Spectacular beaches for every taste

As well as being the perfect destination for getting to know Italy’s Puglia region, Bari – where you can fly from 8,250 Avios each way – is also the starting point for exploring some of the Adriatic’s best beaches. Polignano a Mare, just 30 minutes away, is home to treasures such as Lama Monachile, a small beach tucked between the rocks that form the foundation of the city’s imposing Old Town. / Image by Michal Ludwiczak: Adobe Stock

Somewhat further from Bari – just a couple of hours’ drive – is Roca Vecchia, a small archaeological site dotted with karst caves. Rocky coves, underwater channels and pools make this a magical place for a holiday on the Adriatic coast. Carved into the rock is the Grotta della Poesia, a natural turquoise-coloured pool with an astounding circular shape. / Image from Imagin Apulia: Adobe Stock

This was once home to the wealthy bourgeoisie, who built houses in the Sicilian Liberty (Modernist) style in the 1920s. Nowadays, it’s one of the top vacation destinations in Palermo, available from 8,250 Avios each way. Mondello is a beach that’s perfect for the entire family, thanks to its calm, shallow water. A stroll through this coastal town to take in the Modernist buildings and then enjoy some drinks on its pier in the evening is the perfect way to end the day. / Image by EugeS: Adobe Stock

San Teodoro’s beaches, half an hour from Olbia (from 8,250 Avios each way), are famous for their ultra-fine sand and shallow waters, making them perfect for kids. La Cinta is one of the island’s most famous beaches, where flamingos and purple herons can be seen nearby. However, the nearby Lu Impostu beach easily holds its own. This beautiful beach is bathed by crystal-clear water and is surrounded by cardoons, wild lilies and mimosa. / Image by nextyle: Adobe Stock

The Maddalena archipelago is an unmissable stop on a trip to Sardinia. The Port of Palau, just 45 minutes from Olbia, has ferries that take just half an hour to whisk you away to paradise. The only way to reach Caprera, an island that once belonged to Italian patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi, and explore spectacular coves such as Coticcio (in the image), is a driveway bridge over the sea that connects the two islands. Don’t forget your snorkelling gear! / Image by Travel Wild: Adobe Stock

Just 45km from Cagliari, where you can fly from only 8,250 Avios, you’ll find Villasimius, commonly known as ‘a slice of the Caribbean in Sardinia’. Its 20-plus beaches – extending 32km, blessed with crystal-clear water and surrounded by dunes – attract travellers from across the world. There’s a good reason that Porto Giunco beach (in the image) is known as the ‘pearl of the southeast coast’. If you like hiking, climb to the Porto Giunco Tower and enjoy the spectacular views from there. / Image from aniphaes: Adobe Stock

The beaches range from fine sand to stone in the Taormina area, 45 minutes from Catania, where you can fly from 8,500 Avios. Isola Bella is located just across from Lido Mazzaro beach. As its name suggests, the island is lovely. You can reach it by boat, or by a thin strip of land that links it with the coast of Sicily at low tide. It is home to treasures such as the Grotta Azzurra sea cave, which can be visited in kayaks. / Image by Roberto Lo Savio

Baia di Ieranto is magical because it where Homer situated the mermaids who captured Ulysses on the way to Ithaca (giving it its name – Bay of Mermaids) and also because of the 30-minute trip that takes you there. Nerano, an hour and a half from Naples (where you can fly from 8,250 Avios each way) is the beginning of a journey filled with fantastic scenery, such as the Sirenusas, an archipelago of little islands, and the famous Faraglioni (tall rocks) on the island of Capri. It is here that the Greeks built a temple to Athena and the Romans later dedicated one to Minerva. / Image from Giuma:AdobeStock