8 of the best coastal towns in Italy away from the crowds

Pale houses spilling down a hillside to the sea, parasols and gelati vendors set up on an arc of fine-shingle beach, and a nuggety castle on a bluff. This isn’t, in fact, the Amalfi Coast’s Positano, but the quieter town of Scilla on the Violet Coast, in the southern region of Calabria. The fishing district of Chianaleais particularly attractive. It’s strung outbeside the waves, where cobalt-blue boats are hauled on slips and swordfish ciabatta is the speciality — don’t miss the ones at Civico 5 on Via Grotte. Spend some time here and it takes a little while to notice what’s missing: traffic and crowds.