IF you want the beauty of the Amalfi coast but without the hefty price tag, then there is an alternative to consider.
The pretty fishing village of Camogli in northern Italy has beautiful multi-coloured houses and has even been dubbed a gem of the Italian Riviera.
Camogli sits on the Ligurian Riviera and its main stretch of beach is lined with pretty pastel buildings – much like towns on the Amalfi Coast.
Spiaggia di Camogli is the village’s pebbled beach that is lined with restaurants, cafes as well as sunloungers and parasols.
It’s quite a famous spot so it can get quite busy, especially on the weekend when there are daytrippers from Portofino.
One visitor who recommends visiting in low season said: “Camogli seafront always offers a bit of magic.”
Another added: “Lovely town, one of the cutest that I have visited in Liguria. Better than most Cinque Terre villages since it has a proper beach!”
One secluded bay that is a must-visit is called San Fruttuoso di Camogli.
On the shore is a 10th-century abbey, crystal-clear water, and the underwater “Christ of the Abyss” statue.
It is only accessible by boat or scenic hiking trails – so it takes a bit of effort to see this one.
Fans of snorkelling should head to another spot called Punta Chiappa.
It’s a narrow rock formation popular for diving and snorkelling because of the amount of marine life seen in the water like snappers and amberjacks.
Visiting Camogli over destinations on the Amalfi Coast could save you money too.
Global booking platform Omio named the village as a cheap and lesser-explored Italian spot.
Doing the maths, Omio worked out that a round-trip from London to Amalfi’s Positano, which requires a changeover in Naples, costs £230.
A round-trip from London to Camogli, which has a stopover in Genoa, costs £74.
So the cost of a round-trip in July to Camogli rather than the Amalfi coast Omio could save up to £156.
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Summers on the Amalfi coast are known for being hot and dry – Positano can reach highs of 33C.
It’s a tad cooler in the north of Italy and Camogli has average highs of 27C in July and August.
Another multi-coloured town along the coastline that you might want to tag onto your trip is Boccadasse.
Like Camogli, it has pastel-coloured houses built on top of cliffs and was a former fishing village.
It’s said to look like it’s ‘frozen in time’, and sits outside the city of Genoa and is a 30-minute drive from Camogli.
You’ll get the best views of the coastline if you walk along Corso Italia which connects Boccadasse to Genoa.
Boccadasse is also has independent restaurants that you’ll want to pop into and try Ligurian specialities like focaccia and pesto-based pasta dishes are served.
For more on Italy, check out this Italian paradise that has British Airways flights and found pretty towns away from the crowds.
And Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot reveals more about the sleepy Italian island village she visited with 40p beers and £1.80 bottles of wine.