Spiaggia di CollelungoItaly Beach Guide
Wild Maremma dunes earned by a long trail hike
About
Spiaggia di Collelungo sits inside the Maremma Regional Park on the Tuscany coast near Grosseto, a stretch of golden sand backed by a low dune system that the park has kept almost entirely free of infrastructure. Blue water meets the shore with no sunbed vendor, no bar, no lifeguard — just wind-bent scrub, the scent of wild herbs, and near-total solitude even in August. At dawn, wild boar tracks cross the sand between the dunes, a reminder that this is their territory as much as yours. Getting here demands effort, and the park intends it that way.
How to get there
The only way in is on foot: a roughly 90-minute hike from the Alberese park entrance, following marked trails — no motor vehicles are permitted inside the park. Paid parking is available at the Alberese visitor centre at around €5 per day; a separate park entry fee of approximately €10–13 per person is charged on top. Access is seasonal, and the trail can be closed on high fire-risk days, so check the park website before you set out. There is no beach infrastructure whatsoever once you arrive — plan accordingly.
Who it's for
For couples
Collelungo rewards couples who are happy to earn their solitude — the 90-minute trail hike filters out almost everyone else, leaving you with golden sand, blue water, and near-total quiet that no resort beach can replicate.
For families
Honestly, Collelungo is a tough sell for families with young children: the hike is long, there are no facilities on the beach, the trail can close without warning, and wild boar roam the area — families with older, trail-ready kids who understand park rules will get the most from it.
Our take
Collelungo is not a beach you stumble upon — it demands a 90-minute hike, a park entry fee, and the self-sufficiency to carry everything you need in and out. That friction is precisely the point. The reward is golden sand and blue water with near-total solitude even in August, a low dune system that feels genuinely wild, and the quiet thrill of reading animal tracks at the tide line. Skip late July and mid-August entirely: fire-risk closures make the trip a gamble not worth taking. Come in June or early September, start early, and treat the park rules as non-negotiable — no fires, no camping, no dogs, stay on marked trails. For anyone willing to put in the effort, this is one of the Tuscan coast's most honest stretches of nature.
What to do
From the park trails you can reach the Uccellina Towers, medieval watchtower ruins on the Uccellina hills roughly 5 km away. About 4 km along the coast lies Cala di Forno, a small sandy cove with a ruined lime kiln reachable by trail or sea kayak from Talamone. The Frantoio del Parco, around 9.4 km from the beach, and the Semaforo viewpoint at 9.5 km are further points of interest within the wider park area.
The low dune crests at sunrise give you golden sand sweeping toward blue water with zero human infrastructure in frame — pure Maremma wilderness.
Wild boar tracks crossing the undisturbed sand at dawn make for an unexpectedly compelling close-up shot. Looking back from the waterline toward the dune scrub in late-afternoon light, the layered textures of sand, vegetation, and sky create a composition that reads nothing like a conventional beach photo.
Where to eat
There are no facilities on the beach, so pack a proper lunch. When you return to the park fringes, La Scafarda and La Maremmana are both within 4.5 km of the Alberese entrance and make a welcome post-hike stop. For regional Maremma cooking, Degusteria Mammeglio at 4.8 km and Agri Ristorante Il Duchesco at 5.2 km are worth the short drive.
Where to stay
The closest options cluster around Grosseto: Hotel Grifone and Hotel Principe are both within roughly 8–8.2 km of the park entrance, while Residence Il Tombolo at 8.4 km suits those who prefer self-catering after a long day on the trail. If you don't mind a slightly longer drive, Lola Piccolo Hotel and Mediterraneo are around 11 km out and offer a quieter base.
Photography
Arrive at first light when wild boar tracks are still fresh in the golden sand and the low dunes cast long shadows — the untouched foreground against the blue water is the shot. Late afternoon, position yourself among the dunes looking back toward the scrub for warm side-light that picks out every ripple of sand and blade of marram grass.
Good to know
Dogs are not permitted inside the Maremma Regional Park, fires and camping are strictly forbidden, and you must stay on marked trails at all times. Bring everything you need — food, water, and full sun protection — because there is nothing on the beach. Wild boar are present; admire the tracks but do not approach the animals. The trail is frequently closed for fire risk in late July and mid-August, making those weeks a poor bet — June or early September are far more reliable.
Map
Nearby places
La Scafarda
La Maremmana
Il Mangiapane
Degusteria Mammeglio
Agri Ristorante Il Duchesco
Hotel Grifone
Hotel Principe
Residence Il Tombolo
Lola Piccolo Hotel
Mediterraneo
Parco Naturale della Maremma – Uccellina Towers
Cala di Forno
Grosseto Cathedral
Things to see around Grosseto
Parco Naturale della Maremma – Uccellina Towers
Medieval watchtowers on the Uccellina hills accessible by park hiking trails.
Cala di Forno
Small sandy cove with ruined lime kiln, reachable by trail or sea kayak from Talamone.
Grosseto Cathedral
Romanesque-Gothic cathedral in the walled city of Grosseto with striped marble façade.
Frequently asked
The information on this page is provided for guidance only and may evolve. Access conditions, safety and infrastructure can change without notice. Always check official sources before traveling.
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Photo credits
Sources and licenses for the photos shown above.
- Photo 1 — Cocco1981 · source · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo 2 — T'nello · source · CC BY 2.0
- Photo 3 — Paolo Bertinetto · source · CC BY-SA 2.0