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The ten most beautiful (and free) beaches in the Salento
Did you know locals choose where to go to the sea according to the wind? Yes, because not all beaches are the same here. Also if you get it wrong then your trip to the sea will turn out to be a total disaster. The Salento is actually known as 'la terra del sole, del mare e del
On the same day, if the wind is scirocco (a wind blowing from the South), there could be a storm on one beach and beautiful calm water on another beach, only a few kilometres away. Therefore working out where to go according to the climate is not easy. It is best to ask somebody local.
However if you want to choose the right beach for you, not only according to the wind, read this short guide to the most beautiful ten beaches in the Salento area. Here you will find descriptions of places and also useful advice about parking facilities. These beaches are worth visiting because they are beautiful and free too.
The ten sea resorts you can read about in this guide are the favourite ones and the easiest to reach too. They were chosen amongst many places, spread out over the 200 km coastline from Casalabate to Punta Prosciutto, going via Otranto, Leuca and Gallipoli. So you do not have to waste time looking for the perfect sea resort for you. All you have to do now is follow these easy directions and tips.
TORRE SANT'ANDREA
In the fishermens' bay
This is a small sandy beach in a little rocky bay. The water here is crystal clear, the rocks are rugged and fragile-looking. Torre Sant'Andrea has a charm of its own. This small sea resort is north of Otranto, on the coast close to Melendugno. This place still looks like an old fishing town. There are some caves here that fishermen used to use to live in, while now nets and fishing tools are often stored in them.
>HOW TO GET THERE - From the Torre dell'Orso-Otranto coast road turn left as you get to the Borgagne-Sant'Andrea crossroads. As you get to the tower, then turn right, down to the small town of Sant'Andrea
>WHERE TO PARK - In front of the beach there is a small car park but during high-season finding a parking place here is not easy. This area is actually only for town residents. However you can easily park before driving down towards the beach. Here there is a parking area and if you are lucky you might find a bit of shade under the pine trees. You can park next to the tower too. Parking here is free.
>WHERE TO GO FOR A SWIM – The tiny village called Sant' Andrea, where some fishermen and their families still live, is in the little bay. Here there is a pretty little beach and you can get to the water easily. The bottom of the sea is sandy. If you like, you could also go to the left of the bay. Walking along a few metres, you will see some small spaces in the rock, where you can stop to lie down and then dive into the green-blue water. After a small tunnel dug in the rock you will come out on the other side of the cove, where the sea is more open. Watch out when you put your towels on the rocks. Here the rock is so fragile it nearly melts when it touches the water. Don't you believe it? Try and push on it with your finger and you will see the rock seems like clay...
> THE WIND - Even if strong tramontana blows the sea here is calm because the creek is sheltered. On the other hand, if the wind is scirocco or libeccio then you better go somewhere else instead, like Torre dell'Orso, that is less than a kilometer away from here, to the North. It has a long beach
ALIMINI
An oasis for surfers
The beach in Alimini is about six kilometres long and its sand is very fine. For a few years Otranto has been largely approved of in the Legambiente-Touring list and this is also thanks to Alimini.
Actually this beach's name comes from the lakes behind it (where swimming is not allowed). The beach is separated from these lakes by a wood with high trees and sandy dunes. Alimini was once a game reserve that belonged to Frederick
> HOW TO GET THERE - You must go through the wood that flanks the Adriatic coast road in between Torre Sant'Andrea and Otranto. The easiest way to get to the beach is to go near the channel that connects the lake to the sea, but here there are a few restaurants and sea resorts and finding a parking place is not easy. > WHERE TO PARK - A few year's ago parking in the wood was forbidden and now there are several parking places close to the wood. Near to the channel connecting the lake and the sea, there are two parking areas by the road and another down towards the restaurants. Parking around here is free this year, however there are not many places to park in. Towards Otranto, there are several parking areas close to the trees, even though they are not free. They are well organized and attended and some are in the shade too. From here you can catch a shuttle-train, that is quick but also often quite crowded, and get to the beach in not longer than five
minutes. This trip is free, but if you prefer you can go on foot and get to the beach in ten minutes.
>WHERE TO GO FOR A SWIM - Every spot here is good enough for a swim, even though as years go by the beach gets busier and busier and more and more equipped. However if you are looking for a quiet spot, go to the two ends of the beach where some areas do not have sun umbrellas and have sandy dunes. The bottom of the sea is very deep, even though it often changes and becomes shallower according to currents so this makes this beach fine for kids. However, if the sea is wavy watch out as currents can be quite strong.
>THE WIND - Alimini's beach is fine, whatever wind blows. If there is ponente wind (a kind of wind blowing from the land) then the sea is calm , while if there is a slight tramontana, the sea is slightly wavy. If there is scirocco the red flags are put up.
migration routes. The water here is an attractive green-blue colour and it is always crystal-clear. Often the dunes (some of them are even 12 metres high) and the trees reflect onto the water. Further north, there are many camping sites and tourist villages so the beach is busier.There are more and more 'lidi' (private beaches) and in the middle of August the beach is packed nearly everywhere. The Baia dei Turchi is further south, towards Otranto. This bay has delightful little sandy creeks. It is not as busy as many other beaches yet, but still quite full of people. This beach is an ideal spot for surfers, who often organize competitions here. Alimini's coast is exposed to winds and especially during the last few years it has been affected by erosion, that is slowly changing its shape a little.
A mythical beach
This part of the coast is incredibly beautiful and special. It is linked to history and legends and many Latin poets wrote about it. The renowned poet Virgilio wrote the little beach of Porto Badisco was the first place Enea arrived in after escaping from Troy Europe . Its paintings and pictograms were done with dark colours such as red and are incredibly well preserved. The anthropoligist Paolo Graziosi renamed this cave the 'Prehistoric Sistine Chapel'. However visiting is not allowed, in order to protect the superb paintings covering its walls. However, if you go to Porto Badisco in summertime, you will be able to admire its unique landscape. The bay's rocks are covered with a yellow layer formed by the plant, broom. These plants reflect onto sparkling, green-blue, srystal clear sea water. In Badisco you can also taste sea urchins, that are sold or can be eaten in restaurants in the small town too.
A swimming pool in the sea
Who decided to build a swimming pool on the cliff here...? This is the most extraordinary natural swimming pool in the sea on Salento's coast. Do not be discouraged by the not attractive, out of place and abandoned building site nearby. It has been declared illegal. Just twenty metres further down you will come across a breathtaking inlet, in between the rocks. The water here is crystal clear and its colours are inimitable. Get hold of a place in the sun upon the rocks and do not leave it until dusk. During the day, the water's extraordinary colours change continuously.
>HOW TO GET THERE - Porto Badisco is on the Otranto-Santa Cesarea Terme coast road, but you can also get here coming from Uggiano La Chiesa and from Casamassella. From both towns there is a shuttle-bus you can catch to get to Badisco.
>WHERE TO PARK - Finding a parking place here is not simple. In 2004 however, problems were reduced because an equipped parking area was built here. It is not very big, but it is attended (it is not free) and from here you can catch the shuttle-bus up to the beach. The trip is included in the parking ticket price.
>WHERE TO GO FOR A SWIM - Right in the centre of the small bay you will see a pretty little beach. Look on to the sand. Then look to the left and you will admire a unique phenomenon. Fresh water forms a small stream that is only a few metres long and gently flows into the sea.
It is a spring and one of the last branches of the underground river where the water from the Valle dei Cervi ( from Minervino to Badisco) ends up. As you get into the sea, the bottom is still quite shallow, but if you swim a few metres, the water suddenly gets deeper. On the sides of the
northern side of the small beach ( that is only a few metres wide), as soon as rocks begin, you will see the 'Cunicolo dei Diavoli' entrance. There is a grating protecting it and it is several metres long. Inside there are rare species of little cave animals.
After this, carry on along the path beside the bay. On this side of the cliff you can settle down in between the rocks, even though finding enough space to lie down comfortably is difficult. Anyhow, by stopping here you can dive into the sea and then quickly get back to your towel. Even though this area is very important from a historical point of view, it is still private. However you can visit this area and bathe here too. In 2004 though, the government intervened, to make sure entrance to swimmers was kept free.This stretch of coastline is ideal for diving and swimming with flippers and masks. > THE WIND - Porto Badisco's inlet shelters this place from nearly all winds, except scirocco.
> HOW TO GET THERE - There are actually no signposts for Porto Miggiano, so you might just drive by and never know you have actually missed one of Salento's best inlets. However, to get here from Santa Cesarea Terme, go on to the coast road leading to Castro.
As soon as you exit the town, on your right there is a new tourist village, while on your left Porto Miggiano's Tower stands out against the sea. Turn left towards the tower.
> WHERE TO PARK - There is no equipped parking area here, so it is better if you park in the open space you will see after turning off from the coast road. Of course, this parking area is unattended. In August however a small parking area is set up and you can park in the shade. To get to the beach all you can do (whether it is legal or nol) is cross the illegal building site. This is what people usually do, and some people even park here. This area is not fenced oil anymore either. Walk parallel to the outside wall of the camp site for about 200 hundred metres.
CIOLO
Dark cobalt blue sea
Here the sea is dark blue because the water is very deep. The bravest people that come here dive down from the bridge that is a bit higher than twenty metres. This is a marvellous inlet. The view from the bridge is absolutely breathtaking. However do watch out if you are afraid of heights and bear in mind that the view from sea level is fantastic too.
Many prehistoric finds have been discovered in this area, in caves and close to rocks. At sea level there is also a sea grotto, but you need the right equipment to reach it easily. In 1973 a monk seal was spotted here and this was the last one seen in the Ionian. Maybe monk seals still come back here to mate, because these caves are the least well-known on this part of the coast.
Above the rocks, crows (and also hawks sometimes) are spotted flying around this area. This place's name actually comes from the word 'corvi' ('crows'), because in the local dialect 'corvi' ace called 'dole'.
>THE WAY DOWN TO THE SEA – The cliff above the crystal clear water is about twenty metres high. From here you can walk down 115 steps (dug into the rock) to get to the sea. Up to the summer of 2003 there was a notice here saying 'Danger', but nobody has actually ever taken much notice of it and apparently there do not seem to be any real risks involved either. Now actually there is only a pole left and no sign. Anyway, this is the only way to reach this splendid inlet if you want to get there via land.
>WHERE TO GO FOR A SWIM – As soon as you get to the bottom of the steps, you will not believe your eyes. The sea looks like something out of a dream. However the rocks here are not as beautiful as others, because somebody has poured some leftover cement on some stones.
Anyway, forget about it and move on. If there are not too many people and there is a little space, then settle down on the foreshore. Nearby, there is a flat rock and cement area, a few metres long and not recently constructed. This spot is ideal to lie in the sun or to dive into the sea from. It is like sitting on the edge of an enormous and incredibly beautiful natural pool.
This is because the water is about 2 metres or 2 metres and a half deep, even though the bottom is mostly sandy. Because there are sand and rocks, the water is amazingly clear and makes this place look like a real oasis. On the other hand though, often there are many boats here too. A couple of years ago a line of buoys was placed here to stop boats, motorboats and rubber dinghies from getting too close, even though they are spread out in the bay. However, swim along and just a few metres ahead, to the left of the little beach, you will see a tiny pretty cave, made out of big and small stones. You can only reach it from the sea. Have a swim early in the morning, even though the water is a bit cold. As the sun goes down, a part of the bay is shady.
> THE WIND - Because of the peculiar shape and position of Porto Miggiano's inlet, you can go for a swim here whenever you like, no matter what wind blows. Tramontana (a northern wind) is ideal but ponente (a western wind) is too. When there is scirocco (a southern wind), the water is sometimes polluted by a few drops of oil and other traces left by boats that should sail further away from the coast.
>HOW TO GET THERE - Along the Otranto-Santa Maria di Leuca coast road, drive towards Gagliano del Capo. The resort you are looking for stands out because of its bridge that is about sixty metres long. It was built in the Sixties and has an arch structure made with reinforced concrete. It was then /estored in 2003 and it dominates this small Salentine fjord. You cannot miss it, there is
even a sign post with the name of the resort. Leuca is four kilometres from here.
>WHERE TO PARK - Going south, before getting to the bridge, on your left you will see a small parking area. It is in front of a little bar, in a good viewing spot. If there is no more space left here, then all you can do is park along the side of the road.
>WHERE TO GO FOR A SWIM – To get to the sea, you have to go down some steps on the southern side of the bridge. Go down a bit more than a hundred steps. They are quite safe. When you get to the bottom you will see a narrow beach which is the shape of a tongue and is only a few metres wide. Now the shore is made up of a layer of cement because the fishermen use it to ' moor their boats onto. It is a pity the beach is not as it used to be any longer, but this spot still remains fascinating and attractive. As you get into
the water, you can touch the sandy bottom of the sea. The water gets very deep after only a couple of metres. Of course, this is a real oasis for those who love diving. If the sea is calm, you just need to put on your flippers and mask and go and admire the extraordinary big and small caves to the north and to the south of Ciolo's inlet. You can reach some of these caves only via water. It is even better if you go for a swim in the morning before midday. From the early afternoon the southern part of the little creek is in the shade.
> THE WIND - The water in the bay is nearly always calm, because the sea here is protected by two high rocky sides. The ideal wind is ponente, while the winds blowing from north/north-east are not so ideal. If the scirocco is strong then the sea is wavy and if the waves are high then it is better not to go for a swim.
SAN GREGORIO
An old Messapian port
This has been a natural port for more than 2,500 years now. San Gregorio is one of the most spectacular inlets in the whole of the Salento. It is still nearly untouched, even though the little town around the round terrace has slowly grown bigger because of holiday houses and a village (it is further up, along the coast road). This used to be Vereto's old Messapian port. Vereto was on a hill on the outskirts of Patu. Just like Leuca, San Gregorio used to be an important meeting and crossing point for trade with Oriental countries. In ancient times, people used to prefer San Gregorio because of its special assets. For instance, at the bottom of the cliff, to the right of the bay, there was once a well. It contained the fresh water that the ships' cisterns were then filled with. The well is actually still there, 7 metres further down. You can also still see the steps and the sea quay, dating back to Messapian times. On many maps, San Gregorio is called 'Torre San Gregorio' because there once was a 16th century tower exactly where a beautiful villa stands now.
PESCOLUSE
Fine golden sand
Up till only a few years ago this beach was not at all polluted or spoiled and was maybe the wildest part of the coast in the Salento area, but now tourism has reached Pescoluse too. A part from this though, the sand here is very fine, water is still crystal clear and there are many sandy dunes. Therefore this is still a perfect spot to go and visit if you are a nature lover. Pescoluse's coastline is six kilometres long and spreads out from Posto Vecchio to Torre Pali. In summertime, a long stretch of dunes in this area is covered with many wild lilies and ferns.
>HOW TO GET THERE - San Gregorio and its coast are part of a town named Patu. Follow the coast road to get here. This resort is 5 kilometres from Leuca and 35 km from Gallipoli. Go down the little one-way road that leads to the round terrace facing the sea.
>WHERE TO PARK - There is no equipped parking area here. After turning off the coast road, you can park downhill, but there may be no more space left. When you get to the round part, go up towards left following directions. Here finding a place to park is easier. Further on, on the hill to your right, there is a free parking area.
>WHERE TO GO FOR A SWIM – The beach in San Gregorio is not sandy but all rocky. In some spots though there are pebbles. The best place to stand, admire the coast and choose exactly where to go is the round terrace.- From here you can take a good look at the inlet with the little quay and the bay to your right, that is a bit more wild. The most comfortable place here is on the small quay, next to the fishermens' boats, but if you are looking for a less spoiled place then go down to the other side. In the centre of the small bay, there is a little beach covered with pebbles. The water is bright blue and ideal if you love diving or just putting on your flippers and a mask to peep at the bottom of the sea. > THE WIND - The bay of Saint Gregorio
>HOW TO GET THERE - This beach is about ten kilometres from Santa Maria di Leuca and about 35 kilometres from Gallipoli. From the fast Gallipoli-Leuca road turn off at the exit for Salve-Mare, following directions to the sea. When you get to the Pescoluse traffic lights, on the Gallipoli-Leuca coast road, turn right. After about four hundred metres, turn into the little dirt road leading to the enormous parking area which is part of the private Maldive beach. Otherwise, you could keep going towards Gallipoli and then turn onto the first road you come across on your left.
>WHERE TO PARK - The Maldive parking area is big and not free. It is close to the dunes by the coast. Parking in other areas is not free anymore either. If you don't park your car properly in
between the dunes, you might be fined.
>WHERE TO GO FOR A SWIM - There are not all that many lidi (private equipped beaches) along this part of the coast. Therefore, if you park at the Maldive, you can walk right and then you will come across free beaches. The further north you go, the less busy beaches are. The water is shallow up to a few metres from the shore and then it suddenly becomes a lot deeper. On some parts of the coast, especially the spots that are spread out towards the sea the most, rocks are here and there.When the sea is wavy, currents can be dangerous here, especially if you are not an expcil swimmer. Have a swim at sunset, when the red light reflects upon the sea. > THE WIND - The Pescoluse area is quite exposed to all winds. If there is the tramontana (a wind from the north), then the sea is perfectly calm, whereas with the scirocco (from the south), the sea is wavy or even dangerous due to strong currents.
PIZZO
An oasis by the sea shore
This is Gianni Morandi's (a famous Italian singer) favourite beach. He comes to ' stay here for a while every July. Pizzo is a nature reserve. At the beginning of 2005, the Regional Park 1 kilometre long and mostly free. There are many low dunes. Behind them, there are some pine trees and typically Mediterranean luxuriant flourishing plants. This kind of landscape goes from Punta della Suina to Lido Pizzo, reaching the round tower where the the Baia di Gallipoli comes to an end. The two sea resorts, Punta della Suina and Lido Pizzo, surround a peaceful oasis, far from traffic and big cities.
PORTOSELVAGGIO
The blue-green bay
IN 2003 it was named one of the ten 'Queens ' of the Italian coast. Since then it has gone down in the Guide Blu ('Blue Guides') list of Legambiente and Touring, however Portoselvaggio has not lost its charm and remains one of the most beautiful and wild beaches in the whole of Italy
Maybe the lack of good management of the area is what made the beach lose points. The whole area became a 'Regional equipped park' in 1980, as a consequence of protests from people who live here, who did not want this area either to be built on or covered with cement here and there. Only in 2004 did it become an Apulian nature reserve. Unfortunately, the attempts to make the area more organized and equipped stopped years ago. Nevertheless, this might have been a good thing too, because at least this way Portoselvaggio's paths have not all been covered with tiles, like the ones in the highest part of the reserve.
>HOW TO GET THERE - On the Lecce-Gallipoli-Leuca main road you will see the Lido Pizzo exit. Go on to the coast road as you are on the Gallipoli-Mancaversa stretch. From here you have two options. You can turn left and after a few metres go on to the track on your right that leads to the equipped beach Punta della Suina. Alternatively, you can turn left and carry on for about a kilometre, until you get to the Marina of Mancaversa, which is a small town part of Taviano. As you get close to the service station, turn right and follow directions to Lido Pizzo.
>WHERE TO PARK - In Punta Suina and in Lido Pizzo you have to leave your car in pay parking areas. If you decide to go to Lido Pizzo, especially during the busiest days in summer, be aware of the fact that there is a limit to the number of cars that can be parked here, so you might not be able to get in.
>WHERE TO GO FOR A SWIM – If you get here from Lido Pizzo, walk through the pinewood until you get to the private equipped beach. To get to the free beach, walk along the shore, going beyond the sunshades. Be aware of the fact that if you go this way you have to pay a ticket, because you have to cross a private area. So once you get here you can hire a sunshade and a sun bed or simply walk on to the right until you leave the Lido and get on to the free beach. On the other hand, if you are in Punta Suina, walk through the pinewood and then you will see a Caribbean style little bar, on a small rocky hill on the seashore. Keep walking to the left, beyond the rocky area. After a few metres you will come across the long free beach that continues up to Lido Pizzo. In Punta Suina you do not have to pay to get in. > THE WIND - When the scirocco (a wind from the south) blows making the sea wavy in many areas, here the sea is as flat as a lake. On the other hand, when the tramontana (from the north) blows, the sea is wavy and the beach is sometimes covered with seaweed. In this case, go towards other nearby beaches, such as Baia Verde, that is now full of equipped private lidi. As you get here, settle down somewhere before the two big hotels.
> HOW TO GET THERE - Because no authority is in charge of running this reserve, getting to Portselvaggio's beaches is very difficult unless you have good directions and enough information about the place. To get here, go towards Santa Caterina (a coastal village part of the town of Nardo
> WHERE TO PARK - Even though many people come here to have a swim, there is no proper parking area. Going north, you can only park on the right side of the road (on the other side you might be fined). However often there is not much space here so you have two options. Either go into Restaurant Casablanca's parking area (on your right), paying a few euros, or turn left as soon as the little dried wall comes to an end and drive on to the track. This area is a bit rough and your car will not be checked on here either, but it is close.
>THE PINES - Following the brown arrow and walking down the path you can go through the big aleppo
Savoia family before their exile. During the fifties the aleppo
>THE PATH - It will take you about ten minutes to get to Portoselvaggio's main,, inlet. Boats cannot stop in this bay. Going off the path and beyond the firebreak, go left towards the small pebble beach. Pines surround the whole inlet. Above, there is a
tower, the Torre dell'Alto, right next to Santa Caterina.
>WHERE TO GO FOR A SWIM - Your reward after this long walk will be a beautiful inlet, seemingly without any trace of civilization. There are no equipped beaches here, nor you can see buildings of any kind from the bay. All you can admire is water and the pines reflected in the rocky sea. You can settle down on the little beach or on rocks, and then from here you can easily dive into the sea. Where there are pebbles, the bottom is sandy and it does not get deeper immediately, so this spot is good for kids too. Here in Portoselvaggio there are also cold water currents (sometimes icy in the middle of August too), that come from underwater springs. Having a swim at sunset is nice too.
>THE WIND - The water in the inlet is particularly calm when there is the tramontana (from the north), while when there is the ponente (from the west) it is a little wavy. If, on the other hand, there are strong winds blowing from the south (especially the scirocco) then you should give up and go somewhere else, because the sea is wavy and, if currents are strong getting into the water is difficult too. THE OTHER INLETS - If you prefer a more secluded stretch of beach then keep walking north. Just after the inlet, in between the rocks you will see small bays you can reach easily. Further on (close to Torre Uluzzo) finding good sunny places gets harder, however the water remains incredibly transparent and crystal clear and the bottom of the sea is full of flora, sea urchins and different species of fish. THE PINE WOOD - Because of this pine wood, Portoselvaggio is an ideal place for long trips to the sea, from morning to sunset, even during the hottest days. In August the beach is often packed with people, however the coast here is clean and there is also a little bar where you can have a cold drink or a coffee.
The long white beach
Here the sand is white and the dunes are up to six or seven metres high. The sea looks like something out of a dream and its colours make it look like the Caribbean . It is worth just lying in the sun and looking at the crystal clear water, ignoring the legal or illegal buildings that are beyond the dunes and have ruined one of the most beautiful areas of the Salento. Lido degli Angeli is between Torre Lapillo and Punta Prosciutto. Here the coast is not as ruined as in Porto Cesareo, that is one of the towns that has been affected the most by illegal building since the Seventies. Here there still are dunes, even though, especially during the last few years, more and more equipped private beaches have been set up here and the shore is becoming busier and busier all the time, especially at week-ends. Here you are in the Arneo, close to Taranto Province
>HOW TO GET THERE - From the174 Nardo-Avetrana main road (from Lecce Angeli Village
>WHERE TO PARK - In this area there are now many parking areas (not free ones). Usually, you have to pay about 2 euros a day. If you want though, you can even park your car down one of the small nearby roads.
WHERE TO GO FOR A SWIM - From Torre Lapillo to Punta Prosciutto, there are dunes all the way, with a few rocky parts here and there. This beach is not as unspoiled as it once was but it is still quite unpolluted. Anyway, it is better to choose somewhere far from the equipped private lidi, even though finding a not very busy spot is difficult. This place is ideal for families, except the only disadvantage is that while in Porto Cesareo the water is very shallow close to the shore, here the water gets deep after just a few metres. Have a swim at sunset too. THE WIND - Just like in Porto Cesareo. the sea here is marvellous when there is the tramontana (from the north), while wavy or very wavy when there is the scirocco (from the south).
