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From the Italian Riviera to the farthest reaches of Sicily, there are practically endless stunning seaside villages in Italy where travelers can enjoy idyllic beaches, ancient ruins, incredible cuisine and plenty of culture. If you’re looking for the best of the best when it comes to scenery, you can’t beat these, including Manarola, pictured above, and widely regarded as the most beautiful of the five villages that make up Italy’s Cinque Terre region. This gorgeous community is filled with brightly-colored homes that cascade down the rocky slopes between the hills and the Mediterranean.

Positano

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The cascading village of Positano is the most magnificent and arguably romantic on the entire Amalfi Coast, intriguing visitors with its pastel-hued houses perched on mountains that rise above the sea.

Vernazza, Italy

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Like Manarola, this village is wedged between the cliffs and the sea in the spectacular Cinque Terre region, drawing visitors with its coffee shops, vividly-colored homes and scenic plazas on the bay.

Portafino

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The coastal town of Portofino is surely one of the most stunning seaside villages in Italy, and renowned as one of the most beautiful European ports to sail into.

Vieste

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Vieste is a lovely coastal town in northern Puglia with a gorgeous historical center and a natural wonder known as ‘Il Pizzomunno’, an 82-foot-high white cliff, standing in front of the Castle Beach.

Otranto

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One of Puglia’s most vibrant towns, Otranto overlooks a beautiful harbor on the turquoise Adriatic coast, and on a clear day you can see across to Albania.