Beaches & Waterfronts
As the climate is entirely Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot, dry summers, Puglia is good all year round for beach activities. Obviously, lying in the sun in winter might be a bit chilly (although we have had Christmas lunch on the beach) but from March through to late October, feel free to sun bathe to your heart’s content (although don’t forget the sun cream)!
Savelletri di Fasano
This small fishing resort has a village, a charming old port and a nice promenade. Its rocky shores, on either side of the village, are spangled with small sandy coves and crystal clear waters, and there are many sea shore cafes and trattorias, where you can sit right on the beach and savour the freshest fish. Or if you are inclined to eat more formally, then there are a great selection of restaurants that sit right next to the sea, with wonderful cuisine and a broad choice of food ranging from lobster to sea urchins. The fish is caught in the morning and served by lunchtime in the restaurants. Don’t have your dessert in the restaurant, walk to the gelataria and have a macchiato and gelato instead.
Torre Canne
In comparison, Torre Canne has long, sandy beaches, which are lined with a few large hotels. There is a curved (free) beach that is particularly good for children as the water is shallow. There is a quaint fishing port next to the ‘Torre’ (a good pastime for the children to climb this and then have one of the great gelato’s on offer) , and the town is a bustling seaside resort, although it is never too busy. It is always fun here especially early evening when whole families take their passiagata. Has a few shops and many seaside bars and restaurants. It has a newly finished promenade with things for the children.
La Dune
Long stretches of beach with tall sand dunes. It is completely free of usual seaside tourism and just as nature intended. Here you will really find peace and tranquillity, and should be able to lay back and enjoy the sound of the sea. This is great fun for children.
The Italians love a good Lido... and there are quite a few (secluded part of the sea by a beach sectioned off for swimming and other aquatic activities) in the area. We’ve been told that they are worth a visit. Some charge a fee in one way or another – a sunbed, a drink or use of the facilities.
All of these beaches can be perfectly quiet off-season, but everywhere is august is packed, which can be great for people watching, but do not expect it to be quiet. We also recommend going during the week, in order to avoid the masses.
Capitol
To the left of Savelletri is Capitol. This is the wildest beach, which has fine, snow-white sand. Along this stretch of coast you can park in allocated car parks that give you modern facilities and more comfort than on the very natural beaches. This is a fun place for the entire family, with all forms of water sports from pedalos to scuba diving are available. Here you will also find an excellent selection of seaside restaurants, bars and cafes.
There are too many lidos here to list. In the evening Capitol is one of the most popular areas in Puglia, as these lidos host a selection of entertainment in many of the exotic clubs, cocktail bars, restaurants and trattorias – mostly right on the beach and in the most idyllic romantic locations.
Torre Guaceto
This beautiful WWF protected area will be of particular interest to wildlife lovers, scuba divers and walkers; this is nature at its best.
Landscape and Wildlife
The small territory between land and sea of Torre Guaceto encloses a great variety of environmental, historical and naturalistic values. Inland are the remnants of the great swamps of Puglia, with wide tracts of Mediterranean vegetation. The habitat also serves as a home for a variety of species of wildlife, in particular, birds.
The beaches and the great sandy dunes of the northern areas leave space towards the south to a high and articulated coast, characterized by capes and coves. The promontory of Torre Guaceto, dominated by the tower, encloses a small sandy bay and dominates three tiny islands that emerged on the surface of the water. More to the South, the Apani reefs, two small islands of dark-coloured rock, mark the Southern border of the protected area.
Marine Environment
The sea in front of Torre Guaceto serves several rich communities, from the simple ones of the sandy banks, to the most complex ones of the rocky substrates.
The banks in front of Punta Penna Grossa host a wide bed of Posidonia sea grass, which in turn, offers shelter to numerous organisms like the regular sea urchin, the Cerianthus anemone, and numerous sessile polychaeta.
The rocky banks are instead characterised by an enormous development of algae like the cistoseira. The algae become rarer with increasing depth, and instead you are more likely to find organisms such as the sponges Crambe crambe and Aplysina aerophoba encrusting the walls.
Along the rocky coast, there are cavities and small coves colonized by typical sciophilious populations, such as the shrimp Lysmata seticaudata. The reduced fishing activity in the area has determined a remarkable increment of fish species.