In Baia delle Zagare (Bay of Flowers), 2 of Italy's most exclusive and inaccessible beaches are hidden away: Spiaggia dei Faraglioni (Beach of the Rocks) and Spiaggia dei Mergoli. Find out how to reach them.
This coastline is part of the Gargano Natural Park in northern Puglia—a dream destination for nature lovers, walks through the forest (foresta umbra), and the white coves of the Adriatic.
A paradise within everyone's reach? Well, it depends…
The beaches: Faraglioni and Mergoli
The northern part of the bay, known as Spiaggia dei Faraglioni, is the only one you can reach on foot for free (if you're determined enough).
On the other hand, the southern area, also known as Spiaggia dei Mergoli or Baia dei Mergoli, can only be accessed via a private elevator.
Besides the photogenic sea stacks rising right in front of them, the main highlight of both coves is the towering white cliffs sheltering them.
The erosion of these limestone walls with flint veins is what gives the sand and the seabed colors worthy of a tropical paradise. And if you don't believe me, just take a look at the photos. 😉
Heads up: Several signs advise against getting too close to the cliff walls due to the risk of falling rocks. If you do, it's at your own risk.
The hotel
The luxurious Baia delle Zagare resort (because for a place this massive, I refuse to call it just a 'hotel') offers exclusive access to both beaches for its guests via 2 private elevators.
When I checked out the common areas, I saw firsthand that every detail is carefully looked after, keeping up a high standard to match its privileged location. I imagine it must be an absolute treat to stay in one of their apartments.
But, to enjoy these dream coves, do you really need to break the bank?
Not at all. Let me share your options with you right now:
How to access them
From above
Even though this option won't take you down to the sand, it does offer the best views of the bay.
All you have to do is walk the first stretch of the Sentiero Natura connecting Mergoli with Vignanotica. On the map at the bottom of the page, you can find the location of this short route and the scenic viewpoint.
And since a picture is worth a thousand words… well, here you go:
For free
Even though the hotel's private beach club (‘lido’) takes up almost the entire northern cove (Spiaggia dei Faraglioni), there is a public trail connecting it to the main road (SP53).
Next to the trailhead (a small barrier blocks vehicle access), there are no official parking spots, so you'll have to pull over into one of the 3 nearby roadside widenings.
I don't need to tell you they fill up fast, right? If you know of any other parking spots, drop a comment below—everyone will thank you (myself included). 🙂
Make sure you follow the right path so you don't trespass on private property. To keep on track, follow the route I've marked on the map at the end of this post.
With an official pass
The Mattinata town hall hands out free passes that allow you to access the beaches using the hotel's secondary pathways.
The only catch is:
- They cannot be booked in advance, neither online nor by phone.
- To get them, you have to show up in person at the tourist office on the very day you want to go.
- They hand out a very limited number (maybe 20?), which also varies from year to year (sometimes dropping to zero), and only from Monday to Friday.
- If you don't start lining up by 7:30 AM (bearing in mind they open at 9:00 AM), you might miss out completely.
Doesn't sound super promising, does it? I'm right there with you…
Renting a sun lounger
The Baia delle Zagare resort sells passes that include a sunbed and umbrella for around €30–40/person (June 2017 rates).
During peak season, your best bet is to call the hotel to book them in advance, as availability depends on daily guest occupancy. Once the beach ‘lido’ is full, they stop offering this option.
During the low season (early June, for instance), they set up a stand right on the main road to attract travelers with this deal.
By boat
Although you won't be able to step onto the sand, if you hop on one of the boat tours cruising along the Gargano Natural Park coast, you'll get incredible front-row views of the coastline and the sea stacks rising from the water.
Plus, these boat trips will also take you up close to coves, sea caves, and grottoes that are completely unreachable by land.
Spending a night at the hotel
Can you afford it? Well, don't think twice,
Book your spot at the Baia delle Zagare hotel resort and access these unique beaches whenever you want, as much as you want. Enjoy!
Other alternatives?
You won't believe it, but we did something different. Say what?
Let me tell you:
Our visit
We parked in one of the side pull-offs, next to the entrance of the Mergoli-Vignanotica Nature Trail, and walked along this route to gorgeous Vignanotica, where we spent the day soaking up the sun and enjoying the beach.
When we got back, it was late, the air was getting cool, and almost all the beachgoers had left. We didn't even find the tourist access booth by the road.
So we decided to drive down to the hotel and pulled up in front of the parking gate (which was very well guarded, by the way).
I got out of the car and walked up to the guard. It took me quite a while to convince him, since he told me that to let me in, I needed a permit that had to be requested by phone. In the end, he made the call himself and they let us through, on the condition that we leave our ID at reception until we left.
And just like that, we visited the (huge) facilities and went down to both beaches using the 2 private elevators. We only strolled around and snapped photos, since the sun had already set. That, along with being there in low season and speaking Italian, was key to them letting us check it out for free.
Keep that in mind if you plan on trying our tactic. 🙂
Useful links
- Mattinata Town Hall Tourist Office, where you can ask for beach access passes.
- Baia delle Zagare hotel resort.
- Other hotel deals in the area.
- Flights to Italy: Trabber, eDreams, Momondo, and Vueling.
- 5% discount when booking your travel insurance with IATI.
Are you on a road trip through Italy visiting Puglia and the Gargano National Park? Then you'll want to check this out:
- Vignanotica public beach, seeing is believing.
- Discover the sea caves of Gargano by kayak.
- Explore the 15 trails crossing Gargano's Foresta Umbra.
- Visit Vieste, an Italian fishing village on the shores of Gargano.
Want to know more details about Baia delle Zagare and its surroundings? Do you know another way to get to dei Faraglioni and dei Mergoli beaches? Tell me in the comments, hurry!