Naturist beach in Puglia: the Termitosa at Castellaneta Marina

There is a beach in Puglia that has always been there, but until recently had no official name in the town’s ordinances. It is called Termitosa, it lies at Castellaneta Marina, and for years it was one of those places that people who know it simply know how to find: reachable only on foot along unpaved paths or from the sea, surrounded by pine woods, with fine sand and clear water. One of those stretches of coast that mass tourism never reached, because you cannot drive to it.

It is also the first officially regulated naturist beach on the Ionian coast of Puglia. The mayor of Castellaneta signed the ordinance confirming the naturist use of the area for the 2026 season, after the trial phase that began in 2024, with precise rules on how it is used, what is allowed and what is forbidden.

The Termitosa beach: where it is and what it is like

Termitosa is in the municipality of Castellaneta, in the province of Taranto, on the Ionian coast of Puglia, the instep of the Italian boot. The sand is golden and very fine, the pine woods behind it keep it quiet and relaxing, and the water is clear and shallow, which suits swimmers who are not very confident. The sunsets are lovely, and its sheltered position makes it especially pleasant in the evening.

Getting there takes a little effort: from Castellaneta Marina, follow the signs for Termitosa; the last 600 metres are on a dirt track as far as the parking area, then short boardwalks lead across the dunes. That relative difficulty has always kept it apart, used by people who look for it on purpose rather than by the crowds of the beach-holiday season.

The area is also known as the Bosco della Marina beach or the Castellaneta Marina Station beach. The mayor chose this stretch of public shore “in the light of its long-standing use”, so much so that it is known in national and international naturist circles. In other words, this is not a provocative choice but the formal recognition of something already well established locally.

• 150 metres: the length of the official naturist area on the Termitosa shore.
• 600 metres: the dirt track leading to the parking area, before the boardwalks through the dunes and the pine wood.
• 2024: the year of the first trial ordinance, confirmed for 2026.
• FENAIT: the beach is listed by the Italian Naturist Federation among the recognised areas.

The ordinance: what it says and how it works

The naturist area covers 150 metres of free public beach (in Italy, a spiaggia libera is a stretch without a beach club, open to anyone), set apart from the other bathing areas along this coast. Access is free, with no membership or registration, but everyone using the area must follow a set of rules of conduct.

The debate it sparked: for and against

As you might expect, the ordinance did not pass in silence. On social media some residents complained that it was inappropriate for naturists to be walking about on a stretch of beach usually used by families. The most detailed criticism came from local politics: a regional councillor from Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d’Italia) argued that the Termitosa naturist beach was not isolated from the other municipal beaches at all, but sat right between one free beach and another, and could be reached by walking along the water’s edge.

On the other side, people who have been going to Termitosa for years point out that naturism there has roots going back decades. The ordinance did not “create” a naturist beach; it simply gave a legal framework to something that already existed. In that sense, the regulation protects everyone: it marks out the boundaries of the area clearly, sets the rules of behaviour and gives users a legal footing they did not have before.

The town’s choice follows a growing trend in Italy: the mayor said he acted to “regulate and encourage naturist tourism in an area that already has a long history of use”. Not an ideological act, but a practical administrative decision.

Naturism in Puglia: a growing phenomenon

Termitosa is not the only beach in Puglia used by naturists; it is simply the one that now has official rules. The Apulian coast, with its isolated stretches reachable only on foot or by sea, has always offered natural spaces where people seeking nudity in a setting that respects the environment have, in practice, gone.

Naturism is growing across Italy, helped by a gradual cultural change and by rising interest in slow, sustainable travel in direct contact with nature. In France, where naturism has a long tradition and millions of followers, naturist tourism generates significant economic activity. That Puglia is moving in this direction, however gradually, meets a real international demand.

• Getting there: from Castellaneta Marina, follow the signs for Termitosa; the last 600 metres are a dirt track, then on foot across the dunes.
• Access: free, with no membership or registration, as long as the rules of the ordinance are respected.
• Season: the ordinance covers the bathing season; check the dates and rules for the coming summer on the website of the Comune di Castellaneta.
• Key rules: no photos without consent, no drones, no sexual acts, no camping, no fires, mutual respect.
• Contacts: official website of the Comune di Castellaneta, www.comune.castellaneta.ta.it

Whether or not you agree with the decision, it is hard to deny that Termitosa is one of the most beautiful beaches in Puglia: fine sand, pine woods, clean sea and no beach club. The fact that it is now regulated simply makes it clearer and easier for anyone who wants to go, with or without a swimsuit.

The Castellaneta naturist ordinance was first signed on a trial basis for the 2024 season and confirmed for 2026. For the full text and the current rules, see the official website of the Comune di Castellaneta: www.comune.castellaneta.ta.it. The Termitosa beach is also listed by FENAIT (the Italian Naturist Federation) among the officially recognised naturist beaches in Italy.