The⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratio has been widely used as aphysical tool to date and correlate carbonate successions due to the long Srresidence time in comparison with the ocean mixing time. If this method workson oceanic successions, marginal basins may show different Sr isotope recordsin comparison with the coeval ocean one due to sea-level variations,continental run-off and restricted water exchanges. In this work, we present the⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope record of the upper Miocene carbonateramp of the Lithothamnion Limestone(Majella Mountain, central Apennines), as an example of the onset of restrictedwater exchanges between a marginal basin and the ocean water masses. The overalllatemost Tortonian–earlyMessinian Sr isotope record of the Lithothamnion Limestonefits below the global reference line. This deviation has been interpreted as dueto the strong control that freshwater input and enhanced continental run-off,linked to the migration of the Apennine accretionary wedge and foredeep system,have had on the central Adriatic water chemistry. These results imply that anaccurate oceanographic and geodynamic framework along with diagenetic overprintinvestigation has to be taken into consideration prior to apply SIS oncarbonate successions on marginal basins, even when facies analyses indicatefully marine conditions. This seems to be the case for the upper MioceneCentral Mediterranean carbonate successions, but may have more general validityand be extended to other recent or past marginal basins.