Looking for a beach of pale sand among low rocks, with crystal-clear sea and a pine wood behind it, a few kilometres from Gallipoli? This guide takes you to Punta della Suina, the small point on Salento’s Ionian coast inside the Punta Pizzo regional nature park: swimming in the coves, the flat rock in front of the point, the walk along the shore, the parking and the rules that change every summer, the sunsets over the gulf and everything you need to know to plan your day, with practical tips and local curiosities.
In short
Punta della Suina, also called Punta Suina or simply «la Suina», is a small rocky point on Salento’s Ionian coast, in the municipality of Gallipoli (Lecce), about 11 km by road from the old town. On either side small coves of fine sand open up, separated by low rocks, with crystal-clear sea and a mostly sandy seabed; behind lies the pine wood with its Mediterranean scrub. It is part of the Isola di Sant’Andrea e litorale di Punta Pizzo regional nature park: the car stays in the car parks along the coast road and you reach the sea on foot in a few minutes. In summer it is one of the busiest beaches in Gallipoli, and in the evening the sun sets over the gulf. The best months are June and September.
What is Punta della Suina?
Punta della Suina is a low rocky headland on the Gulf of Gallipoli, on the coast road that runs from the town down towards Santa Maria di Leuca, between Li Foggi and Baia Verde to the north and Lido Pizzo and Punta Pizzo to the south-west. It is not a village but a protected stretch of coast: sandy coves, low rocks sloping gently down to the sea, a pine wood and, next to the point, a few beach clubs alternating with stretches of free beach. To get there you leave the car and cross a short stretch of pine wood and scrub on foot.
Punta della Suina is a simple place to describe: a tongue of pale rock that juts just slightly into the sea, coves of fine sand on either side, water ranging from turquoise to blue and, behind, the pines and the bushes of mastic, myrtle and rosemary. In front of the point a large flat rock rises just above the water, and from the shore your gaze takes in the whole gulf, as far as the outline of Gallipoli.
There are no houses by the sea: it is a stretch of coast inside a regional park, with a few beach clubs and stretches of free beach. In summer it fills up, especially at weekends; out of season it becomes quiet again. In this guide you will find how to get there and where to leave the car, where to swim, what to see along the coast and how to plan your day, nearby too.
Curiosities and atmosphere
The origin of the name Punta della Suina is uncertain; in Gallipoli people simply call it «la Suina». It has long been a much-loved place: it has been nominated in FAI’s «I Luoghi del Cuore» (Places of the Heart) census in eight editions, from 2004 to 2024, and in 2022 the British newspaper The Guardian included it among the 40 most beautiful beaches in Europe and the five most beautiful in Italy, for its waters of a thousand colours and its soft white sand. Because of the colour of the water, some people also call it «the Caribbean of Salento». Cinema has passed this way too: in Ferzan Özpetek’s «Mine vaganti», from 2010, the main character’s friends arrive from Rome and dance to «Sorry, I’m a Lady» right against the backdrop of Punta della Suina, in one of the best-remembered scenes of the film.
Punta della Suina is part of the Isola di Sant’Andrea e litorale di Punta Pizzo regional nature park, established by the Puglia Region in 2006. The park includes the island of Sant’Andrea, off Gallipoli, where the only colony of Audouin’s gulls on Italy’s entire Ionian and Adriatic coasts nests, and the coast south of the town between Li Foggi, Punta della Suina and the Torre del Pizzo, the 1569 coastal tower that closes the gulf to the south-west. Very rare plants grow in the scrub, such as Anthyllis hermanniae, whose only site on the Salento peninsula is at Punta Pizzo, and in 2020 two Salento botanists described a new species right on this stretch of coast, the Punta Pizzo cornflower.
Where it is and how to reach it
Punta della Suina is on Salento’s Ionian coast, in the municipality of Gallipoli, along the southern coast road, provincial road 239, which runs from the town down towards Santa Maria di Leuca. To the north are Li Foggi and Baia Verde, to the south-west Lido Pizzo and Punta Pizzo; a little further south begins Marina di Mancaversa, the seaside village of Taviano. The old town of Gallipoli is about 11 km away by road, Mancaversa 5 km, Santa Maria di Leuca 42 km and Lecce about 46 km.
By car: from Lecce take the SS101 to Gallipoli, then follow the signs for Santa Maria di Leuca and the southern coast road: about fifty minutes without traffic. The road does not reach the sea. You leave the car in the seasonal car parks along the coast road and right by the pine wood, mostly paid in summer, and from there you walk for 5-10 minutes along a sandy path among the pines to the point. The parking areas inside the park often change from one summer to the next: in 2026 the municipality again regulated them with temporary measures, pending a mobility plan that aims to move the car parks further from the sea and rely on shuttles and public transport. Check on the spot which car parks are open and this year’s rules; the sources we consulted do not mention any cap on visitor numbers or advance booking.
By public transport: national trains arrive in Lecce; from there FS Sud Est (Ferrovie del Sud Est) lines run to Gallipoli station, about ten kilometres away: check the timetables and any replacement buses. In summer «Salento in Bus» line 108, Lecce – Gallipoli – Santa Maria di Leuca, stops at the «Baia di Gallipoli» stop, near the campsite, about 800 metres on foot from the point (in 2026 from 13 June to 13 September): check this year’s routes and timetables before you set off. The most convenient airport is Brindisi, about an hour and a half away by car.
What to do and what to see
Punta della Suina is about sand, rocks and pine wood: early in the morning a swim in the coves, then a walk along the shore, in the hottest hours a trip into the old town of Gallipoli and in the evening the sunset over the gulf. Here are the experiences not to miss.
1. Swimming in the sandy coves (2-4 hours)
On either side of the point the coast opens into small coves of fine, pale sand, separated by low rocks and patches of grass. You get into the water from the sand, the seabed is mostly sandy and near the shore in many places you stay within your depth for a long way; when the sea is calm the water is transparent and shifts from turquoise to blue. Some coves are equipped by the beach clubs, others are free: arrive early, because in summer the best spots on the sand go quickly.
2. The flat rock and the low rocks (1-2 hours)
The point is a platform of pale rock sloping gently down to the sea, and in front of it a large flat rock rises just above the water, where people stretch out in the sun and some put up their umbrella. The rocks around are low and easy to reach, but the rock is uneven and, where it is wet, slippery: bring reef shoes, especially if you get into the water from the rock.
3. Mask and snorkel along the point (1 hour)
Around the point the seabed alternates between sand and rock: with a mask and snorkel you can see the ripples in the sand, the stones and the fish a few metres from the shore. Swim along the edge of the rocks, where the rock meets the sand, when the sea is calm and in the morning light, and watch out for the boats passing off the point.
4. On foot through the pine wood and scrub of the park (30 minutes)
The sandy path that leads from the car park to the sea crosses the pine wood and the Mediterranean scrub: mastic, myrtle, Mediterranean buckthorn, phillyrea and spiny broom, and towards the sea rosemary and thyme; in spring the wild orchids flower. It is a fragile part of the park, hit by fire several times: in the summer of 2019 two fires burned hectares of pine wood and scrub, and on 13 July 2026 a new fire destroyed at least 20 hectares of pine wood and scrub behind Punta della Suina. In October 2026 the municipality of Gallipoli launched a reforestation project: some stretches may look very different from photos of past years. Stay on the paths, don’t light fires and don’t smoke among the pines.
5. The walk along the shore (1-2 hours)
From Punta della Suina you can walk along the coast of the park, among sandy coves, low rocks and dunes covered in scrub. To the north the coast curves towards Li Foggi, where the channel and the wetlands attract water birds during the migrations, and then towards Baia Verde; to the south-west you reach Lido Pizzo and, about 3 km away, three quarters of an hour on foot, the Torre del Pizzo, on the point that closes the gulf. Go early in the morning or towards evening: there is no shade on the shore and the ground is uneven, so you need comfortable shoes, a hat and water.
6. Sunset from the point (1 hour)
The coast of Punta della Suina faces west, over the Gulf of Gallipoli, and in the evening the sun goes down right over the sea. Stay on the rocks of the point when the beach empties: the water turns golden, the pines become dark silhouettes and against the backdrop of the gulf you can see the outline of Gallipoli. In high summer it is the best and quietest moment of the day.
7. Gallipoli, the old town on the island (half a day)
Punta della Suina is in the municipality of Gallipoli, the nearest town, about twenty minutes away by car. Its old town stands on an island of limestone rock linked to the mainland by a seventeenth-century bridge: within the walls are the castle, the Baroque cathedral of Sant’Agata, from the seventeenth century, the underground olive mills dug into the rock, where the oil that made the town rich was produced, and the fishermen’s harbour. It is the ideal destination for the hottest hours or for the evening. Read our complete guide to Gallipoli.
Sea, sand and who it suits
The sea at Punta della Suina is crystal clear, turquoise over the sand and bluer over the rock and further out. The coast alternates coves of fine sand, low rocks and small patches of grass; the seabed is mostly sandy and near the shore in many places the water stays shallow. The bay faces west: with the sirocco, the south-east wind, the sea here is often calm and transparent, while with the mistral, from the north-west, the waves come in and it is best to swim with care.
It is perfect for those looking for sand and clear water in a natural setting, for couples, for those who love snorkelling between sand and rocks and for anyone who wants to combine the sea with a walk along the coast. It is also fine with children, because you get into the water from the sand, but bear in mind the walk through the pine wood with bags and umbrella and the crowds in high season. It is less suited to people who find it hard to walk on sand and to those looking for peace and quiet in August.
Free beach and facilities
Next to the point there are stretches run as concessions by beach clubs, with sunloungers, umbrellas, bars and wooden boardwalks on the sand, and stretches of free beach, on the sand and on the rocks: check on the spot which ones are free and which are equipped this year. For lunch with more choice there are Baia Verde and Gallipoli, a few minutes away by car.
Bring plenty of water, an umbrella and reef shoes: there is no shade on the free beach and in the middle of the day the rock is scorching.
Punta della Suina vs other beaches on the Gallipoli coast
Along this coast the beaches are very close to each other. Here is a practical comparison to help you choose:
Punta della Suina vs Baia Verde
- Punta della Suina: sandy coves among the low rocks, the park’s pine wood and the sea reached on foot from the car park
- Baia Verde: a long, low sandy beach 3 km from Gallipoli, with many beach clubs and evening venues
Punta della Suina vs Marina di Mancaversa
- Punta della Suina: no houses by the sea, just sand, rocks and pine wood
- Mancaversa: the seaside village of Taviano, 5 km away, with its seafront above the rocks, the little beach of the Mare dei Cavalli in the village and bars and restaurants close at hand. Read our guide to Marina di Mancaversa
Punta della Suina vs Posto Vecchio
- Punta della Suina: small coves and a varied coast, with sand, rocks and pine wood, and sunsets over the gulf
- Posto Vecchio: a long sandy beach with shallow water for dozens of metres, on the Salve coast, near our houses
When to choose Punta della Suina: if you want sand and crystal-clear water on a protected stretch of coast, like walking and want to end the day with the sunset over the gulf.
When to choose somewhere else: if you are travelling with small children and looking for a long, more secluded beach, with plenty of free beach and no walk with all your gear, look at Posto Vecchio, about 36 km away.
Practical tips
In July and August arrive early, before 9: you will find parking, a spot on the sand and a calmer sea more easily. Alternatively, go in the late afternoon and stay until sunset. In summer 2026 the local press reported thefts from cars left in the free, unattended parking areas nearby: don’t leave anything in sight.
Remember that you are in a nature park: walk on the paths and boardwalks, don’t trample the dunes and vegetation, don’t pick plants or flowers and take your rubbish away with you. Don’t light fires and don’t smoke in the pine wood, which has been hit by large fires in recent years. If the mistral stirs up the sea, swim only where you can stand and keep away from the rocks.
Useful practical information
| 📍 Where | Punta della Suina (Gallipoli, Lecce), 11 km from the old town of Gallipoli and 46 km from Lecce |
|---|---|
| 🚗 Parking | Seasonal car parks along the coast road, mostly paid in summer; areas and rules change every year, in August arrive early |
| ♿ Access | 5-10 minutes on foot along a sandy path through the pine wood; difficult with a pushchair or wheelchair |
| 🏖 Beach | Coves of fine sand among low rocks; free stretches and equipped stretches |
| 🌊 Sea | Crystal clear, mostly sandy seabed; often calm with the sirocco, rough with the mistral |
| 👟 What to bring | Umbrella, water, sun cream, reef shoes and mask |
| 🍴 Food | Beach club bars; more choice in Baia Verde and Gallipoli |
| 📅 Best time | June and September; in July and August early in the morning or towards sunset |
Where to stay near Punta della Suina
We have no houses in or around Gallipoli: the nearest is about 40 minutes away, further south along the Ionian coast. If you would like a base in southern Salento, with Punta della Suina and Gallipoli as a day trip, between Lido Marini and Torre Pali, about 27 km away by road, you will find our Le Secche Suite & House – 6, La Secca di Giurlita: 3 guests, 1 bathroom and 45 m², with a double bedroom, a living room, a modern fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, a bathroom with a shower, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, an equipped terrace, a garden and free private parking, with a view of the Mediterranean scrub. Small dogs are allowed and the sea is less than 1 km away.
The house is part of Le Secche Suite & House, a small complex of six units completed in 2024, with other options for 3 or 4 guests, some with a private pool: you will find them all on the page holiday homes in Lido Marini. From here the free beaches of Lido Marini and Torre Pali are a few minutes away, and in the same holiday you can alternate the shallow sea of the Ugento and Salve coast with a day at Punta della Suina and in Gallipoli.
Would you like advice on dates, getting around or other houses in the area? Contact us: we will help you choose the right option.
When to go and how much time to plan
June: the sea is already pleasant, on weekdays there is still room on the sand and the days are very long, with the sun setting late over the gulf.
July and August: it is high season. Punta della Suina is among the busiest beaches in Gallipoli, especially at weekends: the car parks and the best spots fill up early, so go early in the morning or in the late afternoon and check which parking areas are open this year.
September: the best month, in our opinion. The sea is still warm, there are far fewer people and the sunsets on the point are beautiful.
April, May and October: the ideal time for walking along the coast of the park, with the scrub in flower and, in spring, the wild orchids; swimming is for those who don’t mind cool water.
November to March: the beach is almost deserted and many services are closed. In heavy seas brought by the mistral the waves on the low rocks are quite a sight, best watched from a distance; on calm days it is the best time for a silent walk along the shore.
Events and festivals (indicative dates, check them every year on the Gallipoli municipality website and on SalentoMe):
- Holy Week rites in Gallipoli, with the procession of the Addolorata on the Friday before Palm Sunday and the processions of the hooded penitents: March or April
- Patron saint’s feast of Santa Cristina in Gallipoli: 23-25 July
- The New Year’s «Pupu»: at midnight on 31 December a papier-mâché effigy representing the old year is blown up
How much time to allow: half a day is enough for a swim; a whole day if you add the walk along the shore and the sunset. With three or four days you can combine Gallipoli, Baia Verde, Mancaversa and the other seaside villages of the Ionian coast. A typical day:
- 7:30: arrival, parking and a walk along the shore towards Lido Pizzo, before the heat
- 9:30: a swim in the coves and snorkelling along the rocks, while the sea is at its calmest
- 13:00: lunch in Baia Verde or Gallipoli
- 15:30: the old town of Gallipoli, with the castle, the cathedral and the underground olive mills
- 18:00: back to the Suina for a last swim
- 20:00: sunset from the rocks of the point
Surroundings and extra ideas
Punta della Suina is well placed for exploring the Ionian coast between Gallipoli and the Capo di Leuca, with its sandy beaches, low rocks, coastal towers and inland villages. Distances and driving times are approximate.
Lido Pizzo and Punta Pizzo (5 km, 13 minutes; about 40 minutes on foot): the other end of the gulf, with the Lido Pizzo beach and the Torre del Pizzo, inside the same park.
Marina di Mancaversa (5 km, 10 minutes): the seaside village of Taviano, with its seafront above the rocks, the little beach of the Mare dei Cavalli and sunsets over the sea. Read our guide to Marina di Mancaversa.
Torre Suda (7 km, 13 minutes): the seaside village of Racale, with its sixteenth-century tower in the seafront garden and the low, flat rocks. Read our guide to Torre Suda.
Baia Verde (8 km, 15 minutes): the long, low sandy beach closest to Gallipoli, with many beach clubs and evening venues.
Gallipoli (11 km, 20 minutes): the municipality Punta della Suina belongs to, with its old town on the island, the castle, the cathedral of Sant’Agata and the harbour. Off the town lies the island of Sant’Andrea, which can be visited only between 1 August and 14 February, in small groups and with authorised guides. Read our guide to Gallipoli.
Posto Rosso and the Alliste coast (14 km, 21 minutes): low rocks, the Baia dei Pinnacoli with its stone stacks and a seafront path to cycle along.
Torre San Giovanni and Torre Mozza (18-24 km, 26-35 minutes): Ugento’s seaside villages, with the harbour, the lighthouse and the long sandy beaches of the Parco Litorale di Ugento.
Lido Marini, Torre Pali and Posto Vecchio (26-36 km, 38-41 minutes): the long sandy beaches with shallow water of southern Ionian Salento, near our houses. Read our guide to Posto Vecchio.
Santa Maria di Leuca (42 km, 45 minutes): the lighthouse, the de Finibus Terrae sanctuary and the seafront with its nineteenth-century villas, where Salento ends.
Local tip
Check the wind before you set off. Punta della Suina faces west: with the sirocco, the south-east wind, the sea here is often calm and transparent, which is one of the reasons why so many people choose it precisely on sirocco days; with the mistral, on the other hand, the waves come straight into the bay and it is better to choose another day.
In high season arrive early, leave the car and have your first swim while the beach is still half empty; then, in the hottest hours, move on to the old town of Gallipoli, in the shade of its narrow streets.
And come back for the sunset: towards evening many people leave, the light turns golden and from the rocks of the point you watch the sun sink into the sea, with the outline of Gallipoli against the backdrop of the gulf.
FAQ
Where is Punta della Suina?
On Salento’s Ionian coast, in the municipality of Gallipoli (Lecce), along the southern coast road between Baia Verde and Punta Pizzo, about 11 km by road from the old town of Gallipoli and 46 km from Lecce. It is also called Punta Suina or simply «la Suina».
Is there sand or rock at Punta della Suina?
Both: small coves of fine sand separated by low rocks, with a large flat rock in front of the point. The seabed is mostly sandy and near the shore in many places the water stays shallow.
How do you get there and where do you park?
By car along Gallipoli’s southern coast road, provincial road 239. You leave the car in the seasonal car parks along the road and right by the pine wood, mostly paid in summer, and walk for 5-10 minutes among the pines. The parking areas change from one summer to the next: check on the spot.
Do you need to book, or is there a cap on visitor numbers?
The sources we consulted, up to date as of summer 2026, do not mention any cap on visitor numbers or advance booking. In the park, however, a mobility plan that reduces the car parks near the sea has been under discussion for years: check this year’s rules before you set off.
Are there beach clubs or is it free beach?
Both: next to the point there are stretches run as concessions by beach clubs, with sunloungers, umbrellas and bars, and stretches of free beach, on the sand and on the rocks.
Is Punta della Suina suitable for children?
Yes, because you get into the water from the sand and near the shore in many places you can stand. Bear in mind, though, the walk through the pine wood with all your gear and the crowds in August: with small children June and September are easier.
Can you see the sunset from Punta della Suina?
Yes: the coast faces west, over the Gulf of Gallipoli, and in the evening the sun goes down over the sea. The best spot is the rocks of the point, with the outline of Gallipoli in the background.
How do you get to Punta della Suina without a car?
In summer on «Salento in Bus» line 108, Lecce – Gallipoli – Santa Maria di Leuca, which stops at the «Baia di Gallipoli» stop, about 800 metres on foot from the point. The nearest railway station is Gallipoli, served by FS Sud Est, about ten kilometres away.
When is the best time to go?
June and September, when the sea is already, or still, warm and there are fewer people. In July and August go early in the morning or in the late afternoon, and stay for the sunset.
Where to stay near Punta della Suina?
Salento Prime has no houses in Gallipoli: the nearest is Le Secche Suite & House – 6, between Lido Marini and Torre Pali, about 40 minutes away by car, for 3 guests, with an equipped terrace, a garden and private parking. You will find the other houses on the holiday homes in Lido Marini page.
Conclusion
Punta della Suina is the most natural side of the Gallipoli coast: small coves of fine sand among the low rocks, crystal-clear sea, the park’s pine wood behind and, in the evening, the sun going down over the gulf. Go in June or September, or early in the morning in high summer, respect the park and don’t leave without a sunset from the rocks of the point.
If you want a base in southern Salento, with Gallipoli and Punta della Suina as a day trip, between Lido Marini and Torre Pali you will find our Le Secche Suite & House – 6: 3 guests, an equipped terrace, a garden and private parking, about 40 minutes from Punta della Suina. You will find our houses in the area on the page holiday homes in Lido Marini.
Discover the available accommodations with Salento Prime. To best organize your base and transfers, contact us here or start a chat on WHATSAPP.
Cover photo: Silvia Franceschetti, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
