Torre Canne Pilone 2 / Puglia / Italy

Located midway between Bari and Lecce lies the beach at Torre Canne. It is divided into two beaches,  Pilone 1 and Pilone 2. The latter beach is not as crowded. There are some rocks scattered around the beach and in the water so it is best suited to experienced kite and wind surfers. The season is from April to November although off season is possible if you are fully suited and booted.

There is a wide expanse of beach at Pilone 2 with a watch tower in the distance. It's quite untouched, very natural and with plenty of space. You can get here on the SS379 driving towards Bari. Take the exit for Pilone 2 and it is about a 10 minute drive to the beach.

The main wind directions are southerly and variations thereof and all these directions tend to work well. Wind speed can be around 5-15 knots and is fairly constant during the summer. The water quality is crystal clear and conditions are flat to choppy pretty much all of the time although you can get some good waves when the wind is in the right direction. The spot is tide independent. There is a good stretch of shallow water which is great for beginners but can get crowded with children in the summer months. The summers are warm as is the water and you can get by with just a pair of shorts or a shorty. Come the winter months and you will need to suit up accordingly.

Torre Canne has cafes and restaurants along the beach and there are plenty of umbrellas and chairs for hire. There is also a small fresh water lake on one part of the beach. It's well worth stopping off at Villa Marina on the way to or from the beach. The marina is famous for its ice cream, cakes and glamorous locals all enjoying the passegiata which is the popular dusk stroll when they dress up in their finery to be seen. For more shops, bars and restaurants head into nearby Lecce where you will also find some great nightlife.

Although beginners are relatively safe in the shallow waters take care when going further out as there are several rocks in the water there.