For generations, Italian summer followed an almost unchanging pattern, with millions of people heading for the coast in a ritual defined by beach umbrellas and days marked by the sound of the sea. In recent years, however—and even more so in the summer of 2026—something has begun to change.
As temperatures rise and seaside destinations grapple with growing overcrowding, many are looking in a different direction. Towards lakes nestled among the mountains, for example, or towards woodlands and forests where the air remains refreshingly cool even during the hottest months of the year.
