Levanto is an old fishing village located in a sheltered, deep-water bay, about 20 km north of La Spezia and close to the beautiful Cinque Terre. It offers a unique surf spot in Italy, known for producing some of the biggest waves on the mainland. When the conditions are right, Levanto can provide solid surf when other spots, except Lerici, are blown out. The vibe here is friendly, but do expect it to get crowded, especially when the surf is good.
The surf at Levanto works best with southwest swell, but it can also handle swells from the south and north-west. The waves typically start to break with sizes around 3 ft (about 1 meter) and can be found on rock ledge and sand bottoms. There's a mix of beach breaks, with left and right waves to ride. The central peak is known to produce the bigger waves, making it a popular spot among surfers. For the best experience, it's recommended to be out during low to mid tide, as well as high tide. Winds from the north are ideal for clean conditions, and the spot can be suitable for beginners when the waves are smaller.
In Levanto, you can enter the line-up from the sheltered pier on the south side of the bay. On smaller days, surfers can catch a shallow right-hander at the north tip of the bay. Overall, it's a solid spot to check out when looking for surf on the Italian coast.