Lido Chiatona-Palagiano Station: Beach, Forest and Trails

When planning a stay in Lido Chiatona-Palagiano Station, three distinct highlights can help shape your plans: the free beach at Marina di Chiatona, the pine forest in the nature reserve and the Conca d’Oro loop trail. The landscapes and visiting requirements differ. The beach focuses on the coast and protected areas; visits to the reserve require prior arrangement, while the loop trail runs through groves and vineyards.

Beach and nature areas

The free beach at Marina di Chiatona in Palagiano lies entirely within the “Pineta dell’Arco Ionico” SAC (code IT9130006). The “Dune embrionali mobili” Natura 2000 habitat (code 2110) is also located in the area of intervention.

At the beach area near Piazzale Stella Maris on Viale Marinai d’Italia, reserved parking spaces are available for people with disabilities. If you plan to use this location, you can check whether the facility is currently accessible before your visit. Its location near Piazzale Stella Maris and the reserved parking spaces are features of this particular beach area.

Nature reserve and pine forest

Visits to the Riserva Naturale Biogenetica Stornara e Marinella must be arranged with the Reparto Carabinieri Biodiversità di Martina Franca. So plan both your route to the reserve and the necessary arrangements. Bosco di Marziotta in Chiatona can be reached via the Chiatona exit; from there, Viale della Stazione leads to the reserve entrance.

In the Marziotta section, a trail passes through an Aleppo pine forest within the reserve. The reserve is home to an Aleppo pine forest (Pinus halepensis) on sandy dune backshore. Mediterranean scrub grows in the understory; this habitat is protected under the EU Habitats Directive. This connects the trail in the Marziotta section with specific features of the landscape: pines, sandy soil and Mediterranean scrub. Prior arrangements remain important for visiting the reserve.

Loop trail and route planning

The “Conca d’Oro” loop trail lies in the coastal plain of Palagiano, near the village of Chiatona, and passes through orange groves, vineyards and olive groves. By contrast, the trail in the Marziotta section passes through Aleppo pine forest within the reserve. The two descriptions therefore focus on different landscape features: pine forest and scrub in one area, orange, grape and olive groves in the other. Before setting out on the loop trail, check the condition of the path and the signage.

For travel between Palagiano and Chiatona, the Strada statale 106 dir Jonica connects the two places. In 2021, a CTP bus route ran via Mottola, Palagianello, Palagiano, Chiatona and Taranto. Check before travelling whether this connection is currently available.

Art in Chiatona and choosing where to stay

The Municipality of Palagiano commissioned Carlitops, also known as Carlo Casamassima, to create a graffiti work in the Chiatona underpass.

If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, first consider which highlight you want to base your plans on: the beach, a visit to the reserve that can be arranged in advance, or the loop trail through the coastal plain. This will help you choose accommodation to suit the experiences you actually want to include in your plans.

Discover more destinations: San Giorgio Ionico, Talsano, Lido Azzurro, Martina Franca, Marina di Lizzano, Faggiano, San Marzano di San Giuseppe, Monteiasi.

For the broader travel overview: Taranto.