Spiaggia di Sant’Ambrogio(Sant'Ambrogio)

Located six kilometers away from Cefalu, Spiaggia di Sant'Ambrogio – also called Spiaggia Sant’Ambrogio, Playa degli Uccelli, and Sant’Ambrogio Beach – is a beach with light brown sand, many small white pebbles, gravel, and large rocks in the village of Sant’Ambroggio.  This 1750-meter-long beach is divided into two parts by coastal rocks – the smaller and pebblier eastern portion is 250 meters long while the larger and sandier western part is one-and-a-half kilometers long. 

The Times listed this beach as one of the “50 secret beaches in Europe” in 2017.

Sant'Ambrogio Sicily does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, except beach clubs that offer access to sun loungers, beach chairs, and beach umbrellas for a fee.

Spiaggia di Sant'Ambrogio offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, surf-skiing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, and wildlife watching.  

This beach is ideal for beginner swimmers because the crystal clear water here is known to usually have gentle waves.  In addition, scuba divers and snorkelers also visit this beach to explore its vibrant marine biodiversity. 

If you plan to swim, kayak, or canoe here, we recommend being careful because the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents and dangerous waves.  

This beach is ideal for visitors looking for a quieter beach experience because it sees fewer visitors as compared to other Sicilian beaches.  If you like taking pictures with beautiful views, Spiaggia di Sant’Ambrogio offers amazing views of the northern Sicilian shoreline and the Pacific Ocean. 

In addition, you can also explore the village of Sant’Ambrogio nearby – this village has beautiful old houses and a historic 18th-century church, and it also hosts many fun local festivals.  There is also an olive oil press in Sant'Ambrogio near the beach – you can explore this olive oil press through guided tours and learn more about how olive oil is made here.  If you want to explore this oil press, you can contact the oil press owner by phone at +39 (329) 642-2629 for more information.

Spiaggia di Sant'Ambrogio does not offer wheelchair access to visitors with disabilities.

Getting to Sant’Ambrogio Beach is easy – from the city of Cefalu, you need to drive six kilometers east along a highway named Strada Statale 113 to reach this beach.  There are street signs along Strada Statale 113 that will lead you to Sant’Ambrogio.

There are multiple free street parking spaces nearby – once you park at these spaces, you can easily walk to the beach through nearby access trails.  In addition to free street parking spaces, there are a few additional free parking lots that are reserved for customers of the local beach clubs – you can park here if you are using the facilities of the local beach clubs.

This beach and the village – Sant’Ambrogio – were named after a fourth century Christian saint named Saint Ambrose.  Some people also link the name of this beach and the town to a northern Italian cathedral named Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio – this church in Milan has Romanesque-style architecture and was initially built in the 4th century between 379 and 386.

There are many attractions near Spiaggia di Sant'Ambrogio within a 20-minute-drive.  Spiaggia Torre Conca is a beach that offers many fun activities including swimming, beachcombing, sunbathing, kayaking, canoeing, and boating – it also offers an amazing view of the Tyrrhenian Sea.  Rocca di Cefalu is a 268-meters high promontory that offers amazing views of the northern Sicilian shoreline and the Tyrrhenian Sea – the hiking trail leading to the top of this cliff offers a fun hiking experience.  In addition, you can also see multiple historic structures while hiking around this promontory including an ancient temple of the Greek goddess Diana and a 12th century castle called the Cefalu Castle.  Cefalu Cathedral – also called Duomo di Cefalu – is an iconic and beautiful cathedral that is a UNESCO world Heritage Site – it has Byzantine, Arab, and Norman architectural influences and it was built between 1131 and 1240.  This cathedral also has beautiful mosaic artwork and it resembles a medieval fortress.  Cefalu’s Old Town area offers many interesting beautiful historic buildings and it also offers many interesting shopping stores and restaurants.  If you are looking for another attraction near the beach, Bastione Capo Marchiafava is a waterfront fortification that was built in the 17th century and it also offers amazing views of the Cefalu shoreline and the Tyrrhenian Sea.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Spiaggia di Sant'Ambrogio.  Trattoria Sant’Ambrogio offers many delicious locally-inspired gourmet dishes including pasta, grilled meat dishes, saffron risotto, and seafood.  Osteria Bacchus is known for serving many amazing Mediterranean and Southern Italian dishes including local seafood dishes, pasta, arrosto panato, steak, and soup.  Sikula – Pizza e cucina serves amazing pizzas and it also offers other dishes including pasta, seafood, and roast lamb.  Pizzeria Rais Gerbi offers great pizza, pasta, and fried seafood.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Rosticceria Gastropoli di Ventimiglia is known for serving excellent seafood and rotisserie chicken and it also offers other dishes including roast meat and arancini.

If you are looking for a hotel near Spiaggia di Sant'Ambrogio, there are many great nearby options.  The 5-Star Hotel Le Calette offers many amenities including a spa, a hot tub, a pool, a gym, a tennis court, yoga classes, multiple private beach areas, and multiple restaurants and bars.  Another upscale hotel is the 4-Star Mangia's Pollina Resort that offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, a pool, a gym, a bar, a private beach area, multiple sports courts, and a kids’ club.  The 4-Star Hotel Kalura is another great upscale hotel that offers many amenities including multiple pools, a terrace, a gym, a tennis court, bike rental facilities, a diving center, multiple lounges, a restaurant, and complimentary breakfast.  A more affordable hotel is the Turismo Rurale Cefalu that offers many amenities including a pool, a communal kitchen, a garden, a bar, and a solarium.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the 3-Star Mare Blu Bed & Breakfast offers many amenities including boat tours, massage services, a kitchenette with barbecue areas, and outdoor sitting areas.