Sant'Isidoro in Puglia: beaches & things to do

Sandy bay, islet and tower on the Nardò coast

Sant’Isidoro is a seaside resort in the Municipality of Nardò, in the Province of Lecce, overlooking the Ionian Sea. It lies between Porto Cesareo to the north and Torre Inserraglio to the south.

The main bay has pale sand, turquoise water and generally shallow sandy seabeds. A small islet lies a short distance from the shore in front of the tower; free beaches, beach establishments and low rocky stretches alternate along the coast.

Municipality Nardò · Province of Lecce

Coast Ionian coast

Landscape Beach, small islet and coastal tower

Discover Sant'Isidoro

The bay, the small islet, the 16th-century tower and the protected stretch of the Porto Cesareo Marine Protected Area.

The bay and seabed

Regional sources describe a curved coastline extending for about one kilometre towards Torre Squillace. The rocky shore gives way to stretches of soft pale sand, with shallow and mainly sandy seabeds.

Part of the bay is free beach and part is occupied by beach establishments. It can be very busy in summer; wind, waves and currents still need to be considered even where the water is shallow.

The islet and coastal tower

A small islet lies a few metres offshore in front of the tower and is one of the characteristic features of the Sant’Isidoro landscape.

Torre di Sant’Isidoro belongs to the coastal defence system built in the 16th century. Constructed from regular blocks of carparo stone, it has three levels and a square pyramidal base with an elevated entrance reached by stairs.

Marine Protected Area

The sea at Sant’Isidoro lies within the Porto Cesareo Marine Protected Area, extending along the coasts of Porto Cesareo and Nardò. The section between Torre Sant’Isidoro and Casa Giorgella includes a zone of maximum protection alongside another zone with different rules.

Before fishing, diving, boating or carrying out other activities, consult the current zoning and regulations of the Marine Protected Area.

Generally shallow seabed

The bay is mainly shallow and sandy. Actual conditions always depend on wind and sea state.

16th-century tower

The carparo-stone tower belongs to the coastal defence system created in the 16th century to watch for attacks from the sea.

Protected sea

Sant’Isidoro lies within the Porto Cesareo Marine Protected Area, where activities and access rules vary by zone.

Where Sant'Isidoro is

On the Ionian coast of the Municipality of Nardò, between Porto Cesareo and Torre Inserraglio.

Sant'Isidoro Nardò · Province of Lecce

Take me there

Approximate coordinates: 40.2148, 17.9241

Photographs of Sant'Isidoro

15 photographs show the bay, the islet, the tower and the coastline towards Torre Squillace.

Li Scianuli Torre Squillace - Sant Isidoro - Nardo — Photo: giuseppe_delli_fiori

Isola di Sant Isidoro - Sant Isidoro - Nardo — Photo: carol_salento

Lido Oasi - Sant Isidoro - Nardo — Photo: leandro_denitti

Torre di Sant Isidoro - Sant Isidoro - Nardo — Photo: adinag.pintea

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Beaches and places in Sant'Isidoro

Public, natural and historical pages associated with the resort.

Li Scianuli · Torre Squillace

A small free beach beside the 16th-century coastal tower, mixing sand, pebbles and low rock: more intimate and natural than nearby Sant’Isidoro, with a mixed seabed and good snorkelling.

Conca del Diavolo

Conca del Diavolo is a small rocky inlet between Sant’Isidoro and Torre Squillace, where rock, stones and small coastal recesses dominate.

Barzolla Beach

Barzolla Beach is a small free coastal sector north of Sant’Isidoro’s main bay, historically described as a mix of sand, stones, low rock and coastal vegetation. The pin is a sector reference because no dedicated official coordinate for the local name was found.

Sant’Isidoro Tower

Sant’Isidoro Tower stands less than 50 metres from the sea. local public sources records its rebuilding from the foundations between 1622 and 1624; today the tower is under private concession.

Sant’Isidoro Islet

Sant’Isidoro Islet lies off the tower and main bay. The Italian Islands Award list records it as “Isolotto di Torre Sant’Isidoro” at 40.21867, 17.92162.

Frascone Beach

A small free shoreline inside the Porto Selvaggio and Palude del Capitano Regional Park: sandy pockets among low rocks, cold springs in the southern sector, protected vegetation and a unique karst wetland behind the sea.

Lido dell’Ancora

Two small free sandy inlets among low rocks, just south of Sant’Isidoro’s main bay: a compact spot that keeps the historic name Lido dell’Ancora but should not be confused with the private business of the same name.

🏖️ Book a beach umbrella in Sant'Isidoro

Beach clubs and bathing establishments in the area: choose a venue and contact it directly for availability and bookings.

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Services in Sant'Isidoro

Choose a service and view all available businesses and information on its dedicated page.

Where to stay Accommodation, contacts and booking options. Open service Tours Boat trips, tours and experiences near the resort. Open service Where to eat Restaurants, trattorias, bars and local venues. Open service Rentals Cars, scooters, bicycles and local mobility services. Open service Events Events today, tomorrow, this weekend and later. Open service

Frequently asked questions about Sant'Isidoro

Essential answers about the beach, islet, tower and protected area.

Which municipality is Sant’Isidoro in?

Sant’Isidoro is a coastal resort in the municipality of Nardò, in the province of Lecce, overlooking the Ionian Sea.

What is Sant’Isidoro beach like?

The bay has soft pale sand, turquoise water and generally shallow, sandy seabeds. There are free-access sections and beach clubs.

How extensive is the sandy coastline?

The regional source describes a curved stretch of coast approximately one kilometre long, extending towards Torre Squillace.

Where is Sant’Isidoro Island?

The small islet lies in front of the tower, a short distance from the shore of the main bay.

When was the Tower of Sant’Isidoro built?

The tower belongs to the coastal defence system built in the sixteenth century to watch over the shoreline against attacks from the sea.

Is Sant’Isidoro within the Marine Protected Area?

Yes. The sea off Sant’Isidoro is part of the Porto Cesareo Marine Protected Area and includes zones with different levels of protection.

Nearby seaside resorts to discover

Continue along the Ionian coast towards Porto Cesareo and Torre Inserraglio.

Nardò · Previous resort