Of the many spectacular beaches in the world, only a handful can claim iconic status, here’s a short guide to five of the more legendary.
Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro
The beach in Ipanema gained its iconic status through a famous bossa nova song called “The Girl from Ipanema”. This song was a hit word-wide in the 1960s, being popularized by Astrud Gilberti and Stan Getz, and even being sung by Frank Sinatra. It rose to number 5 on the US pop chart and number 29 in the UK. Originally written in Portuguese, the lyrics of this song were translated to English, thereby making the stunning beach in Ipanema as well-known as the song, and giving the former its iconic status. Adjoining the less salubrious – but equally famous – Copacabana baech, Ipanema is arguably one of the most stunningly located big city beaches in the world, and on hot sunny days strewn with Rio’s well-to-do set. Â
Lake Como, Italy
Known to be one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy, Lake Como is the country’s third largest lake and one of the deepest in Europe. Since Roman times, Lake Como has been a favoured haven for aristocrats and the affluent.
What has made Lake Como such a famous tourist attraction is its reputation for being incredibly beautiful; the many rich cultural and artistic experiences it offers; and the fact that it is a getaway for many of today’s celebrities.
Monte Carlo, Monaco
One of the Europe’s most exclusive tourist resorts, Monte Carlo has long been a playground of the rich and famous. Many high-end hotels are located along this stretch of the Mediterranean, neighbouring Cannes hosts one of the most high profile film festivals in the world. The annual Monaco Grand Prix is held almost entirely in Monte Carlo – and is the blue ribbon event of the Formula 1 calendar. As such, it is one of the major dates celebrity’s diary, very much a place to be seen.
The Hamptons, NY
The Hamptons are a popular group of seaside resorts made up of a collection of small towns which together form the South Fork of Long Island in New York. Featured and referenced in many movies and television shows, the Hamptons are a classic and historic New York summer getaway for the rich and famous, and are host to some of America’s most expensive and impressive residential properties.
Ibiza, Spain
A relatively small island in the Mediterranean forming part of the Balearic, Ibiza is world-famous for its night-life, tourism, and summer club parties. Known as the birthplace of raves, some of today’s styles of electronic music originated on the island. In popular culture, Ibiza has been the setting for a number of famous novels and films, and has been referenced in numerous songs. Ibiza was a much-loved European travel destination for hippies in the 1960s, and today still attracts both free-spirited youth, not to mention the incredibly affluent.
These five iconic beach locations are worth visiting if ever you get the chance.
About the author
The author of this article is a big fan of beach holidays and takes their finest swimwear whenever on vacation, from Seafolly bkinis to Melissa Odabash kaftans.
By Olivia GrilHey Folks! I'm Olivia from California, United States. I'm a blogger, travel lover, I can travel anywhere, whether it's a new place or already visited. I love meeting new people, clicking photos of every movement, and documenting my adventure. I also, write about travel, travel movies, the best places to visit, etc. Read my stories.
