It is known that Salento is the most popular destination for the italian summer holidays. But how to find the most beautiful and characteristic seasides? Actually the entire coast is a real wonder, but there are many places that should definitely be visited!
Torre dell'Orso
Torre dell’Orso
Starting from Adriatic side, the first unmissable seaside is Torre dell’Orso. A stretch of sand 800 meters long on the coast of Melendugno. It was awarded several times with the Bandiera Blu (Blue Flag award) thanks to the cleanliness of the sea, but it is also a place full of history. Indeed it derives its name by the ancient watchtower, guarding the coast since the sixteenth century. The beach extends untill the Due Sorelle (Two Sisters), two high rocks rising up from water. It is a perfect place to swim and to go for a walk, even during the night, maybe in the moonlight.
Porto Badisco
Porto Badisco
Continuing south there are the best views. Porto Badisco, next to Otranto, is a deep bay developing through rock and earth. The route to reach the beach offers a variety of landscapes: tipical apulian countrysides; ancient stone bridges and even high cliffs that could remind the northen Europe ones. The presence of both sand and rocks offers all kind of experience you can enjoy at the sea, from swimming, to diving, to boat tours.
Porto Miggiano
Porto Miggiano
Along Santa Cesarea seashore there is Porto Miggiano, that seems an enormous crack in the high cliff. From the road you can see one of the most breathaking panoramas of your life. A little beautiful staircase, dug into the rock, bring to the sea. Even in this place it is possible to choose between sand and rock, that together create a very colorful landscape. It is also recommended to take a boat and have a spectacular view of the coast watching it from the sea.
Acquaviva
Acquaviva
One of the most captured glimpses of social networks is Acquaviva. It is along Marittima seashore (municipality of Diso), and it is one of the most famous seaside resorts of Apulia. Its name (literally Alive Water) is because of the groundwaters sources coming out from all along the inlet. For this reason the sea is low in salt and above all really cold! But in the meaning time, for the same reason, it is very clean and crystalline whatever the season.
Marina Serra
Marina Serra
Just next Tricase there is Marina Serra, with very singular characteristic: the wonderful pool carved into the rock. It is and old abandoned querry filled by the waves. As a result we have a beautiful body of water linked to the open sea, that is why it is always clean. The place is perfect for those who do not get used to swim in deep waters.
Maldive del Salento
Maldive del Salento
Once passed to the Ionian side of Salento, almost the entire seashore is composed by large sandy beaches and resorts with pine forests. Any point on this line is perfect to sunbathe and to walk through the water for hundred of meters without risk drowning (very shallow water). Transparent waters and fascinating views everywhere, from Ugento, to Gallipoli, to Porto Cesareo.
But the most popular resort on this side is, no doubt, Maldive del Salento, along Salve coast. A postcard landscape, with clear sea and stretch of white sand as far as the eye can see. It actually reminds a tropical paradise.
Porto Selvaggio
Porto Selvaggio
Another unmissable bay is Porto Selvaggio, seashore of Nardò. Just like Acquaviva and Porto Badisco, it is an ancient dry riverbed, that deeply penetrates and shapes the landscapes, connecting earth and sea. There are little hidden caves, beneficial muds, shady corners and historical buldings. So it is possible to carry out a lot of different activities throughout the place, above all an exciting trekking esperience to discover Macchia Mediterranea (maquis shrubland).
Each one of these sites contains a typical characteristic that makes it a special place in the world. Anyway, local people use to frequent other seasides and beaches: the least known and less crowded ones. If you want to find out more, you should directly ask them and, maybe, do not spread the word too much…