Weekend on the Adriatic: things to see in Salento in two days

admin19 December 20212 Mins read56 Views

You are in Salento only for a couple of days and, apart from the relaxation that you deserve, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to get to know better this land: here, therefore, is a useful guide for you to visit the Adriatic side of Salento in a weekend.

FIRST DAY

Let’s start from Torre Dell’Orso, marina at 25 km from Lecce with an amazing bay where you can spend your first day. Here, the white sand beach is paired with a crystal clear sea in various shades of blue. The backdrop, which rises gently, is particularly suitable for young and old. You can spend the whole day swimming among the most famous stacks of Salento: “Due Sorelle”, symbol of Torre Dell’Orso. Enjoy your day at the beach and have lunch in the excellent restaurants in the area.

In the late afternoon we move towards Otranto, about 15 km further south. The “pearl of the Adriatic” does not need any introduction: the most eastern point of Italy, it is one of the most evocative places in Salento. In fact, you will get lost in the alleys of the village, dotted with colorful artisan shops and restaurants. Do not miss a visit to the Castle, home to important art exhibitions, and the Romanesque-style Cathedral, famous for the floor mosaic dating back to the Middle Ages and for the crypt that houses the skulls of the 800 martyrs who resisted the attack of the Turks of the 1480.

SECOND DAY

The most extreme coast of the Adriatic offers a unique panorama in the world. Nicknamed “the balcony on the sea”, the stretch of coast road that leads from Otranto to Castro is truly a window on the imposing cliffs of the coast overlooking the blue sea. And it is from Castro that we start for our second and last day of tour.

“Castro di sotto” overlooks one of the most beautiful inlets on the coast. Here you can spend the morning by the sea diving off the rocks and swimming in the crystal clear waters. “Castro di sopra” is a nativity scene overlooking the old town. A fishing village, the marina contains an ancient history evidenced by the Aragonese Castle, today the hub of cultural initiatives, and the former 12th-century cathedral which retains part of the original Romanesque facade and the remains of a small 10th-century Byzantine church.

In the afternoon, we move towards Leuca, the last stop of our journey. The viewpoint of Punta Meliso offers an extraordinary glance. You cannot miss a visit to the nineteenth-century lighthouse and to the Basilica of the Madonna de Finibus Terrae, as well as the 300-step staircase that runs alongside the Monumental Waterfall of the “Acquedotto Pugliese”.