Coastal Dunes Regional Park
Puglia · Upper Salento · Adriatic coast · Ostuni

Coastal Dunes Regional Park

A protected area of about 1,100 hectares and eight kilometres of coast where beaches, dunes, wetlands, ravines and olive groves link the sea with the Itria Valley.

What to know

Characteristics and practical guidance for a responsible visit.

Identity of the place

This page describes the whole protected system; Lido Morelli and Fiume Morelli retain separate guides for different visits.

Tip

Check access, signs and sea conditions before setting out.

Landscape and surface

Beaches, dunes, wetlands, fossil dunes, ravines and ancient olive groves form one protected landscape.

Tip

Check access, signs and sea conditions before setting out.

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Sea and seabed

Sea conditions vary along eight kilometres, while inland wetlands are not bathing areas.

Tip

Check access, signs and sea conditions before setting out.

Access

Choose an official itinerary and use only authorised paths, boardwalks and entrances.

Tip

Check access, signs and sea conditions before setting out.

Parking and services

Park in authorised areas and continue on foot or by bicycle where permitted.

Tip

Check access, signs and sea conditions before setting out.

Wind and conditions

Sun, wind and route length require planning; closures and local rules take priority.

Tip

Check access, signs and sea conditions before setting out.

Recommended for

Nature, gentle hiking, birdwatching and understanding the link between Upper Salento and the Itria Valley.

Tip

Check access, signs and sea conditions before setting out.

Less suitable for

Anyone seeking one uniform serviced beach or wishing to leave protected paths.

Tip

Check access, signs and sea conditions before setting out.

What to bring

Water, comfortable shoes, hat, binoculars and an updated route map.

Tip

Check access, signs and sea conditions before setting out.

Images will be added only after direct verification.

Book a beach umbrella

Beach clubs and bathing establishments linked to this location.

Visit other beaches in the same seaside resort (Ostuni Marina)

Discover the other beaches and coastal attractions linked to the same destination.

Lamaforca Beach

The first Ostuni beach after the Carovigno coast alternates sand, low rocks and Mediterranean scrub.

Torre Pozzelle Tower and Coves

Five small coves, low rocks and a coastal tower create one of Ostuni Marina’s most recognisable natural landscapes.

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Santa Lucia Cove

A small sandy and rocky inlet in the Costa Merlata area, separate from the Torre Pozzelle coves.

Costa Merlata Beach

A jagged coast of small sandy bays and low rocks whose battlement-like profile gives the area its name.

Lamasanta Beach

A free coastal section of Costa Merlata also designated by the municipality for access with pets.

Gorgognolo Beach

A free natural cove with low rocks and small sandy areas, distinct from built-up Villanova.

Creta Rossa Beach

A small officially surveyed cove awarded Blue Flag status in 2026, east of Villanova.

Camerini Bay and Fontanelle

Villanova’s broad sandy bay, known as Camerini and officially surveyed as the Fontanelle section, received Blue Flag status in 2026.

Villanova Harbour and Castle

Ostuni’s maritime village combines a tourist harbour, a medieval coastal castle, promenade and fishing traditions.

Diana Marina Beach

A small sandy bay between low rocky stretches in the sequence of seaside settlements north of Villanova.

Monticelli Beach

A small fine-sand beach framed by low cliffs in the coastal settlement between Diana Marina and Rosa Marina.

Cappero Cove

A small free cove at Monticelli with light sand and low rocks sloping towards the sea.

Quarto di Monte Beach

A small golden, sheltered cove in the Monticelli area with a distinct identity of its own.

Rosa Marina Beach

The sandy Rosa Marina shoreline brings together the areas known as Pontile, Capanno, Lambertiana, Rodos and Cala.

Pilone Beach

A sandy beach with dunes and coastal vegetation, overlooked by nearby San Leonardo Tower.

San Leonardo Tower

The sixteenth-century Aragonese tower, also called Torre del Pilone, once marked the northern boundary of Terra d’Otranto.

Lido Morelli Beach

A long sandy beach protected by dunes and Mediterranean scrub in the Ostuni section of the Coastal Dunes Regional Park.

Fiume Morelli Wetland

Springs, freshwater ponds and historic fishing structures create one of the most valuable natural areas on the Ostuni coast.

Torre Canne South Beach

The final sandy section of Ostuni municipality before Fasano territory, awarded Blue Flag status in 2026.

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Services near Parco delle Dune Costiere

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

Continue along the coast

Discover nearby destinations on the Adriatic coast of Upper Salento.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to help plan your visit.

Where is Coastal Dunes Regional Park?
Between San Leonardo Tower and Torre Canne, in the municipalities of Ostuni and Fasano.
What kind of place is Coastal Dunes Regional Park?
This page describes the whole protected system; Lido Morelli and Fiume Morelli retain separate guides for different visits.
What is the sea like at Coastal Dunes Regional Park?
Sea conditions vary along eight kilometres, while inland wetlands are not bathing areas.
How do you reach Coastal Dunes Regional Park?
Choose an official itinerary and use only authorised paths, boardwalks and entrances.
Who is the visit recommended for?
Nature, gentle hiking, birdwatching and understanding the link between Upper Salento and the Itria Valley.