Roma & Lazio

The train from Rome to Ostia takes just 20 minutes, but expect almost an hour’s drive over the 'Via del Mare’ and 'Via Cristoforo Colombo’ if you’re relying on a car to transport kit. Especially in summer, both arterial roads are permanently clogged up and it’s the same story on the coast-road from Ostia to Anzio. So – as ever in and around Rome – stay cool and relax, even if the trees are already swaying! Romans consider Ostia part of their city, but it definitely has its own character; a wonderful old town with Capocotta Beach to the south, even genuine dune landscapes. Ostia works best in Scirocco (south-easterly) or Mistral (north-westerly) and be prepared for some current in strong winds. In the westerly summer thermal, which isn't reinforced here so rarely blows stronger than 10 knots, everything stays flat and easy. Out of season, there are two launches right in the heart of town at this long city beach: 'Curvone’ at the roundabout, or 'La Rotonda’ complete with changing rooms. In summer, follow the coast-road south just beyond the bridge over a stream to 'Primo Cancello’, or even closer to Torvaianica at the windsports club 'Aquarius’. Both spots not only boast sandy beaches but official kite zones too. No matter where you park along the long Via Litoranea, don’t leave anything that might look valuable in your car.

This is a winter option when easterly wind off the mountains is useless on the mainland. The ferry from Pozzuoli takes less than an hour; then it's just a five-minute walk to the little bay by the harbour. Certainly the raddest way to spend a day-trip to Ischia!

This is one of Italy’s best thermal venues – on a par with Lake Garda, the wind reliability from May to September is impressive. In high-pressure, the westerly punctually clocks on at 2pm. Most people hit 'Circolo dei Venti’, which gets very crowded so it's only for windsurfers in summer – kiters visit out of season. To find the place, follow the Sperlonga-Gaeta-Formia coast-road or head inland after the Terracina Tunnel and go via Itri. Alternatively, take the Cassino exit from the A1 Roma-Napoli motorway. Vindicio is south-west of Formia; the launch is at the end of a little one-way street. In winter, this area can also offer some solid wave conditions. In Mistral, Spiaggia di Sant'Agostino south of 'Gaeta' is particularly good. If you’re in the area, you have to try the divine 'Tiella’ vegetable and squid casserole.

In summer, kiting and windsurfing are strictly forbidden at this small sandy beach. But out of season it’s great when strong south-westerlies blow decent waves around the harbour-wall and into the bay.

One of Tuscany’s best breaks – a mere glance at the map suggests what happens here when southerly winds unleash swell from the Tyrrhenian Sea. This 5km-long sandy beach backed by pine forest is a stunning sight, but it’s narrow so only for experienced kiters.

This one’s smack-bang in the middle of Anzio: south-facing 'La Riviera di Levante’ stretches all the way to Nettuno. East to south-easterly and south-westerly winds blow freely into the bay, while big SW swell can wrap fantastic waves around the harbour-wall, sending clean lines all the way into the beach. It’s among Italy’s best breaks on days like that! The wide, sandy beach gets too crowded for kiting in summer and turns rocky in the east.

This is one of Italy’s best thermal venues – on a par with Lake Garda, the wind reliability from May to September is impressive. In high-pressure, the westerly punctually clocks on at 2pm. Most people hit 'Circolo dei Venti’, which gets very crowded so it's only for windsurfers in summer – kiters visit out of season. To find the place, follow the Sperlonga-Gaeta-Formia coast-road or head inland after the Terracina Tunnel and go via Itri. Alternatively, take the Cassino exit from the A1 Roma-Napoli motorway. Vindicio is south-west of Formia; the launch is at the end of a little one-way street. In winter, this area can also offer some solid wave conditions. In Mistral, Spiaggia di Sant'Agostino south of 'Gaeta' is particularly good. If you’re in the area, you have to try the divine 'Tiella’ vegetable and squid casserole.

This historic Etruscan town lies north of Civitavecchia off the Aurelia (SS1). The old town is stunningly beautiful and worth a visit even if there’s no wind. The spot at 'Lido di Tarquinia’ doesn’t have a thermal, but works well year-round in Mistral. Launch at 'Da Nando’ beach-club. Scirocco is good here too, especially when it’s blowing southerly – although the more easterly it is, the better 'Montalto' looks.

Lago di Bracciano, which is 25km inland, offers a freshwater spot for northerlies, which don’t reach the coast very well. Next to the village of Vigna di Valle you’ll see mostly kiters, launching in the water due to the lack of a beach and then frolicking in the onshore conditions. Very beautiful ambiance, reminiscent of more northern Italian lakes.

Focene is the village right by Rome's Fiumicino Airport. West to north-westerly or southerly winds blow in freely. A long sandy beach offers several launches for windsurfers; most prefer it south of town for better waves and no breakwaters. The official kite beach is on the edge of the nature reserve north of town.

One of this region’s best kite beaches is actually right on the Tuscan border. Take the SS1 towards 'Péscia Romana’, then follow signs all the way to the 'Caletta del Moro’ resort. 'Spiaggia degli Amici’ is a reliable summertime freeride spot. In high-pressure, a westerly sea breeze (locally called “the little tradewind”) kicks in – good for big kit by the afternoon at latest. The hotter the weather, the more onshore the wind. Low-pressure south to south-easterlies can also deliver nice waves, most often in late autumn and winter.

You can't miss the giant radar tower in the bay of San Agostino from the Aurelia road, yet it’s still easy to get lost on the drive there. Follow signs to the beach and be patient, it’s worth it! The wide, sandy bay is a top spot in Scirocco (even a southerly is called that here). Flat water inshore, then nice waves build over shallows further out offering some long frontside rides. Also rideable in south to south-westerly winds, when it’s best to launch straight in front of the houses. Kiting is allowed, but be extra-careful as there’s no official zone.

At the mouth of River Fiora, Montaldo di Castro works best in easterly Scirocco so suits the off-season. Hence it doesn’t matter that there’s no kite zone, plus there’s always plenty of parking on the promenade.

This simple seaside town is accessible either via the Pontinia motorway (SS148, 'Pomezia’ exit) or the Ostia-Anzio coast-road. As it's just as exposed, conditions are similar to Ostia, yet many prefer it here as out of season you can park your car within view of the beach. There are three kite zones in summer: one on the edge of town at the Tor Paterno Diving Center, another 2km south at Hotel Albatros, and the third 2km on between Via Madrid and Via Parigi.

On the other side of the mountain, this summer venue by the little harbour also boasts a reliable westerly thermal. In stable high-pressure from May to September, freeride sessions start around 11am until about 5pm in up to 20 knots. Local male windsurfers like to come here for the ladies too, as this is a popular bathing beach. Just like 'Torre Paola', what few parking spaces exist nearby are usually full by 11am. A lack of space means kiting is only possible out of season.

This is one of the classics of Roman "dolce vita" – and even today, Romans demonstrate what 'sweet life’ is all about in the beach-clubs and restaurants here. 'Tirreno’, the southernmost section of beach, hosts 'Circolo Pointbreak' – one of the capital’s best-known windsport clubs. Just a few hundred metres on is the public kite beach of 'Focene Nord’. Outside of January and February, this place is always busy. Conditions are similar to 'Maccarese'.

Báia Domizia doesn’t score quite as much summer thermal as the Lazio spots of 'Vindicio' and 'Scauri', yet from May to September a rideable westerly will arrive by the afternoon at latest. If it's strong enough, messy windswell builds too. Park at the resorts.

The coast bends slightly here, so south-westerly Libeccio winds aren’t as onshore as places like 'Campo di Mare'. This makes getting out easier, especially in lighter winds. Yet in strong winds this place can’t compete with the region's headliners, hence it's not so popular.

Stay on the Pontina (SS148) towards Terracina from Circeo to find this sandy beach. Westerly low-pressure winds form respectable waves, while Porto Badino also works in east to south-easterlies.