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Coastal environments are complex systems characterized by various processes with variable space and time scales; a continuous and high frequency monitoring of marine environment needs to assess the present marine ecosystem and to estimate and manage in real time perturbations due to anthropogenic pressure or natural events. This work has been carried out in the framework of the PITAGEM project (CLUSTER 10 programme, development of Southern Italy marine research structures), where an integrated marine coastal monitoring network has been set up in the Gulf of Manfredonia (Southern Adriatic Sea), a complex area under potential pollution deriving from industrial, agricultural, harbour and urban activities. The network consisted of real time oceanographic (water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a and turbidity) and atmospheric (air temperature and pressure, solar radiation, wind speed and direction) observations, performed by a multiparametric coastal platform, and periodic oceanographic (water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, turbidity and pH profiles and surface and bottom nutrient, chlorophyll a and suspended solid concentrations) observations, carried out by a coastal vessel. Data, acquired from May 2002 to April 2005, was stored in a data bank, after a data quality control check procedure. Periodic instrument maintenance and recalibration activities have been performed to obtain reliable data. By the oceanographic platform it was possible to collect consistent and continuous water temperature, air pressure and wind direction data from August 2004 to April 2005, and air temperature, solar radiation and wind speed from December 2004 to April 2005. Monitoring cruises were carried out six times from May 2002 to November 2004. Preliminary data show that seasonal water column set up depends on annual air temperature trend, while short-term variations depend on other factors such as local atmospheric perturbations. Furthermore, three different zones were individuated in the Gulf: a coastal area, affected by river inputs, an offshore area, influenced by the Western North Adriatic current and a central area, characterized by intermediate and mixing processes.