Castellaneta
Castellaneta Marina: a seaside town immersed in nature
Castellaneta Marina is a geographical locality located 17.54 km from the capital of Castellaneta, in the province of Taranto. It stretches for about 5 km along the Ionian Sea coast and is completely immersed in the Pineto Woods, a pine forest that extends for about 9 km along the coast. The area also hosts a fossil dune of naturalistic and scientific interest.
The town is mainly composed of villas and was founded in the 1960s, following a reclamation work of the area, previously Marsh due to the behavior of the coastal dunes. Mayor Gabriele Semeraro has given a fundamental impulse to the development of the seaside city, thanks to public works of urbanization, the establishment of a summer colony, and the first beach resorts.
The history of the city and the theme of space
The names of the streets of Castellaneta Marina recall the space race of the years in which the town was born, referring to lunar geography, the names of American and Soviet Union astronauts, or space vehicles and missions. In this way, the city pays homage to the great space conquest of the 1960s, which represented a dream for humanity.
Monuments and places of interest
The center of the city develops through the Pine Avenue and the Heroes of the Sea promenade, about 5 km long, with beach resorts, free beaches, and discos. The city's shopping center is located in Piazza Selene, while the main nightlife meeting place is Piazza Kennedy.
Among the monuments and places of interest present in the town, we find the Stella Maris Church, which hosts outdoor masses during the summer, and two public basketball courts.
The 2019 atmospheric disaster
Unfortunately, on July 10, 2019, an exceptional atmospheric event of downburst (or supercell) caused inconvenience throughout the Ionian coast and, in addition to damage, also the felling of hundreds of Aleppo pine trees. A disaster that left a deep mark throughout the community and which compromised the ecosystem of the forest.
Conclusions
Castellaneta Marina is a seaside town immersed in nature, where you can enjoy the sea and the surrounding pine forest. The city has a particular history linked to the space conquest of the 1960s, which also influenced the choice of street names. Although the city was hit by an atmospheric disaster in 2019, the community came together to rebuild and protect the surrounding nature. Castellaneta Marina is an example of how humans can interact with nature in a sustainable way, preserving its value for future generations.
