Cetara / Campania / Italy

Situated on Italy's south western coast close to the town of Salerno lies the beach at Cetara. It is a quiet spot for wind surfers and kite surfers as the beach is fairly small. Therefore it may not be advisable for beginners to practice here. The best times of the year to surf are between the months of April and September, when the thermal winds kick in.

Cetara has a small beach made up of sand and many pebbles and small rocks. To get here you will need to head southbound from Naples for approximately 70kms following the signs for Vietri Sul Mare. When you get here take the exit and follow the signs for Cetara, which is approximately 5 kms. You are able to park close to the beach.

The wind tends to blow from the west and this direction works really well here. The thermal winds will kick in between June and September with speeds of around 10-15 knots pretty much every day during this period. The water quality is clean and conditions are flat to choppy with small waves some of the time. The sea temperature will fall somewhere between 10-24 degrees depending upon the time of the year. In the spring, summer and autumn, you can get away with shorts or a shorty. In the winter is is advisable to wear a long suit.

There is a surf shop nearby that has rental equipment hire as well as repair facilities. The beach also has shower and toilet cubicles and further down the coast there there is accommodation available. If you want to party the night away then head back to Naples, it can be pretty lively.

This is a fairly small beach so be aware of other kiters and surfers in your immediate area, and keep a look out for swimmers and bathers in and around the water.