Lido del Tirreno

Lido del Tirreno sits at Mortelle, on the Tyrrhenian side of the narrow tip of Sicily north of Messina, along the SS113 at roughly kilometre 12. This is the coast Messina itself decamps to in summer, a run of lidos facing the Aeolian Islands rather than the Strait, and the water tends to be calmer here than on the eastern side. The operation is deliberately unfussy: rows of loungers and umbrellas, shaded relaxation areas set back from the water with a sea view, a play area for children and a marked-out zone for sport and outdoor activity. Refreshment points run continuously through the day rather than closing between services, so you are not stranded between lunch and aperitivo. The restaurant side offers both indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the sea, cooking Sicilian dishes with local ingredients. The season starts on 1 June and the club runs a straightforward nine-to-seven day, seven days a week, which makes it a day beach rather than an evening venue.