The beach at a glance
Two sandy inlets either side of the harbour, between low rocks and sea stacks, in the fishing village of San Foca.
- Type of coast
- Sand
- Sand 707 m
- Rocks 576 m
- Cliff 486 m
- Length
- 1,769 m
- Seafront
- 71% free
- 1,214 m free495 m leased to beach clubs
- Water quality
- Excellent · classification 2024
- Off season: latest samples of the 2026 season
- ARPA bathing areas:
- SAN FOCA-VICINO ALLA TORREExcellentMon 6 Jul: within limits
- COLONIA MARINA PIO XIIExcellentTue 7 Jul: within limits
- Blue Flag town
- Melendugno has the Blue Flag this year
About the beach
San Foca is a small fishing village that fills up with holidaymakers in summer. The marina divides two sandy inlets enclosed by the rocky coast: to the north, in front of the village, the Brigantini beach, with a few sea stacks a few dozen metres from the shore, including the Scoglio dell'Otto, named after its shape; to the south the Aranci inlet, with very fine sand among low rocks.
Between the two beaches opens the Grotta degli Amanti: legend tells of two young people who sought shelter there from the north wind (tramontana) and died in each other's arms as the sea rose. The coast is watched over by the 16th-century tower built by the master builder Antonio Saponaro. There are about ten beach clubs, taking up about half the beachfront; the rest, between sand and rocks, is free and suitable for families too.
The car parks are close by. The coast faces north-east: with south-east (scirocco), south-west (libeccio), west (ponente) and north-west (maestrale) winds it is sheltered, with north (tramontana), north-east (grecale) and east (levante) winds the sea gets rough. Melendugno is a Blue Flag municipality.
On the map
Stretch of beachBeach club
Beach clubs
On this stretch of beach or less than 300 m away.
La Caciulara
Eurogarden Beach
Terrazza Io Posso
- Services for people with disabilities: accessibile in carrozzina
Lido Mamalù
Bar
L'Isola dei Briganti
- Services for people with disabilities: sedia JOB
Lido Solemar
- Services for people with disabilities: parcheggi riservati
4 more beach clubs
Zenzero
Li Marangi
Lido Solero
Lido Coiba
Bar · Attrezzature ludiche · Punto ristoro · Ristorante
- Services for people with disabilities: parcheggi riservati
- Pets allowed
- Parking
Events nearby
In the coming days within 5 km.
No events within 5 km in the coming days.
Things to see nearby
Sea and cavesSan Foca harbourNorth of the port of Otranto lies the port of Santa Foca, protected to the north by a curved breakwater and to the south by an underwater… Melendugno very close
Sea and cavesSan FocaAlong the rocky coast of San Foca, there are two sandy coves, amid caves
and sea stacks which come out of the blue sea. Melendugno very close
Nature and gardensSites of community interest Torre dell'Orso and Palude dei TamariHistory and nature coexist in the area of Melendugno with the ancient
settlements of Roca Vecchia, the caves and beaches of Torre dell’Orso and
the unspoiled landscape of Palude dei Tamari. Melendugno 1.4 km away
Sea and cavesRocaRoca, caressed by the crystal-clear water and surrounded by the rocky
coast, offers visitors an amazing bathe inside the cave Grotta della
Poesia. Melendugno 2.2 km away
Sea and cavesCaves Poesia Piccola and Poesia GrandeThe appealing rocks of the Caves of Roca are one of the most fascinating
spots along the Adriatic coastline in Salento. Melendugno 2.2 km away
Beaches nearby
- Rocks and cliffsRocaCliffs and rocks with no beach between Roca Li Posti and Roca Vecchia, with the archaeological area and the Grotta della Poesia.3 beach clubs Excellent water Blue Flag town Melendugno · Adriatic 1.3 km away
SandTorre Specchia RuggeriCliff coast with sandy coves, open to the winds and popular with surfers and kiters, north of San Foca.Free · 2 beach clubs Excellent water Blue Flag town Melendugno · Adriatic 3 km away
SandTorre dell'OrsoCrescent bay of very fine white sand between the tower and the cliff, with pine wood and dunes behind and the Due Sorelle offshore.8 beach clubs Excellent water Blue Flag town Natura 2000 Melendugno · Adriatic 3.7 km away
Rocks and cliffsTorre Sant'AndreaJagged limestone rock with sea stacks, small caves and a tiny beach in the minute harbour, below the chequered lighthouse.Free Excellent water Blue Flag town Melendugno · Adriatic 5.4 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)
- Pugliapromozione – DMS Puglia, open data (stabilimenti balneari, luoghi di interesse) (CC BY 4.0)
- Wikimedia Commons (foto: autore e licenza su ogni foto) (CC0, PD, CC BY, CC BY-SA)
- salentosagreeventi.it – luoghi (foto e testi già pubblicati) (come indicato sulle foto)
- FEE Italia – Bandiera Blu 2026 (dato pubblico (elenco dei comuni premiati))
- Wind forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0).
- Photos: Carlo Elmiro Bevilacqua · Regione Puglia
- Photos: Leonardo D'Angelo · Regione Puglia
- Photos: Florixc, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Fabrizio Garrisi, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Fabrizio Garrisi, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Ashoppio, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Art Anderson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Data updated: Sunday, 25 October 2026.