Parco naturale regionale Litorale di Ugento

Parco naturale regionale Litorale di Ugento is a protected regional park stretching along the Ionian coast, featuring sandy beaches, coastal dunes, wetland areas, and scrubland typical of the Mediterranean. The park covers 1,626 hectares and showcases the natural diversity found along this southern Italian shoreline.

The area was marshland during medieval times when coastal zones were abandoned due to pirate attacks, then transformed by drainage projects beginning in the 1920s. This recovery of the landscape eventually led to efforts to protect and preserve this coastal region.

The park's management promotes environmental education through workshops and training sessions focused on local wildlife protection and conservation methods.

The park is accessible via the SP88 road and offers walking trails, nature observation opportunities, and seasonal outdoor activities. Spring and fall are ideal times to visit when temperatures are comfortable and wildlife is active throughout the day.

The reserve contains gravinelle, distinctive limestone canyons that run parallel to the shoreline and create an unusual geological formation. These natural features are a rare characteristic of the southern Adriatic region and shape the landscape in surprising ways.

Location: Ugento

Inception: 2007

Operator: Provincia di Lecce

Website: http://parcolitoralediugento.it

GPS coordinates: 39.86800,18.17760

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:50