| ITINERARI
Otranto
- Santa Cesarea - Castro
- Tricase - Leuca
OTRANTO:
There
is no better place to start an itinerary of the Adriatic coastline
of Salento than Otranto, a city which immediately enchants and conquers
with its beauty, its mystery, and its history of different dominations,
eras of changing fortune and tragic events.
At the beginning there was the settlement of the ancient Messapic population,
followed by the colonization by the Greeks and then the Romans. During the medieval
period Otranto experience a strong Byzantine influence, and between 1000 and 1700
it was under the dominion of the Normans, the Angevin, the Aragonese, and finally the Spanish.
In 1480 Otranto experienced its most dramatic period with the invasion by the Turks, the imposition
of the Muslim religion and the decapitation of over 800 people of Otranto who didn’t want to renounce
their faith.
Walking along the streets, the narrow lanes,
the steps of the village, or along the walls,
one feels immersed in the distant past. One can become lost in the labyrinth
of passages among the local areas of the old centre, or stop for a while near the bastions,
where openings reveal a number of panoramic views of extraordinary beauty.
Among the many monuments those of greater importance and interest are the Aragonese castle,
the Cathedral of the Annunciation and the Byzantine church of Saint Peter.
South of Otranto, the coast road follows the contours of this incredibly uncontaminated
and savage coastline immersed in an arid and rocky landscape with little vegetation.
On a clear day it is possible to see the mountains of Albania which are situated 70 miles away.
Two medieval lookout towers are a testimony to the nightmare which the
Turkish invasion represented for Otranto.
SANTA
CESAREA:
Santa Cesarea Terme, renamed for its thermal waters, offers the possibility
to spend a holiday with the main themes being health, culture and history.
The city is full of old villas noted for their architecture. From under the luxuriant pine forests
on the hill one can enjoy a magnificent panorama which dominates miles and miles of coastline.
The rugged coastline, full of stacks and prehistoric caves, reveals an enchanting landscape
which reaches its maximum expression in the narrow streets of Port Miggiano with its crystalline waters and golden sand.
The mild climate gives one the opportunity of enjoying a pleasant holiday throughout most of the year, from early spring to early winter.
Human presence in the area of Santa Cesarea Terme dates back to the middle Palaeolithic period, as is
documented by the finds discovered in the “Le Striare” cave.
A must see for all tourists are the noted caves of the area: The “Zinzulusa” cave, which is also reachable
by land, provides an incredibly spectacular sight for the visitors with its abundant stalactites and stalagmites
and also the Romanelli cave where bones and graffiti of humans and animals dating back to the late Palaeolithic period were discovered.
CASTRO:
Castro
is situated in one of the most beautiful panoramic locations in the whole of the Adriatic.
Its fascinating and sweet atmosphere, surrounding nature and beautiful landscape,
make this small town one of the most popular in Salento. Its contact with nature is strong.
The rocky peaks at certain points are inaccessible. They stand out over a crystalline blue sea;
the Mediterranean vegetation softly embraces a hill lined with small pathways.
In addition to its natural beauty, Castro offers a living history through its Arogonese
castle which also reminds us of the origin of its name: Castrum in Latin is referred
to the fortification, the 12th century Cathedral, the Byzantine crypt and all the other monuments
found in this Medieval village. Castro was one of the first cities of Salento to be elevated
to the rank of county (Earldom) and was also one of the first to be elected as an Episcopal seat.
Castro Marina, with its characteristic port and surrounding small caves used for storage by
the local fishermen, presents itself as an old traditional fishing village.
Going along the coast to the small harbour one finds a landscape of unspoilt beauty
such as Mucurune Point, the icy water springs, and the famous caves immersed in the
enchanting setting of olive groves which are found along the coast.
TRICASE:
It
is said that between the 10th and 11th centuries there were three hamlets and with the uniting
of the three it seems that the first residential nucleus was formed and thus given the name of Tricase.
The three hamlets united together in order to defend themselves from Barbarian raids and from attacks
by bordering villages. Tricase was probably founded in 1030. In 1480, following Saracen raids along
the coast and in the immediate inland areas, many people from neighbouring villages moved to Tricase.
This is how the suburbs of Sant’Angelo, Santa Seashore and Sant’Antonio came to exist.
We only need to travel a few kilometres inland leaving the coast, to reach Tricase
nestled in the countryside and among the olive groves and come also across the famous
and majestic oak tree, Vallonea, one of only a few rare specimens of this variety which
astonishes for its size and age (about 700 years old). Tricase is a beautiful town with an important past.
This is testified by its castle, its fortified walls and its noble mansions.
Even Tricase experienced various dominations and the destructive fury of the Ottomans.
The historic centre and the monumental Pisanelli square where the princely Gallone palace
is found along with the original church and that of San Domenico are the more important
attractions worth visiting.
The coastline near Tricase extends for about 8 kilometres and includes the tourist resorts
of Tricase Porto e Marina Serra.
Tricase Porto is a small bay protected to the north by Cannone point which extends fromo Torre
del Sasso in the east to the promontory of Calino in the west. The small church of San Nicola,
protector of Tricase Porto, is definitely among the religious monuments worth visiting.
Situated on a large majestic rock, Torre del Sasso is definitely one of the historical sights worth seeing.
Torre del Sasso lies 116 metres above sea level and was built to defend Tricase from Turkish and Saracen
attacks in the 16th century.
Marina Serra: Between Tricase Porto and Marina Serra, along a piece of coast road lined with oleanders in flower creating a truly backdrop,
we come across another natural inlet: Canale del Rio or il Canale "lu Riu". Legend has it that the Canale del Rio was dug out by the devil
in only one night. This mirror of water, unique in its beauty, with high cliffs and crystal clear waters, is a popular destination for
international and Italian tourists alike.
SANTA
MARIA DI LEUCA:
One can't help losing oneself looking out towards the horizon at the extreme point
of Italy where the Adriatic and the Ionian seas meet to become the Mediterranean.
This incredible natural sight, along with its marvellous 19th century villas, makes Santa Maria di Leuca
one of the most elegant and striking places of the Apulia region.
This gem of Italy’s extreme edge is found on a stretch of coastline which continually alternates
from small sandy beaches to rocky cliffs. Along this piece of coastline there are caves of great historical
and natural interest and the sea floor is a real paradise for divers. Washed by two seas, the Adriatic and the Ionian,
Leuca is typical of a seaside town characterized by fishing and by tourism. It has been known since the ancient times
of the Cretans, the Phoenicians and the Greeks because it was a necessary port of call for all maritime traffic between
the east Mediterranean and the west Mediterranean.
Santa Maria di Leuca is both a seaside resort and fishing town which is situated in a magical position,
in an inlet between Ristola Point and Meliso Point. Other important features are the Sanctuary known as "Finis Terrae"
located at the top of the promontory, where you can see the port and the entire town of Santa Maria di Leuca – The column
that faces the Sanctuary was erected in 1694 by Laura Guarini, a lady from Alessano: a marble statue of the Madonna is situated
at the top of the column. Leuca is endowed with an excellent port for tourism and fishing and with a number of charming Art
Nouveau styled villas completing this delightful and enchanting seashore.
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