Sand Blue Flag town Excellent water Natura 2000For families
Torre dell'Orso
Melendugno (LE)· Sea: Adriatic
The beach at a glance
Crescent bay of very fine white sand between the tower and the cliff, with pine wood and dunes behind and the Due Sorelle offshore.
- Type of coast
- Sand
- Sand 771 m
- Cliff 293 m
- Length
- 1,144 m
- Seafront
- 47% free
- 465 m free520 m leased to beach clubs
- Water quality
- Excellent · classification 2024
- Off season: latest samples of the 2026 season
- ARPA bathing areas:
- TORRE DELL'ORSO-STAB.L'ORSETTAExcellentTue 7 Jul: within limits
- TORRE DELL'ORSO ALLA PINETAExcellentTue 7 Jul: within limits
- Blue Flag town
- Melendugno has the Blue Flag this year
- Natura 2000 network
- ZSC Torre dell'Orso (IT9150004)
- Coastal erosion
- medium
About the beach
Torre dell'Orso is a crescent-shaped bay of very fine white sand, closed on one side by the remains of the 16th-century tower and on the other by the San Cristoforo cliff. Behind it a pine wood reaches down to the dunes, and in the middle of the beach the small Brunese channel flows into the sea. Much of the sand is taken up by the eight beach clubs; the free stretches are about two fifths of the beachfront.
A short distance from the shore rise the Due Sorelle, two sea stacks which, according to legend, were sisters who dived into the stormy sea and were turned into rocks by the gods. Along the cliff open caves with graffiti and prehistoric traces, including the cave sanctuary of San Cristoforo. In summer the beach is very busy with families and young people; several beach clubs have a JOB chair. It is part of the Torre dell'Orso Natura 2000 site.
The car parks are close by. The bay faces east-north-east: with south-east (scirocco), south (ostro), south-west (libeccio), west (ponente) and north-west (maestrale) winds it is sheltered, while north (tramontana), north-east (grecale) and east (levante) winds make the sea 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.
Baron Beach
- Services for people with disabilities: parcheggi riservati
Giovanni Borelli
- Services for people with disabilities: sedia JOB
L'Orsetta
Bar · Ristorante
- Services for people with disabilities: sedia JOB
Baia d'Oriente
- Services for people with disabilities: sedia JOB
- Pets allowed
Lido La Cueva
Bar · Punto ristoro
- Services for people with disabilities: sedia JOB
Lido La Sorgente
2 more beach clubs
I Caraibi del Salento
- Services for people with disabilities: sedia JOB
Cala Marin
- Services for people with disabilities: accessibile in carrozzina
Events nearby
In the coming days within 5 km.
No events within 5 km in the coming days.
Things to see nearby
Sea and cavesTorre dell'OrsoA short stroll from the fine, white-sand beach of Torre dell'Orso, the
majestic sea stacks Due Sorelle jut out of the crystal-clear waters of the
sea. Melendugno very close
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 1.6 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 1.7 km away
Castles, towers and palacesSant'Andrea di Missipezza LighthouseCharacteristic lighthouse daltura located in SantAndrea, marina of
Melendugno. Melendugno 2 km away
Sea and cavesTorre Sant'AndreaTorre Sant’Andrea, with its sea stacks, small coves and the jagged coast,
offers a wild and unspoiled landscape. Melendugno 2.1 km away
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 2.5 km away
Beaches nearby
- 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 1.7 km away
- 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 2.7 km away
SandSan FocaTwo sandy inlets either side of the harbour, between low rocks and sea stacks, in the fishing village of San Foca.Free · 10 beach clubs Excellent water Blue Flag town Melendugno · Adriatic 3.7 km away
SandConca SpecchiullaCliffs with stretches of sand and dunes between Torre Sant'Andrea and Frassanito, almost all free, with only one beach club.Free · 1 beach club Excellent water Natura 2000 Otranto · Adriatic 4.2 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 – Perimetrazione dei siti Natura 2000 (12/2023) (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: Franco Cappellari · Regione Puglia
- Photos: Psymark, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Luca Margheriti, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: barbanto, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Lohen11 (Josep Renalias), CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Data updated: Sunday, 25 October 2026.