Eight Undiscovered European Beach Towns for a Quieter August
An article from Quartz showcases eight charming beach towns in Europe that remain tranquil during August, covering four coastlines across seven nations. Selected for their clear waters, pedestrian-friendly centers, and fresh seafood, these destinations attract fewer visitors due to transportation limitations or development controls. Notable mentions include Cetara, Italy, famous for colatura di alici, and Sozopol, Bulgaria, with its historic wooden old town. Piran, Slovenia, boasts Venetian Gothic structures, while Tarifa, Spain, serves as a windsurfing hotspot. Comporta, Portugal, is recognized for its thatched-roof homes, and Kastellorizo, Greece, has restricted access. Camogli, Italy, provides an authentic Ligurian atmosphere, and Alonissos, Greece, is encircled by a marine park, making these towns perfect for a serene beach getaway in August.
Key facts
- The article lists eight uncrowded beach towns in Europe: Cetara, Sozopol, Piran, Tarifa, Comporta, Kastellorizo, Camogli, and Alonissos.
- The towns span seven countries: Italy, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Greece (two towns), and are on four different coastlines.
- Cetara is known for colatura di alici, an anchovy sauce with roots in ancient Roman garum.
- Sozopol was founded as the Greek colony Apollonia around the seventh century B.C.
- Piran's architecture reflects Venetian rule, including the Tartinijev trg square named after Giuseppe Tartini.
- Tarifa is a windsurfing and kitesurfing destination due to strong winds from the Strait of Gibraltar.
- Comporta's development is limited by strict zoning and the Espírito Santo banking family's historical land control.
- Kastellorizo's population is in the low hundreds, and it is closer to Turkey than to other Greek islands.
- Camogli's name is believed to derive from 'Casa delle mogli' (house of wives), and it hosts an annual fish festival.
- Alonissos is part of the National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades, established in 1992 to protect the Mediterranean monk seal.
Entities
Institutions
- Quartz Media, Inc.
- SITA bus
- Sunny Beach
- Strunjan Nature Reserve
- Portofino Regional Natural Park
- National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades
- Espírito Santo banking family
Locations
- Cetara
- Italy
- Amalfi Coast
- Vietri sul Mare
- Maiori
- Positano
- Amalfi
- Salerno
- Sozopol
- Bulgaria
- Black Sea
- Burgas
- Sunny Beach
- Harmanite
- Kavatsite
- Piran
- Slovenia
- Adriatic coastline
- Croatian Istria
- Tartinijev trg
- Cathedral of St. George
- Gulf of Trieste
- Croatia
- Strunjan Nature Reserve
- Portorož
- Trieste
- Tarifa
- Spain
- Costa de la Luz
- Cádiz province
- Costa del Sol
- Strait of Gibraltar
- Morocco
- Playa de los Lances
- Playa de Valdevaqueros
- Tangier
- Gibraltar
- Jerez
- Comporta
- Portugal
- Alentejo coast
- Sado estuary
- Setúbal
- Lisbon
- Algarve
- Praia do Pego
- Praia da Comporta
- Sado Estuary Nature Reserve
- Kastellorizo
- Greece
- Kaş
- Turkey
- Rhodes
- Blue Cave
- Dodecanese islands
- Camogli
- Ligurian coast
- Genoa
- Portofino
- San Fruttuoso
- Cinque Terre
- Alonissos
- Sporades
- Skiathos
- Skopelos
- Volos
- National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades
- Patitiri
- Kokkinokastro
- Chrysi Milia
- Peristera
- Kyra Panagia
Sources
- Quartz —