Lu Rinaru
Puglia · Salento · Nardò · Ionian Sea

Lu Rinaru

Lu Rinaru is a small natural cove between Serra Cicora and Uluzzo Bay, on a rocky and lightly developed stretch of coast. In previous years the municipality designated it for bathing with dogs, but current local signage should be checked before automatically treating it as a dog beach this season.

Lu Rinaru: What to know before you go

Checked practical information on access, sea conditions, services and safety. Lu Rinaru’s designation as a dog area is documented by municipal communications from 2019–2021. The 2026 regional bathing ordinance requires municipalities to publicise dedicated areas and restrictions; as we found no new 2026 notice naming Lu Rinaru, the page tells visitors to check signs on site.

Getting there and access

Reach it from the Serra Cicora/Torre Inserraglio area via local roads and a final walk. The coast is uneven and the municipal coastal plan places it between Serra Cicora and Uluzzo Bay: follow public access points and signs without creating new tracks through vegetation.

Access

If an access point is closed or altered, do not improvise shortcuts: use authorised routes only.

Sea, coast and seabed

It is a small pebble beach set between rocks. The seabed soon becomes rocky and should not be described as a shallow sandy bottom for children; rough sea makes entry less comfortable.

Sea

Before moving away from shore, identify a safe exit point and do not enter if waves or current exceed your ability.

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Families and children

With small children it should be assessed carefully: access, coastline type and sea conditions can make it demanding. With older children, the choice depends on experience and the spot used.

Families

Before planning the day, consider access, distance from services, crowding and how easy it will be to get back.

Parking and services

This is not a serviced beach: bring water, shade and what you need. Parking is limited to permitted roads/areas in the surroundings; in summer arrive early and never block accesses or rural tracks.

Planning

Do not leave valuables visible in the car and do not occupy verges, access points or unauthorised spaces.

Accessibility

This is a small natural cove reached over uneven ground. We found no basis for describing it as a fully accessible beach for people with reduced mobility.

Accessibility

If you have specific mobility needs, check before leaving whether the route is genuinely usable that day.

Wind and sea conditions

For dogs, current seasonal rules and municipal signage apply. Even where access is allowed, keep the animal under control and carry water, shade, identification and waste bags; do not rely only on an old notice.

Safety

If the wind strengthens, reassess your return before conditions worsen.

Who it suits

Good for visitors seeking a small, simple natural cove and, if current signage confirms it, for those going to the sea with a dog. Less suitable for families seeking sand, shallow water and services.

Recommended

Before deciding, pay particular attention to the access and safety cards, as they can completely change the experience.

Less suitable for

Less suitable for anyone seeking a sandy beach, easy access and services within a few metres.

Less suitable

If one of these limitations is decisive for you, compare a nearby location before setting off.

What to bring

Plenty of water, a parasol, water shoes, bags and a lead if bringing a dog, plus any health documentation required by current rules.

What to bring

Keep your phone and documents in a waterproof case and carry your gear in a compact backpack.

The gallery shows the available and verified photographs for this place.

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Visit other beaches in the same seaside resort (Porto Selvaggio)

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Serra Cicora Beach

Serra Cicora Beach

A small free cove in the northern sector of Porto Selvaggio and Palude del Capitano Regional Natural Park, between Torre Uluzzo and Torre Inserraglio. It is best enjoyed as a natural beach: mixed seabed, rocks and pebbles, clear water, snorkelling and very limited direct services.

 Torre Uluzzo Bay

Torre Uluzzo Bay

Torre Uluzzo Bay is one of the most dramatic and rugged stretches of Porto Selvaggio Park: cliffs, Mediterranean scrub, the remains of the 16th-century tower and an important archaeological landscape. It is not an easy beach and not a place for flip-flops.
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Porto Selvaggio Beach

Porto Selvaggio Beach

A small pebble bay inside the natural park: the sea is spectacular, but before you go it helps to know where to leave the car, how far you need to walk, how the shuttle works and what to bring.

 Caves of Porto Selvaggio

Caves of Porto Selvaggio

This page does not describe one cave: it is an overview of the cave and rock-shelter system of Porto Selvaggio and Uluzzo Bay. Grotta del Cavallo, Grotta di Uluzzu, Uluzzo C, Grotta Gaia and Green Cave have very different characteristics and access conditions and should be considered separately.

Santa Maria dell'Alto Tower

Santa Maria dell'Alto Tower stands about 50 metres above the southern edge of Porto Selvaggio Park. It is a historic and scenic stop, not a beach: its main attraction is the landscape of pine woods, cliffs and the Ionian Sea.

 Torre Uluzzo Cave

Torre Uluzzo Cave

The regional cave register records “Grotta di Uluzzu” in the same position on the tower headland: we keep the historical Salentissimo name while using the verified location and without promising easy access.

Grotta del Cavallo

Grotta del Cavallo in Uluzzo Bay is one of Salento’s most important prehistoric sites. Its long Palaeolithic sequence has produced key evidence for the study of Neanderthals, the Uluzzian and early Homo sapiens in Europe. It should not be treated as an ordinary tourist swimming cave.

Grotta Gaia

Grotta Gaia is a coastal cave very close to Porto Selvaggio’s main bay. The Puglia cave register confirms its name and position, but the new page avoids presenting it as an “easy” cave to reach in all conditions.

Grotta Greta

Grotta Greta is a local name on Porto Selvaggio’s rocky coast. Official sources confirm the protected park and its many caves, but no official cave-registry coordinate was found under this name, so the pin marks the coastal sector rather than a certified entrance.

 Green Cave

Green Cave

Porto Selvaggio’s Green Cave is a sea cave also recorded by the Puglia cave register. Green reflections and clear water make it striking, but its low entrance and swell can make it impassable: it is not a place to reach at any cost.
Salentissimo.it

Services near Lu Rinaru

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Frequently asked questions · Lu Rinaru

Access, sea, parking, families, services and safety.

Where is it?
In Porto Selvaggio and Palude del Capitano Regional Natural Park, in the municipality of Nardò.
What type of place is it?
Small free pebble cove at Serra Cicora
How do you get there?
Reach it from the Serra Cicora/Torre Inserraglio area via local roads and a final walk. The coast is uneven and the municipal coastal plan places it between Serra Cicora and Uluzzo Bay: follow public access points and signs without creating new tracks through vegetation.
What is the sea or seabed like?
It is a small pebble beach set between rocks. The seabed soon becomes rocky and should not be described as a shallow sandy bottom for children; rough sea makes entry less comfortable.
Is it suitable for children?
Good for visitors seeking a small, simple natural cove and, if current signage confirms it, for those going to the sea with a dog. Less suitable for families seeking sand, shallow water and services.
Where can you park and are there services?
This is not a serviced beach: bring water, shade and what you need. Parking is limited to permitted roads/areas in the surroundings; in summer arrive early and never block accesses or rural tracks.
Is it accessible for people with reduced mobility?
This is a small natural cove reached over uneven ground. We found no basis for describing it as a fully accessible beach for people with reduced mobility.
Can you swim or snorkel?
It is a small pebble beach set between rocks. The seabed soon becomes rocky and should not be described as a shallow sandy bottom for children; rough sea makes entry less comfortable. For dogs, current seasonal rules and municipal signage apply. Even where access is allowed, keep the animal under control and carry water, shade, identification and waste bags; do not rely only on an old notice.
What is the main safety point?
For dogs, current seasonal rules and municipal signage apply. Even where access is allowed, keep the animal under control and carry water, shade, identification and waste bags; do not rely only on an old notice.