Salento, here we come!
Piero: and we’re off again, Angela! This time, Salento! Why this choice?
Angela: definitely for the summer, it’s an ideal destination: the sun and the sea are fantastic. Plus, there’s so much to see and taste, literally!
Piero: in this case, the plan includes a whole week; the main need is to balance enough time on the beach and in the sea with the essential desire to see the most beautiful and interesting places.
Angela: the itinerary will be quite packed; we’ve chosen Porto Cesareo as our base for all our travels, and from there, we’ll explore all of Salento. Oh, I almost forgot! One day we need to leave free to visit Matera...
Piero: let’s get started then!
Angela: on the first day, to recover from the journey, we’ll stay around. Porto Cesareo is lovely to explore, and the beaches are not bad either.
Piero: the sea in Porto Cesareo is beautiful, that’s true! Clear and transparent waters with sandy bottoms that remain shallow for dozens of meters; long stretches of fine sand beach from Porto Cesareo to Punta Prosciutto, passing through Torre Lapillo. It’s a continuous strip of sand where you can choose between equipped beach clubs and free beaches: the choice is yours! One important precaution: during peak days in August, going to the beach in Porto Cesareo can be complicated because the beaches get crowded; it’s wise to leave early in the morning to be on the beach by nine at the latest; otherwise, you risk not finding parking or a spot on the beach, even in the free areas!
Angela: after a day at the beach, what do we do?
Piero: we can take a stroll around the town, starting from the harbor. As you can imagine, the port has always been crucial for the town, even giving it its name. The many coves, promontories, and always calm sea, sheltered by the islets in front, have favored its development in the past: there are traces of Phoenician, Greek, and especially Roman settlements. Today, it’s mostly a small tourist dock and a spot for small fishing boats; an ideal place for a pleasant walk by the sea and for an aperitif at sunset.
Angela: don’t forget about the towers! Along the Salento coast, at intervals of a few kilometers, numerous watchtowers rise, which in the past served to counter invasions by Turks and foreigners. They all have thick walls, a square shape, and a height between fifteen and twenty meters, making them visible from the sea for kilometers; the message to pirates and invaders was: “We’ve seen you, and we’re ready to defend ourselves!" Porto Cesareo has one in the town, called Cesarea, and there are others nearby: Torre Lapillo, Torre Squillace, and Torre Chianca.
