BAGNO MARINO ARCHI: A GUIDE TO THE PRETTIEST BEACH CLUB IN PUGLIA, ITALY
Live out the ultimate Italian summer at Bagno Marino Archi, a stunning Santa Cesarea Terme beach club located in southern Puglia. This place is an absolute vibe – a straight up La Dolce Vita postcard that bursts with red and white umbrellas, rocky outcrops, turquoise water, cliff jumpers and sunbathers. We loved this place so much that we visited two days in a row on a recent trip to Puglia. Below is my complete guide to Bagno Marino Archi including the best viewpoints, hotels, travel tips and more.
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The beach club is surrounded by stunning rocky coves and calas.
WHAT IS BAGNO MARINO ARCHI?
Bagno Marino Archi is a beach club in southern Puglia located between Cala Porticciolo and Cala Fonatenelle, in Santa Cesarea Terme. Hundreds of red and white umbrellas, sun beds and changing rooms sit clustered along soaring stone walls that overlook the prettiest stretch of calm turquoise sea. The beach club attracts some foreign tourists, but most visitors are Italian.
A restaurant is located on-site at the beach club. Seating is limited and the interior space underwhelming, but it’s a great takeout option if you’re spending the day at the beach club. Simply place your order, and then take the food back to your sun bed to enjoy while sunbathing.
I love all the red and white umbrellas.
BAGNO MARINO ARCHI TIPS
- RESERVATIONS – While it’s possible to show up and book a last minute sun bed, you’ll score a better location if you make a reservation in advance. All contact information is available on the website.
- SUN BED LOCATION – The sun beds are scattered across a series of swim platforms and sun decks with varying features – views, water accessibility, proximity to the changing rooms, shade etc. I personally preferred the main deck location, close to the Cala Porticciolo steps.
- SUNBATHE FOR FREE – There are plenty of sunbathing rocks at neighboring Cala Porticciolo and Cala Fontanelle if you want to forgo paying for a sun bed and umbrella at the beach club.
- PRICES – Prices vary based on sun bed location, and any add-ons. For example, we paid 50 euros for two sun beds, one umbrella, a lock box and a private changing room. The beach club accepts both cash and credit card.
This place is such a vibe in summer.
WHEN TO VISIT BAGNO MARINO ARCHI
- JUNE AND SEPTEMBER (shoulder season) – These months offer the best mix of warm weather and manageable crowds. Note that Bagno Marino Archi opens for the season in early June and closes in early September (exact dates vary year to year).
- JULY AND AUGUST (high season) – The highest probability of sunshine is this time of the year, but you’re also dealing with scorching temperatures and claustrophobic summer crowds.
- OCTOBER-MAY (low season) – Avoid visiting this time of the year when the beach club closes for the off season.
Porto Miggiano Beach is a spectacular cala located just two minutes from Bagno Marino Archi.
NEIGHBORING BEACHES
CALA PORTICCIOLO
Cala Porticciolo is one of the prettiest sights in Puglia. This coastal gem is home to the remains of ancient structures carved into the rocks that now serve as sunbathing platforms on the sparkling coastline. Cala Porticciolo is located next to Bagno Marino Archi. It’s easy enough to swim between the two, but for club guests there are stone steps that lead straight into the water. For non club guests, Cala Porticciolo can be access via a stone staircase carved into the rocks from the main road up above.
CALA FONTANELLE
This place is an absolute vibe. Cala Fontanelle is a stretch of craggy coastline where large flat rocks entice sunbathers and mini-ledges attract cliff jumpers. The cala is free to visit and a two-minute walk from Bagno Marino Archi down Via Fontanelle.
PORTO MIGGIANO BEACH
It’s my favorite beach in all of Italy. You’ll need Google Maps to find the beach – it sits at the bottom of a cliff where there are no signs, and you can’t see it from the road. Soak in the spectacular view from the top before climbing the 100 steps carved into the cliff to reach the sparkling water below.
The calm turquoise waters of Porto Miggiano Beach.
WHERE TO STAY
LA FIERMONTINA LUXURY HOME HOTEL (LECCE)
This lovely 18th century Baroque masseria sits just outside of the Lecce Centro Storico. La Fiermontina is an intimate property, housing a mere handful of rooms that boast vaulted ceilings, stone walls and outdoor pools set amongst the olive groves.
PALAZZO SANT’ANNA (LECCE)
Beautiful boutique hotel in a quiet corridor of the Centro Storico. The former 16th century monastery is unassuming from the outside, but the interior stone courtyard, dining quarters and rooms are completely stunning. I recommend the La Papessa Suite – stone walls, vaulted ceilings, modern restroom and views over a quiet pedestrian lane. Palazzo Sant’Anna is walking distance to everything in Lecce.
PATRIA PALACE HOTEL (LECCE)
Patria Palace is located in the Lecce Centro Storico, next to the Basilica of Santa Croce. The Baroque-style property sits in an 18th century mansion that still retains many historic details including frescoes, moulding, beamed ceiling, ornate fountains and more.
If you want the stunning scenery without the beach club price tag, there are plenty of free sunbathing rocks at neighboring Cala Fontanelle.
GET AROUND BAGNO MARINO ARCHI
Arrive early to secure one of the metered parking spots along Via Fontanelle, the main road that runs along the coast. From there it’s a short walk to the beach club and surrounding calas.
Reservations highly recommended to secure an umbrella in a good location.
GET TO BAGNO MARINO ARCHI
Puglia is an expansive region. The most comfortable base for visiting Bagno Marino Archi is the city of Lecce. It’s an easy 45-minute drive from the Lecce Centro Storico where you’ll find dozens of hotels, restaurants, bars, gelato shops, historic sights, shopping and more.
We loved this beach club so much that we returned two days in a row.
