Lifestyle Press

The upmarket Villa Hibiscus offers three apartments built on the cliff-top at Positano, on the famous Amalfi coast. And, remarkably, the property has an elevator to its own tiny beach, custom-designed for secluded skinny dipping, according to the owner’s website.

Dutch owners, Johanna Noyon and her husband Ton van Schaik, rent two holiday cottages on the borders of the Liguria and Piedmont regions of Italy that are suitable for naturists. The estate is 35km from the Mediterranean coast. Mulino is a former mill that was restored in 2011 and sleeps from two to six people, whilst the Rustico cottage has two bedrooms. Both secluded properties have shared use of the family swimming pool.

The Villaggio del Sole naturist eco-village is located on the hills of the Low Monferrato Astigiano region, and has extensive grounds of 35,000 sq metres.  Operated as an international community project through the naturist association AssoNatura, where people share the concept of creating an ecological naturist environment – living is sustainable, slow, natural and happy! It’s in a private site with attractive gardens and offers guests: camping, bungalow accommodation and B&B. The old farmhouse, which dates back more than a century, has been fully restored.

Casa il Cantico is a naturist mini-agriturismo situated on the northflank of the Promontorio del Gargano in the region Puglia in the south-east of Italy. A holiday apartment is available to rent and camping is offered in the orchard close to the large swimming pool. The owners say the property is suited for people who enjoy tranquility, space and privacy.

According to recent media reports in Italy and the UK, the attractive and long-used nude beach at Lido di Dante (World’s Best Nude Beaches – page 230) is being closed by the Mayor. Fabrizio Matteucci has told nudists to make themselves decent or risk a €50 euro fine.

Zello Oasis is aimed at health-conscious naturists. Accommodation is available in an agricamping area (staying in a tent, camper, caravan, apartment, mini-service flat or private room), or in the clubhouse at the Villaggio della Salute Più (consisting of 6 country houses with private rooms and an apartment). The 30-hectare retreat is four-hundred metres above sea level and is situated not far from – and to the south of – the Italian city of Bologna.

Molino di Cima lies in a chestnut-wooded valley below the medieval hill town of Coreglia Antelminelli, at the foothills of the Garfagnana mountains. The 2-bedroomed ancient mill house cottage faces lush meadows and is set in 25 acres of grounds. There is large swimming pool and according to the owner: ‘with plenty of privacy, it’s suitable for naturists‘. Il Camino is a neighboring three bedroomed cottage.

Nude sailing along the west coast of Italy and around the islands of Elba, Sardinia and Corsica on La Barca looks stunning – www.naturistsailing.co.uk Use the following link to view a slide show with dozens of excellent naturist images set to music. I want to be there…

Finding quality nude-friendly accommodation in Italy can be challenging, but Susan and her Italian husband Lorenzo are keen to help holidaymakers locate their ideal au natural retreat in the countryside. Both are enthusiastic naturists and operate a vacation rental service – Foresight Italy -  in Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche.

For larger groups they recommend Campo delle Margherite, a restored stone farmhouse in the Umbrian countryside with five self-contained apartments set in 74 acres of private grounds. Near the station and 50 minutes’ by rail from Rome, naturist parties are welcome to take over the whole property.

In the middle of a scenic hilly area, 45 km from Pisa and 85 km from Florence, Podere Paterno is a two-storey Tuscan country house, which sleeps up to nine. There are views over the surrounding fields to the medieval town of Volterra. With a peaceful setting, attractive gardens and a panoramic swimming pool - ’nudism is welcome’. The property is also described as gay-friendly.

On the northwest coast of the Italian island of Sardinia, remote – Badesi beach – south of the small resort of Isola Rossais – is recommended by the newly-built Hotel Marinedda as ideal for nude bathing. Described as, ‘a fantastic experience that you can still enjoy on this beach and just a 30-minute walk from the hotel, or 5 minutes by boat.’ It’s a vast shore and should be easy to find a quiet spot even in high season.

In our guidebook – The World’s Best Nude Beaches and Resorts – we list no fewer than 7 hotels that offer nudist sunbathing on the Italian island of Ischia (page 231). We’ve now identified another wellness centre with an FKK naturist solarium – the Parco Termale Tropical. Guests staying at the Hotel La Palma and Hotel Il Fortino in S. Angelo d’Ischia have free access, but day visitors are also welcome to enjoy all of the facilities.

On the south coast of the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, an air-conditioned penthouse apartment sleeping up to 10 people has a spacious panoramic clothes-optional sun terrace. Located at Cagliari – the capital of Sardinia – the apartment enjoys views of the sea; and the owners advise there is a nude beach nearby.