SOUTHERN ITALY

	Campania		Cam
	Basilicata		Bas
	Calabria		Cal
	Puglia		Pug

The far south of Italy is dominated by Naples (in Campania), the chaotic city in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius that is part of Italy's third largest metropolitan area. While this area of Italy has fewer established nude beaches than the other two mainland areas of the country, there are some hidden jewels if you know where to look.

BASILICATA      MAPopen map in pop-up window       [ ↑ ]go to top of page
	In the far south of Italy, the region of Basilicata has just two provinces, with short coastal segments on two parts of the Mediterranean. Matera is toward the center of Italy's southern (Ionian) coast, while Potenza is toward the southern end of Italy's western (Tyrrhenian) coast. At this time, there are no listings in this guide for Basilicata.

CALABRIA      MAPopen map in pop-up window       [ ↑ ]go to top of page
	Calabria, the southernmost region of mainland Italy, is the toe-end of the boot. Nearly encircled by water, Calabria has coastline along both the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ionian Sea. Those two subdivisions of the Mediterranean meet at the Strait of Messina, the unbridged waterway between the Italian mainland and Sicily. Calabria has five divisions: four provinces and one metropolitan city. All five have coastline. Cosenza and Catanzaro both have non-contiguous coastal segments along the Tyrrhenian and the Ionian. Vibo Valentia has only a Tyrrhenian coast, while Crotone has only an Ionian coast. Reggio Calabria has a contiguous coastline along the Tyrrhenian, the Strait of Messina and the Ionian.
		NUDE BEACHES In the far south of Italy, Spiaggia di Pizzo Greco  38.9219N, 17.1240E  is the country's only nude beach that directly abuts the grounds of a naturist resort (listed farther down), and it is common to see resort guests descending the hillside to the beach sans a stitch. Day visitors can park at the resort to access the beach, but single men in particular are advised to have a membership card from the International Naturist Federation (INF). Pizzo Grecco, on the Ionian side of Calabria, is among the top few nude beaches in all of Italy. Farther south and west along the Ionian coast, Spiaggia di Stignano  38.3693N, 16.5076E  is a lightly attended beach near the provincial border of Reggio Calabria and Catanzaro, not especially close to any major towns. An ample stretch of the sandy beach was officially designated for naturism in 2022. On the Tyrrhenian side of the region, Spiaggia della Stazione  38.6640N, 15.8576E  in the village of Santa Domenica is set against a stunning backdrop, but it is a rather minor nudist location. LODGING      Pizzo Greco    38.9241N, 17.1243E       beach            Isola di Capo Rizzuto (Crotone)

CAMPANIA      MAPopen map in pop-up window       [ ↑ ]go to top of page
	Toward the south end of the western (Tyrrhenian) coast of Italy, the region of Campania has five divisions: four provinces and one metropolitan city. From north to south, the three coastal divisions are Caserta, Napoli (Naples) and Salerno. The two landlocked divisions are Avellino and Benevento.
		NUDE BEACHES In the beautiful city of Sorrento, nude bathers gather along the farthest extreme of a stretch of rocky shoreline known as Bagni della Regina Giovanna  40.6310N, 14.3498E  . Spiaggia di Tordigliano  40.6190N, 14.4504E  is a hidden beach along the spectacular Amalfi Coast with a rather sporadic, unpredictable nudist presence. About 5 to 6 kilometers offshore from the province of Naples, The island of Capri has but one established nudist location near a feature called the Grotta dell'Arsenale  40.5463N, 14.2426E  . The rocky beach is just below Via Krupp, a switchback pedestrian road that is a well-known tourist attraction. The option of nude bathing is officially condoned on a hidden segment of Spiaggia del Troncone  40.0063N, 15.3414E  near Marina di Camerota, amid the beautiful coastal mountains near the southern extreme of the region of Campania.

PUGLIA      MAPopen map in pop-up window       [ ↑ ]go to top of page
	The region of Puglia, also known as Apulia in English, is in the far southeast of Italy. Puglia is located at the confluence of two parts of the Mediterranean, where the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionian Sea. The region has six divisions: five provinces and one metropolitan city. All six are coastal. From north to south, the four divisions along the Adriatic are Foggia, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Bari and Brindisi, then the coast curves around Lecce, which has Adriatic and Ionian coastline, then Taranto is located along the Ionian.
		NUDE BEACHES Better known by the English-language moniker "Freak Beach," Spiaggia di Ripagnola  41.0317N, 17.1569E  is a rocky stretch of Adriatic coastline south of Puglia's capital city. It is known for its countercultural ethos, and nude bathing is part of that culture. Spiaggia di Torre Guaceto  40.7081N, 17.8014E  near Brindisi is perhaps the best known nude beach in the region of Puglia, but this Adriatic beach at best draws moderate crowds of nudists due to a long requisite hike. The province of Lecce is entirely within a historical region called Salento, which roughly corresponds to the heel of the boot that is Italy. West of the town of Nardò, a few nudists gather along a rocky stretch within Porto Selvaggio Park  40.1517N, 17.9619E  , a beautiful coastal reserve. Farther south in the beautiful town of Gallipoli, nudists are often present at the Calette di Punta della Suina  40.0095N, 18.0187E  , a collection of sandy niches that are relatively isolated along the very popular coastline that extends southward from town. Both these Salento locations are on the Ionian coast, and both are primarily attended by gay men. Nudity bathing is well established at Spiaggia della Commenda  40.2973N, 17.5453E  , a picturesque Ionian beach near Campomarino that is quite easy to access. A small number of nudists gather along the periphery of Spiaggia di Termitosa  40.4832N, 16.9726E  , a wild stretch of Ionian beach that is east of the main beach of Castellaneta Marina. LODGING      Resort Naturista Grottamiranda    40.6688N, 17.7578E            Carovigno (Brindisi)      Naturist Club Parco del Gargano    41.9108N, 15.9217E            Ischitella (Foggia)      Casa Il Cantico    41.9237N, 15.9210E            Rodi Garganico (Foggia)      Lune Saracene    40.2962N, 17.5306E            San Michele Salentino (Taranto)