set in the middle of the beautiful Pineta del Tombolo. Here, too, Mediterranean scrub covers the high dunes, some reaching up to 2 meters, that frame the beach. A long stretch of the shoreline is called Bau Beach and allows people to bring their four-legged friends with them. Parking areas are quite small, so we recommend arriving early to find a parking space.

Fiumara Beach - Marina di Grosseto (GR)
Located in the middle of the long stretch of sand that borders the small hamlet of Marina di Grosseto, in the heart of the San Felice Nature Oasis, Fiumara's is a free and spacious beach, surrounded by the ever-present pine forest and characterized by clear blue water. The only establishment present is Fiumara Beach, a beautiful wooden structure, equipped with umbrellas and deck chairs, a bar and an excellent restaurant with tables placed on the beach and protected by elegant white curtains.

Alberese Beach - (Gr)
This beautiful beach, considered one of the most beautiful in all of Tuscany, is located within the Maremma Natural Park. To reach it, therefore, you must go to the Park Visitor Center and from there take the approximately 8 km bike path or take advantage of the shuttle service that connects the Center to the beach. Once there you will find an incredibly clear sea and a fine, golden beach, unspoiled and sheltered by dense vegetation that offers several areas of natural shade. A curiosity: when the shade of the vegetation is not enough here it is customary to build huts with the many logs and branches found on the beach.

Cala di Forno - Migliano in Tuscany (GR)
Located within the Maremma Natural Park, Cala di Forno beach is perhaps one of the most fascinating beaches on the entire Maremma coast but also one of the least accessible; to reach it, in fact, you need to leave your car outside the Park, in Pinottolaio, and walk a path of about 8 km. The beach is not equipped, there are no establishments or bars, so you will have to bring everything you need, for these reasons it is certainly a place suitable for lovers of adventure and unspoiled nature. Arriving on the beach you will be able to observe the passage of foxes and deer, and, raising your head, you can watch the flight of the majestic peregrine falcon.

Cala Bagno delle Donne in Talamone (GR)
Small pebbly cove, enclosed by rocks, whose name derives from a particular historical fact: from the Fascist era until the 1950s, singles were not allowed to frequent the same beach and so this small cove had been reserved for women. The water here is crystal clear and, thanks to the presence of light-colored rocks, takes on hues ranging from deep blue to light blue to bright green. Above the cove rises majestically a castle of medieval origin that was meant to defend the coast from attacks from the sea.

Ansedonia (GR)
In this beautiful and peculiar location situated in the strip of land that joins the Feniglia tombolo to the Maremma coast and is covered with dense vegetation in the midst of which stand splendid villas, there are two beautiful beaches: one, further north, facing Monte Argentario and characterized by a sandy shoreline, surrounded by a pine forest in which fallow deer are often seen walking freely; another, on the southern side, oriented toward the Capalbio coastline and characterized by the presence of the Tagliata, a magnificent work of hydraulic engineering from the Roman era, and the Torre Puccini (or Torre della Tagliata), a 15th-century construction in which Giacomo Puccini also stayed for some time.

The beach of Capalbio (GR)
Capalbio's can be said to be one big beach, a good 12 km of sandy shoreline and crystal clear sea bordering the municipality of Orbetello to the north and the territory of Lazio to the south. In reality, however, there are differences between the various beaches on this coastline: Playa la Torba is a very quiet area, with one part of the beach free and one occupied by establishments, here the sand is slightly darker; further south, Macchiatonda beach, within the WWF Oasis, represents the wildest stretch of the area and is home to a single bathing establishment; still further south is L'Ultima Spiaggia, the coolest area of the coastline, where one of the most famous bathing establishments in Italy is located and frequented by political and show business personalities.