We start from Santa Maria di Leuca, the southernmost tip of Italy, where the Monumental Lighthouse marks the meeting of the Adriatic and the Ionian seas. The Ionian coast, kissed by the sun until sunset, offers a journey through crystal-clear waters and wild landscapes.
1. Santa Maria di Leuca → Pescoluse
After admiring the nineteenth-century villas and the staircase of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae, you follow the Litoranea Salentina northwards.
Pescoluse, nicknamed the “Maldives of Salento”, is famous for its brilliant white sand and shallow sea, ideal for families. The Campomarino Dunes behind the beach are a protected area rich in sea lilies and junipers, the habitat of the Kentish plover, a migratory bird at risk of extinction.
2. Posto Vecchio
A small free beach near Torre Vado, where the Canale del Fano (a freshwater stream) flows into the sea. Here the water is a mix of turquoise and emerald shades, surrounded by smooth rocks. Ideal for those seeking tranquillity away from the crowds.
3. Torre Pali
The sixteenth-century Torre di Pali, built against Saracen raids, overlooks a beach of mixed sand and pebbles. The seabed is dotted with meadows of posidonia, which oxygenate the water and are home to starfish and seahorses.
4. Torre Suda
The tower, now in ruins, gives its name to a bay sheltered from the wind. The sea, always calm, is perfect for snorkelling: octopus, amberjack and shoals of salema hide among the rocks. A few steps away, the Canale dei Samari offers a natural inlet where the water is so clear it looks like glass.
5. Torre Costiera and Torre del Pizzo
- Torre Costiera (near Ugento): an area of free beaches and unspoiled dunes, where the Kentish plover nests.
- Torre del Pizzo (Gallipoli): near the Rivabella beach, it is a strategic spot from which to admire breathtaking sunsets over the Isola di Sant’Andrea.
6. Baia Verde
South of Gallipoli, this golden-sand beach is famous for its beach clubs and crystal-clear water. By day it is a destination for families; in the evening it turns into a scene of DJ sets and aperitifs. The name comes from the colour of the vegetation behind it, not of the sea!
7. Gallipoli
The “Pearl of the Ionian” has a double soul, historic and lively:
- Old town: a maze of white alleys with fresh-fish shops and Baroque churches.
- Purità beach: a small cove in the historic centre, with steps carved into the rock.
- Nightlife: in the evening, the seafront lights up with cocktail bars and restaurants where you can taste Gallipoli-style raw fish.
- Sunset: from the Ponte Rosso or the Terrazza di Sant’Agata, the sun disappears behind the sea, tinting the sky red.
8. Porto Selvaggio
A Regional Nature Reserve since 2006, it is a stretch of unspoiled coast among centuries-old olive trees and pine woods.
- Torre dell’Alto: a sixteenth-century coastal tower, the starting point for trails leading to rocky coves such as Cala del Ciolo.
- Grotta del Cervo: here, prehistoric graffiti depict animals and hunting scenes, evidence of ancient settlements.
9. Punta Prosciutto (or Punta della Suina)
A protected area with regulated access to preserve the juniper-covered dunes and the Mediterranean scrub.
- Beach: 3 km of white sand and shallow water, ideal for snorkelling among small colourful fish.
- Protected zone: motorised navigation is prohibited within 200 metres of the shore.
- Sunset: one of the most evocative on the coast, with the sun sinking into the open sea.
Why choose the Ionian coast?
- Sunsets over the sea: unique in Puglia, with a palette of colours ranging from gold to violet.
- Biodiversity: protected areas (Porto Selvaggio, Punta Prosciutto) where nature is queen.
- Travel styles: from the nightlife of Gallipoli to the wilderness of Porto Selvaggio, there is a Salento for everyone.
Curiosities
- At Porto Selvaggio the waters are so pure that they were awarded the Blue Flag in 2021.
- At Punta Prosciutto, in summer, you can join guided tours to observe the nesting of the Kentish plovers.
Ionian Salento is not a holiday: it is a legacy of light, history and flavours that you keep forever. 🌊