Sand Blue Flag town Excellent water Protected areaFor families
Riva dei Tessali
Castellaneta (TA)· Sea: Ionian
The beach at a glance
Beach of pale, fine sand backed by dunes, with free stretches and concession areas, between Riva dei Tessali and Borgo Pineto.
- Type of coast
- Sand
- Sand 2,096 m
- Length
- 2,096 m
- Seafront
- 58% free
- 1,220 m free876 m leased to beach clubs
- Water quality
- Excellent · classification 2024
- Off season: latest samples of the 2026 season
- ARPA bathing areas:
- SPIAGGIA LIBERA BORGO PINETOExcellentMon 20 Jul: within limits
- SPIAGGIA LIBERA RIVA DEI TESSALIExcellentMon 20 Jul: within limits
- RIVA DEI TESSALI-CABINEExcellentMon 20 Jul: within limits
- Blue Flag town
- Castellaneta has the Blue Flag this year
- Protected area
- Riserva naturale statale Stornara
- Natura 2000 network
- ZSC Pinete dell'Arco Ionico (IT9130006)
- Coastal erosion
- medium
About the beach
Riva dei Tessali is the stretch of the Castellaneta coast that also includes Borgo Pineto: about two kilometres of pale, fine sand, backed along its whole length by dunes. About 60 per cent of the beachfront is free beach; the rest is under concession.
The sandy seabed slopes gently and is suitable for families and children. It is the same coastline of the western coast of the Gulf of Taranto that, a little further east at Castellaneta Marina, is fringed by Mediterranean scrub and Aleppo pines, with long beaches and clear sea. On the free stretches there are no services: bring shade and water.
The car parks are a short distance from the beach. Facing south-east, the beach is sheltered with north (tramontana), north-east (grecale) and north-west (maestrale) winds, and also with south-west (libeccio) and west (ponente) winds; with east (levante), south-east (scirocco) and south (ostro) winds the sea gets rough. The coastline is affected by erosion: to reach the shore, go through the gaps without trampling the dunes. Castellaneta is a Blue Flag municipality. It lies within the Stornara state nature reserve. It is part of the Pinete dell'Arco Ionico Natura 2000 site.
On the map
Stretch of beach
Events nearby
In the coming days within 5 km.
No events within 5 km in the coming days.
Things to see nearby
Beaches nearby
SandCastellaneta MarinaThe beach in the centre of Castellaneta Marina: pale, fine sand, many beach clubs, free stretches and pine wood behind.7 beach clubs Excellent water Blue Flag town Protected area Castellaneta · Ionian 2.2 km away
SandMarina di GinosaWide beach of golden sand from the Pineta Regina to the mouth of the Bradano, with many beach clubs, long free stretches and pine woods.Free · 18 beach clubs Blue Flag town Natura 2000 Ginosa · Ionian 3.1 km away
SandCastellaneta Marina – spiaggia estBeach of pale, fine sand, almost all free, among dunes, scrub and Aleppo pines, as far as the Torre della Marina.Free · 1 beach club Excellent water Blue Flag town Protected area Castellaneta · Ionian 5.2 km away
SandLitorale di PalagianoUniform sandy coastline, almost all free, with dunes and pine wood behind, between the mouths of the Lenne and the Lato.Free · beach clubs Excellent water Protected area Palagiano · Ionian 9.7 km away
Sources and licences
The data comes from public sources; before swimming check the signs and the town’s bathing ordinances.
- ARPA Puglia – Monitoraggio delle acque di balneazione (CC BY 4.0)
- Regione Puglia – Aree di balneazione e classificazione 2024 (CC BY 4.0)
- Regione Puglia – Piano Regionale delle Coste (SIT Puglia) (CC BY 4.0)
- © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0)
- Regione Puglia – Ricognizione dei Piani comunali delle coste (A.D. 142/2025, SIT Puglia) (CC BY 4.0)
- Regione Puglia – Parchi e riserve naturali (rev. 11/2022) (CC BY 4.0)
- Regione Puglia – Perimetrazione dei siti Natura 2000 (12/2023) (CC BY 4.0)
- FEE Italia – Bandiera Blu 2026 (dato pubblico (elenco dei comuni premiati))
- Wind forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0).
- Data updated: Sunday, 25 October 2026.