Madonna delle Grazie Beach

Madonna delle Grazie beach lies on Capoliveri's south coast, facing the Golfo Stella, just below the sanctuary of the same name. It is a small cove of about 80 metres with a narrow strip of brown sand and fine gravel, framed by rocks. The seabed alternates sand and ledges of panchina, a sedimentary rock that forms natural pools and crevices.

Getting there

From Capoliveri take the road towards Morcone and Innamorata and, at the junction before Morcone, turn right following the signs for Madonna delle Grazie. Parking is free along the road behind the beach, but spaces are few in high season; the last stretch is on foot, down a few steps. In summer the area is served by the Capoliveri beach shuttle.

Which wind to go with

The cove is sheltered from tramontana (north wind), grecale (north-east wind) and levante (east wind), which leave it calm and clear. It is exposed to winds from south-west to south-east: with a strong libeccio (south-west wind) the sea gets rough. At sunset the view stretches to Monte Capanne and Pianosa.

Facilities and tips

There is a small bar-restaurant by the sea, open in summer, and a diving centre. The panchina rocks shelter fish, octopus and crabs, making the cove good for snorkelling: bring a mask and water shoes. A coastal path of about 300 metres through the scrub leads towards Stecchi. About 200 metres before the beach stands the sixteenth-century sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie, home to the Madonna del Silenzio attributed to Marcello Venusti, a pupil of Michelangelo.