I’m an Italian expert – here’s a quaint coastal town with a beautiful beach that is overlooked by tourists
AN ITALIAN expert has revealed the little-known coastal town that holidaymakers should visit that’s free from the crowds.
Popular towns and cities in Italy can get very crowded, but there are still some secluded spots where holidaymakers can relax in peace.
Despite the hordes of tourists, one travel expert has revealed the secluded spot holidaymakers should visit on their next trip to the Amalfi Coast.
Pippa Butcher is the Italian Expert at Jules Verne, a travel company specialising in guided tours.
She said: “From winding through the breathtaking Italian dolomites in search of an unspoilt picnic spot to stumbling upon local restaurants carved into the cliffs of Meta di Sorrento, Italy in September is a spectacle like no other.
“Whilst during the summer months tourists flock to the Amalfi coast in their thousands and temperatures soar to beyond bearable, September’s cooler climate and empty towns make it an ideal time to venture away from the popular sights and delve under the skin of Italy’s charm.”
One place Pippa recommended visiting on a summer trip to the Amalfi Coast was Meta di Sorrento.
Located on the Sorrentine Peninsula, Meta di Sorrento is divided into two distinct areas.
According to Sorrento Insider, the Mulino is the higher part, which centres along the Corso Italia, while the lower part, known as Casale, is a warren on narrow lanes located near the town’s coastline.
It’s the lower part where tourists will spend most of their time and that’s because it’s home to one of the largest beaches on the Sorrento Peninsula.
Lido Metamare also happens to be one of the only sandy beaches in the area too.
Formed of volcanic sand from nearby Mount Vesuvius, the beach is lined with sun loungers and parasols that tourists can rent for a small fee.
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The little-known beach has been praised on TripAdvisor, with a 4/5 star rating.
One person wrote: “This is one of the most beautiful seasides I’ve seen.”
Another person added: “We had a great day out, it was very relaxing.”
Lido Metamare is a 20-minute walk from Meta Train Station, which has direct connections to Naples, Sorrento and Pompeii.
There are plenty of other sites to visit in Meta di Sorrento, including a visit to Basilica di Santa Maria del Lauro – a church dedicated to Madonna del Lauro, the patron saint of sailors.
Other attractions in the Italian town include Chiesa dell’Assunta and the Cappella degli Angeli Custodi.
Hotels in Meta di Sorrento are relatively affordable with rooms starting from around £42 per night per person, based on two people sharing a room.
Meta di Sorrento can be reached by a local train from Naples, with journeys taking just over an hour.
It’s also just a 50-minute drive away from Salerno Airport, which opened earlier this year.
EasyJet is the only UK airline to offer routes to the new Salerno Airport in Italy.
The new easyJet flights will now operate twice a week from London Gatwick on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Flights start from £46.99 each way, while easyJet has also launched a number of package holidays including flights to the new airport.
And there are plenty of other secluded spots in Italy only locals seem to know about, including Ponza.
Ponza
Ponza is part of the Pontine archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea, and it is home to beaches that rival Capri — but for a fraction of the price.
One of the more rustic Italian islands, with its untouched natural landscapes, hidden coves and sea caves.
To get there, you can hop on a train from Rome‘s main station, Termini, to the port city of Anzio. The journey takes just over an hour and costs around £5.
Other little-known places to visit in Italy
Pippa Butcher also revealed several other little-known places Brit holidaymakers can visit in Italy to get away from the clouds.
Pippa’s top off-the-beaten-track spots in Italy include:
- Positano – a cliffside village on Italy’s Amalfi coast with pastel-painted houses perched on sheer cliffs.
- Lago de Braies – one of Italy’s most beautiful blue lakes hidden amongst spectacular jagged peaks.
- Matera – a magical city of stone where limestone churches, palaces and houses rise from the ravine, a haunting relic of thousands of years of human habitation.
Meanwhile, here are the 100 best beaches in the world to visit in 2024 – and four from the UK have made the cut.
And one tiny UK town has been compared to a stunning Italian island.