The best beaches near Marzamemi: how to choose the right one

In Marzamemi, the problem isn't finding a beautiful beach: it's choosing one. Within a few kilometres you'll find some of the most beautiful sandy beaches in Sicily, each with its own character. Here are the ones we love most and, above all, how to choose the right one for your day.

The beaches closest to Marzamemi

Spinazza is Marzamemi's own beach, the closest to the village: fine sand, shallow water, beach clubs and a free beach. Right next door is San Lorenzo, one of the best-known beaches on the coast, with water that makes you think of the Caribbean. Both are very popular with tourists and fill up quickly in high summer.

A little further south is Morghella, our favourite. Foreign tourists often don't know it; it's mostly locals who come here. It's largely a free beach, with a renovated beach club and, in spring, pink flamingos in the salt pan across the road.

In the Vendicari nature reserve

If you're after nature, the Vendicari reserve is just a few minutes away. Calamosche is a small sandy bay between two headlands, reached only by a walk of about twenty minutes. Cittadella, at the southern entrance to the reserve, mixes small coves with a long strip of sand, next to the remains of a Byzantine settlement. Neither has beach clubs or bars, so bring everything you need.

Towards Portopalo and Isola delle Correnti

In Portopalo, Spiaggia dei Due Mari looks out over the island of Capo Passero. It's one of the few beaches in the area with showers, restaurants and a playground close by: handy with children. Heading further south you reach Carratois, a long golden beach among the dunes, with very shallow water. It's often windy, which is why kitesurfers love it. And finally Isola delle Correnti, the southernmost point of Sicily, where the Ionian and the Mediterranean meet in front of a small islet.

The locals' secret: check the wind

The wind often blows on one coast and not on the other: on one side the beaches towards Marzamemi and Vendicari, on the other those towards Portopalo and Isola delle Correnti. Before you set off, check where the wind is coming from and pick the sheltered side: it can change your whole day.

How to choose the right beach

Beyond the wind, it all comes down to three things. The time of year: in July and August the most famous beaches, like San Lorenzo, are crowded; in June or September they're all quieter. The time you have: for a quick swim, Spinazza or Morghella are a few minutes away; Vendicari and Isola delle Correnti deserve half a day. And what you want to do: if you'd like to have lunch there, pick a beach with beach clubs and restaurants, like San Lorenzo or Spiaggia dei Due Mari; if all you need is the sea, the beaches in the reserve are unbeatable.

All these beaches are just a few kilometres from our apartment. If you're planning your holiday, take a look at our local guide for all the details on each beach.