Marine tourism in Puglia

THE PUGLIAN SEAS, MARINAS AND LIGHTHOUSES

Fiery sunsets, endless views, iridescent colors, and slow rhythms. Discovering Puglia through its sea and its marinas, along eight hundred kilometers of coastline from the Adriatic to the Ionian, is a source of non-stop thrills. Boaters can feel the breath of history, smell the scent of myrtle and mastic, and taste the flavor of the brine. And the excitement is especially underwater: on the Tremiti Islands in Gargano, fishing and birdwatching at Lakes Lesina and Varano, or the old fishing machines known as “Trabucchi” from Rodi Garganico and Peschici to Vieste.

Sporting about 900 km of coastline, Puglia has a deep and everlasting bond with the sea, as evidenced by the beautiful lighthouses scattered throughout the heel of Italy. Below are the most famous Puglian lighthouses, on a journey from Gargano to Salento, from the Adriatic to the Ionian Sea.

The Vieste Lighthouse

The lighthouse of this famous Gargano town was built in 1867 on the islet of Sant'Eufemia, in front of the historic center of the city and the Marina Piccola. Even if landing on the islet is forbidden, the Vieste lighthouse is well visible from the unique historic center, appreciated for its beaches and the coast with untouched sceneries and marine caves, as well as for the uncontaminated nature in the innermost part of the Gargano National Park.

The Punta San Cataldo lighthouse in Bari

The Bari lighthouse has a majestic tower that overlooks the entire Bari seafront. The tower is about 60 meters tall: climb its 400 steps to admire the Puglian capital and the Adriatic coast. In 1904, Guglielmo Marconi experimented here the first radiotelegraph connection with Montenegro. In addition to the lighthouse, Bari offers several points of interest such as the imposing 11th century Saint Nicholas Basilica, the Norman-Swabian Castle and the San Sabino Cathedral.

The Punta Palascìa lighthouse, Otranto

Located about 40 km from Lecce, just south of Otranto, the Punta Palascìa lighthouse is the easternmost point of Italy. Every day, it is here that the sun in Italy rises first. Surrounded by a breathtaking panorama, the lighthouse of Punta Palascìa also houses the Museum of Mediterranean Ecosystems, where visitors discover the typical Mediterranean Maquis fauna and flora.

The Santa Maria di Leuca Lighthouse

In Salento, where the Adriatic meets the Ionian Sea, we discover one of the most majestic lighthouses in Italy: the lighthouse of Santa Maria di Leuca. 47 meters tall (and 102 above sea level), the lighthouse was designed by Achille Rossi in 1864 and stands on an ancient tower built by Philip II. Climb its 254 steps to admire a unique panorama, where on the clearest days one can spot the Greek island of Corfu and the mountains on the border between Albania and Greece.

THE CRYSTAL CLEAR WATERS OF PUGLIAN MARINAS

Thanks to its 22 Blue Flags, Puglia is second only to Liguria as regards the quality of seaside tourism hospitality. Counting seven marina harbors awarded to the region, especially remarkable is the province of Foggia, which in addition to Rodi Garganico, sees the Marina del Gargano in Manfredonia as being awarded the blue flag. With 700 berths, ecological islands, a water recycling system and an environmental code of conduct, Manfredonia got this recognition since 2017. With the harbor of Rodi Garganico, Manfredonia becomes a meeting point for boaters and tourists eager to discover and enjoy the beauties of the Gargano.

All of this is further enhanced by the “Marine di Puglia Project”, a network that unites all the regional yachting structures. The project, conceived and implemented by the Puglia Yachting and Boating Production District, is the result of many years, and a true "laboratory" based on the awareness that Puglia has a precious treasure at its disposal, which does not derive only from its crystalline sea, but also from its coasts, the tourist marinas and the nautical sector, its hôtellerie and related services. And also from the Blue Economy which in Puglia is thriving. The Boating Manufacturing District, in fact, has staked everything on a fundamental factor: to overcome challenges it is necessary to face them by way of cooperation. Not just one Marina, but 21 Puglian tourist harbors are involved, from Rodi Garganico to Santa Maria di Leuca. All these figures make “Marine di Puglia” the first project in Italy to bring together such an important number of boating and yachting facilities.

1. SNIM - Salone Nautico di Puglia