Beaches in Puglia

The coast from Monopoli heading down towards Ostuni is dotted with lots of little coves and beaches tucked in among the low limestone rocks that make up the shoreline of Puglia.

Considered one of the best beach areas in all of Italy, Gallipoli is the epicenter of Puglia's summer scene.

On the Adriatic coast south of Lecce, at the frazione called San Foca, is a tranquil oasis called Mora Mora beach.

If you're looking for a pristine beach in Puglia, head to the Riserva di Torre Guaceto.

In a natural area of low reefs and rocky shoreline, there are pockets of sandy beaches tucked in like little coves.

To the south of Gallipoli on Puglia's Salento coast you'll find an extensive stretch of golden sand beaches.

South of Bari, a seaside hamlet that is part of the larger Mola di Bari is a quieter world to itself.

Along the Puglia coast near Ostuni, the Coastal Dunes Regional Park provides an interesting ecosystem as well as outdoors adventure.

At Sant'Isidoro this beach is actually a coastal nature park that takes in low reefs interspersed with patches of sandy beach.

Near Diso and Castro, the beaches of Marina di Marittima are some of the "wildest" of Puglia.

Soft white sand and crystal-clear water backed by vibrant pinewoods, makes this beach area look like the Caribbean.

If you want an upscale type of beach day, then head to P-Beach at Specchiolla, a well-known "lido" that offers services to sun bathers.

The beaches of Porto Badisco are considered some of the best in the region.

At Castro Marina, the Punta Correnti is a beautiful area of rocky shoreline where the water is cobalt and clear.

Racale Beach, located along the Ionian coast in the province of Lecce, is a hidden gem in the heart of Salento, Southern Italy.

North of Gallipoli, the beach at Rivabella offers soft light-colored sand and clear water, with town services.

The cute seaside town of Santa Maria a Bagno offers some pretty swaths of sandy beach right in town.

For those who like their beaches in town, this is a nice choice.

Torre Canne is not only a seaside village on Puglia's Adriatic coast, but also a coastal dune nature park that extends inland, as well as meandering the shoreline south of Torre Canne.

The Riserva di Torre Guaceto is a protected marine area, but probably one of the most active nature reserves you'll find.

The Riserva di Torre Guaceto is a protected marine area, but probably one of the most active nature reserves you'll find.

Considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Salento, it offers lengthy expanses of sandy beaches along with some rocky points for interest.

At Pescoluse, Marina di Salve, one of Puglia's most acclaimed pieces of seafront, this beach establishment offers a different type of experience from just the usual umbrellas and night-time disco.

A nice bay with a swath of sandy beach beneath low rock walls.

Don't let the name fool you; this is much more than a bar, it's a destination!

Torre Santa Sabina is also known as the Marina of Carovigno; it is a small Puglia seaside resort with a piece of history.

From Vieste the long 1.

Just north of the charming town of Otranto you'll find the ideal place to soak in the crystalline waters of the Adriatic in relative peace.

An inlet cove that slices the rocky coast provides cyrstal water for swimming in the Adriatic Sea.

A natural inlet said to have been where Aeneas moored, the area is a quieter respite from the party-oriented beaches.

One of the few sandy beaches at Santa Maria di Leuca, easily accessible from the town center.

If you prefer a beach where you can relax in style on a sun bed under a rented umbrella, this is the place for you.

At Sant'Isidoro a beach restaurant is literally right on the beach where there is a mix of white (almost pink) sand and reef, with clean and transparent water, easy access and nice views.

At Castro Marina this clever beach resort uses the natural landscape to full effect with platforms and stairs in the rock.

At the village of Lido Marini you will easily find a beach to fit your mood.

Located to the north of Savelletri, this beach facility is a nice spot.

The beach called Mare dei Cavalli is right in the town of Marina di Mancaversa, making it easy to spend a day at the sea.

The majority of beaches at Marina di Mancaversa are little sandy patches interspersed among the low rocks of the reef that make up the shoreline.

Dubbed "a natural swimming pool" the beach at Marina Serra is a splendid spot to sun and swim.

A protected cove with a nice sandy beach that is hemmed in by long reefs which give the cove its name "punta lunga" (long point).

To the north of Vieste beyond the longer beach is a cove on a bay that offers one of the best swimming spots in the area.

A small bay with sandy beach that wraps around it, anchored by medieval watch towers on the south end.

The beach right in town at Vieste, Scialara is also called "Pizzomunno".

The beaches of Specchiolla are part of the town of Carovigno.

A cove rimmed by a rocky cliff and an outcropping pocked by caves, this is a nice unique beach.

An arch of fine golden sand hemmed in by low reefs, this beach is easily accessed and user-friendly.

Torre San Giovanni of Ugento is known for its white sandy beaches and turquoise sea.

A sandy stretch of beach in Puglia's Salento zone, Torre Sant'Isidoro is a nice place for families with kids.

A stony beach on a little bay with cobalt water and few crowds, the beach is backed by scrub brush and enjoys a natural setting.

Ginosa Marina offers soft sandy beaches with shallow water and they are all easily accessible.

Lido Cala Paura is a small beach in the center of Polignano a Mare.

This beach is right in the center of Polignano a Mare with white and aquamarine-colored pebbles instead of sand, making it sparkly and more interesting.

Capilungo is formally part of Alliste and Marina di Alliste and the low rocky coast is less crowded than many other parts of Puglia.

Just two kilometers from Corsano at the end of the "via sale" salt trail, this cove is accessible by a path.

The most photographed spot on the Bari coast, the beach at Lama Monachile is also called Cala Porto.

A beach of larger pebbles and stones named for the bridge that backs it.

A small sandy beach in the heart of Polignano a Mare.

At the far tip of Puglia, Santa Maria di Leuca, the rocky Punta Ristola is where the Ionian Sea meets the Adriatic Sea.

Gallipoli's most charming beach is the one right in the historic center, at the foot of the protective walls, called Spiaggia della Purita'.

Along the Salento Coast of Puglia, the village of Torre Colimena offers a seaside experience without the usual beachfront kitsch or miles of cement holiday structures.

Snorkelers and swimmers will like the area around Alliste and the beach of Torre di Sinfono.

Torre Santa Sabina is a small Puglia seaside resort with a piece of history.

Gagliano del Capo Part of the parco Grotte Costiero at Gagliano del Capo, the "beach" is a rocky cove that is also called a "laghetto" (little lake).