Lake Salinella
Lake Salinella is a small coastal back-dune lake in southern Italy, split between the regions of Apulia and Basilicata inside the Stornara Nature Reserve. It lies between Marina di Ginosa (Ginosa, Taranto) and Metaponto (Bernalda, Matera) in a wetland area formed at the old Bradano River mouth. The lake is an important home for storks and is protected by regional law since 1997. Since 1996, the area has been managed by Lipu.
The lake is part of two protected sites: Pinete dell’Arco Ionico (Site of Community Importance SIC IT9130006) and Foce Bradano (SIC IT9220090). Access is limited and usually possible in the summer; visitors typically must cross a tourist village with prior authorization. Alternatively, from the Basilicata side (Bernalda), visitors can reach it by fording the Bradano River with the help of naturalist guides. Guided visits are organized by CEA Bernalda e Metaponto.
On the east Apulian side sits Torre Mattoni, a 16th-century coastal tower. The lake is surrounded by a belt of Bolboschoenus maritimus and other plants such as Halocnemum strobilaceum, Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, and Suaeda vera. The surrounding maquis includes Phillyrea angustifolia, Pistacia lentiscus, Rhamnus alaternus, and rare Phoenician juniper.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:54 (CET).