The Salento territory of the province of Lecce originates in the north east near Casalabate and its Abbey of Santa Maria in Cerrate, currently managed by the Italian Environment Fund. step from Torre Rinalda and I stop at Torre Chianca, which is only 10 km from Lecce. Then continuing towards Frigole, we find the artificial aquatine basin, the result of land reclamation, where kites are spreading in the wind this morning. Further on, there are many marshy areas, before reaching San Cataldo, populated by Leccesi who use the icina nza in the city to enjoy a coffee overlooking the sea, or for a quick swim. Further south, after the two ponds Salapi and Pantano Grande, we find the Oasis of Cesine, a 6 km long naturalistic complex, managed by the WWF. S.Foca. The port, which is home to both fishing boats and small tourist boats, is one of the most important on the coast between Brindisi and Otranto. Born as a fishing village, in recent years it has become a well-known summer resort. Roca Vecchia is home to important archaeological excavations, human settlements from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages.
A little further on we reach the cave of Poesia, as beautiful as it is famous, it is a cave created by karstic phenomena, forming a sort of natural pool. The sea of ​​Torre dell'Orso has been repeatedly awarded the Blue Flag of Europe, on the cliff is the cave of St. Christopher, named after the homonymous martyr patron of travelers, it was an ancient temple carved into the rock, near the farglions of the two sisters. we come to Sant’Andrea. The evening, full of events, is a popular destination for young people, especially at weekends. Further south of sant'andrea, proceeding towards specchiulla, in the high cliff a large pine forest opens up where you can rest or have a picnic in the shade, not surprisingly this is one of the typical places where Salento people spend their Easter Monday. And when the rocks give way to the sandy coast, I know I find myself near the Alimini Lakes.
They are two lakes north of the city of Otranto. Alimini Grande, which was generated by the continuous erosion of the sea and Alimini Piccolo, instead, from freshwater springs.
When the rocky coast starts to get the upper hand, we find the Bay of the Turks. In succession, then: the Caletta of Toraiello, Bay of S. Stefano, Grotta delle Pupe, Baia Morrone, Baia imperia ...
Grotta Sfondata, Water Mill, Grotta della Monaca with its namesake Cala, Cala di San Pietro dei Canali, Cattapìgnula Beach, Cala del Canale del Càfaro and Rinule Beach.
The rock returns to sand for the city of Otranto, characteristic for its port, which although today houses only small boats, was once important in trade with the East, for the Aragonese castle together with the towers, ramparts and walls, with the emblem of carlo v at its entrance, the cathedral of the Annunciation which, given its size, is to be considered the largest church in Puglia and which houses inside a mosaic floor, the largest in Europe, as well as the remains of 800 martyrs who were killed by the Turks during the invasion in 1480. Even more interesting is the Monastery of San Nicola di Casole (just south of Otranto) because there the Basilian monks had created the largest Western library and established the first form of college , both boys and adults were taught. It was one of these monks, Pantaleone, the author of the mosaic I was talking about before. In ancient times it was the "capital" of a large province that included all of Salento, including those that today are the provinces of Brindisi and Taranto, called "Terra d’Otranto". On clear days it is possible to see the mountains of Albania from the coast, only 80 kilometers away.
The hypogeum of Torre Pinta, located under the tower of the same name in the Valle delle Memorie, was discovered in 1976. The Torre del Serpe. Bauxite quarry. A suggestive place for the contrast of colors to see.
Punta Palascia, the easternmost point of Italy, so much so that it is not unusual to find people looking towards the sea to admire the first dawn of Italy in the new year. Before arriving in Porto, however, we find the Grotta dei Cervi, discovered in 1970.
I care about Porto. Santa cesarea terme. Torre Miggiano, its small port and the beach of Porto Miggiano. This small beach at the foot of the high cliffs is beautiful and is a must see.
Grotta Romanelli, the small caves Rutunda and Rutundella, the Blue Grotto and the Palombara cave. Before reaching Castro. According to an interpretation, here was the first landing of Aeneas, written by Virgil in the Aeneid.
And further on you meet a fjord, called acquaviva for the hot and cold water sources that alternate there.