Routelecce

Salento Coast

Explore the Salento coast surrounding Lecce where the Adriatic to the east and the Ionian to the west create two entirely different coastal characters, the rocky coves and crystal water of the southeast coast at Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca representing some of the finest coastal scenery in southern Italy.

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1
Torre dell Orso
Visit Torre dell Orso on the Adriatic coast east of Lecce where the long sandy beach backed by the pine forests and the distinctive sea stacks known as the Two Sisters create the most photographed beach setting on the northern Salento Adriatic coast, the beach one of the finest in Apulia.
2
Santa Cesarea Terme
Visit Santa Cesarea Terme on the southern Adriatic coast where the Moorish-style villas built around the natural thermal springs, the dramatic limestone cliffs, and the small harbor create one of the most distinctive coastal villages in Apulia, the thermal baths in the sea caves an unusual wellness experience.
3
Porto Selvaggio
Hike to Porto Selvaggio on the Ionian coast where the natural reserve protects the most beautiful unspoiled coastal landscape in the Salento, the hiking trail through the Mediterranean scrub descending to the rocky cove where the crystal clear Ionian water creates the finest swimming in the region.
4
Punta della Suina
Swim at Punta della Suina near Gallipoli on the Ionian coast where the pine forest grows to the edge of the white sand beach and the turquoise shallow water creates the most popular beach resort on the western Salento coast, the setting combining the Mediterranean landscape with the exceptionally clear Ionian sea.
5
Santa Maria di Leuca
Reach Santa Maria di Leuca at the southernmost tip of Apulia where the two seas meet and the lighthouse marks the heel of the Italian boot, the clifftop sanctuary, the monumental waterfall cascade, and the small harbor at the continental extremity of Italy creating a destination of symbolic and scenic significance.
6
Sea Stack Caves
Explore the sea caves and the sea stacks of the Salento coast by boat where the limestone geology has created a continuous succession of grottos, arches, and rock formations along both the Adriatic and the Ionian coasts, the boat tours from Otranto and Gallipoli the best way to access the coastline inaccessible from land.