Beautiful resort of Salento, adjacent to Santa Cesarea Terme, at just 15km from Otranto. This is an area where the rocky coast of Salento, draws magnificent scenery, with spikes of granite, which monumentally rise for remembering the extraordinary strength and beauty of nature.
This stretch of coast, starting from Otranto arrives to Santa Maria di Leuca, and is one of the most beautiful attractions of Salento by far, presenting a beautiful landscape to say the least, thanks to a blend of colours and natural wonders: reason why it has been used for several film shoots.
The town is divided into two zones, Castro Città, inhabited even during winter and Castro Marina, a beautiful seaside resort for lovers of the rocky coastline, crystal clear waters and seafood; many specialised restaurants, fish and seafood farms are present (shellfish, crustaceans and fish). There are various beauties in this wonderful town: the sea, piecewise emerald green color and traits crystal blue, the cold springs, which may be unexpectedly encountered during a swim and the famous caves, one in particular opened the public (Grotta Zinzulusa).
The latter holds particular importance for its location and its features, thus being part of the most visited caves of Salento. Its name derives from the particular limestone forms hanging from the ceiling, like suspended rags, which in the Salento dialect are called “Zinzula“. The cave is 25 meters high and looks very very deep. A corridor of 8 m leads to a hollow room, a cave with an elliptical base that opens to the longest stretch of Zinzulusa called “corridor of marvels.” Its walls are adorned with stalactites and stalagmites that over the centuries have taken various shapes, which often call back the image of well-known objects; along the corridor, there is a lake “trabochetto ” with crystalline waters.
The last stretch of the corridor, home to many bats, is the crypt, a cave full of small limestone columns, leading into the cathedral. In this cave the remains of many animals were found, elephants, SPLE bears, but in prehistoric times, the cave was also inhabited by men, for testifying there are findings of blades, scrapers, as well as artefacts, vases … Castro: The breathtaking panorama, crystal clear water, the presence of numerous restaurants and a charming old town, make it one of the greater and more interesting destinations in Salento.
A visit to the caves with natural blue-green shades is a must. Outstanding going by bike during the spring along the beautiful coast.
