![\"Capitola,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Cafe-Knotted-4-1024x683.jpg\")
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Lux Blue \/ Shutterstock.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\u00a0\u2013\u00a0 \t\t\t\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 Italian summers have a certain magic. Great food, golden light, slow mornings with espresso in hand. It\u2019s the kind of vibe <\/a>people fly across the world to chase.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s a small beach town in California that captures that same feeling, without the flight<\/a>. It\u2019s called Capitola<\/a>, and through the years, it\u2019s quietly earned a reputation as one of California\u2019s most European-feeling beach towns. It\u2019s even been described as a seaside village that feels like the Italian Riviera<\/a>. Pastel-colored buildings, a calm cove beach<\/a>, and a slow, walkable pace all echo Italy\u2019s coast.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f A town built to look like Italy<\/p>\n Capitola\u2019s story starts in 1874. It\u2019s officially recognized as the oldest<\/a> seaside resort on the West Coast, welcoming its first guests as a tent camp. Its European look came later. In the 1920s, oil businessman Henry Allen Rispin bought the resort. He had one big dream: turn Capitola into a second Venice.<\/p>\n His clearest creation still stands today. It\u2019s called the Venetian Court. Built in 1924, it\u2019s a row of pastel pink, yellow, blue, and green townhouses at the base of Capitola Wharf. The buildings were designed in a Mediterranean style, and, interestingly, they were built on the site of a 19th-century Italian fishing village. Immigrant fishermen once lived and worked right there. Today, the Venetian Court is a National Register of Historic Landmark, and it\u2019s also Capitola\u2019s most photographed spot.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd What to do in Capitola<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfd6\ufe0f Capitola Beach: This is Capitola\u2019s main beach, and it\u2019s calmer than most in California. It sits inside a protected cove, right below the colorful Venetian Court. Families love it for the gentle waves. Surfers head to the eastern end, where the swells pick up.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfa3 Capitola Wharf: This historic pier stretches out into Monterey Bay. It\u2019s a great spot for fishing, sunset walks, or just watching the boats come in. The wharf has stood as one of the town\u2019s oldest landmarks for over a century.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f Capitola Historical Museum: This small museum<\/a> is completely free to visit. It features rotating exhibits on Capitola\u2019s history, plus a beach cottage and bathhouse that are both over 100 years old. It\u2019s a quick but worthwhile stop for anyone curious about the town\u2019s roots.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf77 Capitola Art & Wine Festival: Held every September, this festival brings together local wineries and artists for a weekend of tastings and browsing. It\u2019s a great way to experience the town\u2019s creative side.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783750829_577_9f7f57611148f92e8d2e5a36a4eb9da69472c8704441da1c35dde4662e7ac27c.png\")
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\n\t\t\t\tStaff Writer Intern\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tJuly 10, 2026<\/p>\n