Il Sale
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Advanced to Expert
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Il Sale is an exposed reef break on the Livorno coast, known for powerful, high-energy surf over a rocky seabed. When the swell is right, it can produce heavy, fast waves (described as hollow and/or peeling), with the reef giving a technical, walling feel and rides that can run to around 50–100 meters. Conditions are most favorable in the cooler season. Providers point to a winter-focused window (roughly November through March) with summer often being mostly flat. For wave performance, a southwest swell is highlighted by one source, while another describes optimal swell as southwest to west, with a working swell-height window reported around 1.0–2.5 meters. Wind is typically best when it is offshore (East/Northeast are preferred), and one provider indicates frontal-wind conditions with low overall wind reliability. Typical winds for clean surfing are described in the neighborhood of 5–15 knots, with moderate gustiness at times. Safety is a major factor: shallow reef sections and sharp rocks, along with rip-current risk and a highly competitive, locally dominated lineup, make this a spot for experienced surfers only. There are no lifeguards reported, and rescue is described as not available; entry/exit should be checked carefully, and strong respect for local rules is emphasized.
- Exposed, technical reef break with powerful wave shape
- Best in autumn/winter
- Offshore winds preferred (East/Northeast)
- Very strong localism and reef hazards
- Excellent wave quality when conditions line up.
- Powerful, hollow/fast reef waves with good wave hold on swell.
- Works in autumn/winter with consistent reef impact.
- Advanced/very expert-level reef hazards (shallow rocky bottom).
- Strong localism with strict lineup priority.
- Rip currents and rocks increase risk.
- Often more crowded when swell is working.
- Wind reliability is described as low.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NE, E, SE
- Offshore directions
- E, NE
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Provider data indicates frontal wind conditions.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- November, December, January, February, March
- Shadow Zones
- The northern breakwater can provide some shelter from North winds.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Mixed — Described as sand at the beach level, with reef/rocks dominating the break zone.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — One provider notes medium wave size; another emphasizes heavy, powerful waves when working.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide beach with shallow near-shore water; also described as a rocky entry point requiring careful footwork.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Described as easy in one set of data, but also described as difficult due to rocky entry and reef hazards—follow conditions and personal capability.
Through the year
Peak crowds during any decent swell, especially on weekends.
Rain is most common from October through December; late October–November and March–April are described as stormier/peak rainfall periods.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed reef break producing powerful waves over a rocky bottom, with technical reef conditions and a competitive lineup.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- SW, W
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- Offshore preferred; best results with light offshore winds from the East or Northeast.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well but becomes very powerful/expert-only.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent
- Wave Power
- Powerful
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — One provider describes heavy, hollow, fast waves; another describes peeling right-hand waves.
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Medium — Fast, walling rides over the reef.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Fast, walling ride over the reef; typical rides are reported in the 50–100 m range.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Il Sale in the full forecast view.
Il Sale wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–14 ktsGusts 25 kts
- Direction
- ENE57°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2514 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–1.8 m4s period
- Temperature
- 10–21 °C
Over the next 7 days, Il Sale is forecast for daytime winds of 2–14 kts, peaking around 14 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 25 kts. The prevailing direction is ENE. Waves run 0.1–1.8 m with a period of about 4s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- rocks
- shallow reef
- sharp rocks
- rip currents
- heavy crowds
- locals
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospital is in Livorno city center.
- Localism / Vibe
- Heavy — Very strong localism; strict local priority rules apply.
Rules of the spot
Strict local priority rules apply in the lineup; very strong localism—watch out for locals.
- Not recommended for less-experienced surfers due to reef hazards and strong local priority.
- Be careful of the rocky seabed.
- Watch the entry and exit points carefully before getting in.
- Respect the local surfers as the lineup is very competitive.
- Watch out for rips, rocks and locals.
- Watch out for locals.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Livorno
- Nearest Town
- Livorno
- Parking
- Limited roadside parking is available along the promenade.
- Public Transport
- Regional train and coastal/local bus routes connect Livorno and the coast area.
- Access
- Situated 6 km south of Livorno harbour, on the right side of Bagni Roma (wide beach approach); alternatively described as accessible via the Viale Italia seafront road south of the port area.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Italian
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous hotels and guesthouses are available in Livorno.
- Food & Drink
- Many bars, cafes, and restaurants are located along the Livorno seafront.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental centers for kitesurfing, windsurfing, and SUP are available via established nautical clubs along the coast.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The Pisa–Livorno stretch blends seaside recreation with strong cultural tourism, supported by nearby UNESCO-level attractions and a well-developed waterfront dining scene.
Elegant waterfront square with a distinctive checkerboard pavement and iconic Tyrrhenian Sea views.
Historic 16th-century fortress in Livorno, surrounded by canals and used as a public park and event space.
World-famous Leaning Tower and cathedral complex (UNESCO cultural landmark).
Boat tours through the “Venezia Nuova” canal district and historic waterways.
Livorno’s historic core known for traditional seafood dishes such as Cacciucco and lively bars.
Modern aquarium with Mediterranean marine life and a reptile house, located right on the waterfront.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Il Sale?
The best overall months at Il Sale are November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Il Sale?
Il Sale works with N, NE, E, SE winds. Offshore directions are E, NE.
What skill level is Il Sale suitable for?
Il Sale suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced to Expert.