Porto Cesareo Marine Nature reserve, Marine protected area in Salento, Italy.

Porto Cesareo Marine Nature Reserve covers 16,654 hectares of the Ionian Sea in the province of Lecce, between Punta Prosciutto to the north and Torre Inserraglio to the south, reaching up to 7 kilometres from the coast. Its 32 kilometres of shoreline run through the municipalities of Porto Cesareo and Nardò, with sandy coves alternating with low rocky stretches and freshwater springs. From Punta Prosciutto to Torre Lapillo, the Lido degli Angeli has dunes up to 6–7 metres high.

The reserve was established in 1997 as one of Italy's largest protected marine zones. Its management involves several municipalities working together, reflecting the coastal area's regional importance.

The reserve's three zones shape how people use the sea today: Zone A is closed to all activity except scientific research, Zone B allows professional fishing with selective gear by permit, and Zone C adds anchoring and sport fishing, though not spearfishing. The reserve lies off the Ionian coast of Porto Cesareo and Nardò.

You can enter the reserve at multiple points along the shore and explore on foot, by boat, or through snorkeling. Summer offers the best conditions, but be aware of waves and currents before swimming or diving.

The reserve's three named islands are Isola dei Conigli di Porto Cesareo, Isola della Malva and Isola della Testa. The first takes its name from the rabbits once kept there; the other two lie within the 16,654 hectares of protected water between Punta Prosciutto and Torre Inserraglio.