Gargano Coast in Apulia Region: The Best Beach for family and babies

The ideal beaches for families and babies in Gargano

Beach of SAN MENAIO (VICO DEL GARGANO)

The beach, overlooking the homonymous suburb of Vico del Gargano, developed itself around an ancient tower and a little house which was the home of the farmers working on the famous and very perfumed gardens. It counts today a lot of beaches with services so to be very much equipped for the various needs. The place with its beach has contributed in a relevant way to the development of tourism in Gargano area, because since the 50s the area had various beachfronts equipped and summer residence while the other areas of the Gargano were living still of agriculture and pastoralism.
The beach confines to the North, at Pietre Nere, with the territory of Rodi Garganico and along the coast arrives the perfume of the orange groves surrounding the beach.

Beach of the one hundred steps or of “tufare”

To reach this beach you need to go down a long staircase which begins from the path
beginning on the state road n. 89, or, in the alternative, walk through all the beach of San Menaio, south direction. Although there are a lot of equipped beach, it remains a peaceful beach, suitable for who is looking for relaxing moment. The rocky coastline on its back, screens out from wind. We suggest a little tour, walking through the pedestrian path which delves into the wonderful Marzini pine forest, which you can visit in one hour time and gives evocative views at the sunset with on the background the Tremiti island.

VARANO Island (ISCHITELLA)
It is a very old narrow strip of land which caused the creation of the lake, divided it from the sea, which goes from Varano mouth until the homonymous beach of Cagnano Varano. It hosts the Riserva Statale Isola di Varano, with its area of 154 hectare made of pine and Mediterranean brush, and the lagoon in which you can admire some fowls, among which, cormorants, sandpipers, golden eyes, mergansers and in the forest, foxes, cuckoos, turtles, badgers.
The sand, almost managed by private concessions, is easily reachable by the S.P. 41, through different indicated entrances, with a gate and comfortable pedestrian path. Facing north, it is dominated by north wind, ideal for who love surfing.

VARANO Mouth
It’s a long beach with a series of old and high sandy hills which goes from the end of the mouth until the border with the territory of Rodi Garganico, made of thin sand and low sea bottom. Surrounded by a lot of streets of the homonymous suburb of Ischitella, the sand is of easy access also for the presence of a wooden path which helps crossing the sandy dunes. Being very well equipped with accommodating and recreational structures, it is very suitable for children. It is faced to the north winds

PONENTE (West) Beach (RODI GARGANICO)
To the west of the city, it goes until Lido del Sole and it is made by a long series of sandy dunes which slopes slowly into the sea. Interrupted by the mouth of Romandato stream, for about 500-700 meters is composed by pebbles carried by the rains.
The beach is well equipped with a lot of accommodating structures suitable for families with babies. It is also an area suitable for surfing lovers, because of its exposition to the north winds. You can also sniff the exciting perfume of citrus groves.

LEVANTE (East) Beach
The long beach is situated at east of the city and it is made of a thin gold sand which slopes sweetly into the sea. Dominated at west by the city settled on the rocky coast, it is accompanied both by the state road 89 and by the Gargano railway, it is also enriched by the modern and equipped touristic port. The bay cited by Gabriele D’Annunzio is “all covered by a forest of orange and lemon trees”, surrounded by gardens. Of easy access, it is equipped with accommodating and bath structures, thus suitable for children.

PESCHICI

The beach is “Marina di Peschici” equipped with baths, lively, ideal for surfers, and it is made of thin and white sand. Easily reachable, you can find it following the signals for the harbor. The sand of San Nicola, another fantastic beach, with a part of free access beach, together with the Baia of Zaina, called also the beach of youngers, are my favorite beaches.
Here is a link in which we spoke of this bay.

SFINALICCHIO Beach ( VIESTE)

It is 9.75 Km from Vieste and 12,5 km from Peschici. Years ago was separate from the beach of Sfinale, in the area of Peschici, near the Grotta dell’acqua (water cavern) and for this reason it has two names. It is a long strip of sand which slopes sweetly into depths. You can easily access, with the possibility of parking from North coastal road of Vieste and signs the border with the Peschici area. It is very equipped with baths, renting boats, sailing and surf schools, restaurants and bars. Suitable for children who can run in freedom. Protected from south winds.

CROVATICO Beach
It is situated at 9.4 km from Vieste and 13.7 km from Peschici. It is formed by a series of sand dunes with a low sea bottom which goes till the sea. It is not so easy to access and it runs along the coastal road and the pine forest. It is very well equipped with baths, boat renting, bar and restaurants. It is enclosed between two small promontories it is ideal for families with babies. We advise to visit the so called Noe tomb, located in the proximity which dates back to the first Illyricum colonization, coming from the opposite cost of the Adriatic sea. 

SCIALMARINO Beach
It is situated at 4.3 km from Vieste and 15.2 km from Peschici. It is formed by an ancient series of hills of tiny and gold sand with low sea bottom. All around there are agricultural activities (farms). Very easily accessible and with parking, it is very equipped with a lot of recreational activities: baths, restaurants, bar, playgrounds, perfect for children. There is also the possibility of renting boats, sailing school, surf and kite, a paradise for surfers even in the low season, thanks to its winds. The rocky peninsula on the north has the unique and majestic paleo Christian necropolis of “Salata” or “Salatella”, considered by the archeologists one of the most beautiful. It is on an area of 6000 square feet, only few meters from the beach. You can also visit the Sanctuary Church of Saint Mary of Merino with the ruins of an ancient roman villa of the imperial age (dated 63 b.c.-14 a.c).
(traduzioni a cura di Chiara Tedone