Spiaggia della Costa Merlata

Spiaggia della Costa Merlata

Spiaggia della Costa Merlata stretches along the Ionian coast of Basilicata, in southern Italy, a few kilometers north of Policoro. This stretch of the Salento coastline borders the Ionian Sea with a south-facing exposure, characterized by warm, shallow waters typical of this region. The shore is part of a succession of fine sandy beaches that extend between Torre Pozzelle to the north and the small rocky coves to the south, forming an unbroken seaside continuum. The beach itself offers direct access to calm waters, without the turbulence experienced on the more northern coasts of Campania. In the immediate vicinity, Plage IT-S is only 0.6 km to the north, while Torre Pozzelle – Spiaggia N.5 extends 0.8 km away, creating a group of three adjoining beaches that share the same sandy morphology. The character of this coastal section remains that of a sparsely populated rural coastline, where human presence is discreet compared to the large seaside resorts of the Amalfi Coast. The atmosphere remains that of a quiet swimming spot, without intrusive tourist infrastructure. No services are reported on site: no lifeguard supervision, no documented sanitary facilities, no access for people with reduced mobility. The beach does not have the Blue Flag status. Access remains free and informal, characteristic of the less developed beaches of the southern Ionian coast. Visitors must plan for their own self-sufficiency regarding parking, fresh water, and supplies, as resources are concentrated in the small neighboring coastal villages rather than on the beach itself.