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WE ARE SUNNY IN PUGLIA

The Sea

GARGANO AND DAUNIA

FOGGIA

IMPERIAL PUGLIA

BARLETTA TRANI

BARI AND THE COAST

ANDRIA BARI

BRINDISI Martina Franca TARANTO

LECCE

MAGNA GRAECIA, MURGIA AND GRAVINE ITRIA VALLEY AND MURGIA DEI TRULLI SALENTO

The Sea

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BEACHES AND COVES

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DISCOVERING THE COAST

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MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

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LAKES

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SEA CAVES

The Sea

More than just an exotic destination, it is the thrill of traveling more than 800 kilometres of coastline from Gargano to Salento. Passing from steep cliffs overlooking the sea to expanses of shimmering white sand; from rock formations in Vieste and Mattinata to the coves between Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca; and from spectacular caves such as the Zinzulusa a Castro to bays like Porto Badisco.

Marvel at the multi-coloured sea bed in Tremiti and the golden sand and Caribbean Sea in Pescoluse, Torre San Giovanni, Porto Cesareo and Campomarino di Maruggio. Deserted stretches of shores and secret wild places like Bosco Isola alternate with the exciting beaches of Capitolo in Monopoli and Gallipoli, where you’ll enjoy wonderful sushi ‘alla Pugliese’ right on the beaches which at night turn into open-air discos.

Along the coasts of the Ionian and Adriatic Seas, you will find resorts that suit everyone’s tastes, with play areas for children, sports activities, gourmet restaurants, readings and workshops with well-known authors. One of the most enjoyable places to spend time, the coastline is well awarded for its high quality: from the blue flags of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to the sails of the Environmental League (Legambiente) and the Italian Touring Club, awarded to numerous locations In Puglia.

From north to south, there are also reserves and marine protected areas. It is one of the most varied underwater environments in the world, stretching from Torre Guaceto to Porto Cesareo, with sea floors rich in archaeological finds. There are also many coastal lakes, true ornithological paradises, including Lesina and Varano in Gargano and the Alimini near Otranto.

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The Sea

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FOGGIA BARLETTA TRANI ANDRIA

BEACHES AND COVES

BARI 8

DISCOVERING THE COAST 9

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BRINDISI

Martina Franca TARANTO 36

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LECCE

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Tremiti Islands - San Domino

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Tremiti Islands - The Island of Capraia

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14 Roca

Vecchia

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Bosco Isola

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15 Torre

dell’Orso

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Peschici

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16 Frassanito

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Vieste

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17 Alimini

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The Trabucchi 10

18 Otranto

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Mattinata

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19 Porto

Badisco

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Polignano

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Cesarea Terme

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Monopoli

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21 Castro

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22 Marina

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23 Ciolo

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10 Savelletri 11

and Forcatella

Rosa Marina di Ostuni

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Guaceto

Foca

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di Marittima

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– Marina di Novaglie Maria di Leuca

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26 Torre 27 Lidi

Pali

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di Ugento

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28 Gallipoli 29 Porto

Selvaggio

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30 Porto

Cesareo

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31 Punta

Prosciutto

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32 Torre 33 San

Colimena

Pietro in Bevagna

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di Maruggio Coastal Dunes

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di Leporano

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The Sea

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and Ginosa Marina

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Tremiti Islands - San Domino

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Walk in the shadow of Aleppo pine forests and gaze down onto the most striking bays - the Cala del Sale, delle Roselle, and delle Viole. From the cliff overlooking Cala del Diamante, admire the Pagliai, ten white monolithic rock formations. You will find peace and tranquillity at Cala dello Spido and del Pigno, with views of the island of San Nicola and the Abbey of Santa Maria a Mare. Cala delle Arene is the island’s beach, always crowded in summer.

For scuba: see Punta di Ponente by day, where the sunken relics of a Roman shipwreck just wait to be explored; and take a a dive at night at the Grotta delle Rondinelle.

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Park your car at Bosco Isola and walk through the Mediterranean shrubs that separate the sea from the lake at Varano. After crossing the majestic dunes, you will find yourself on a strip of the finest sand, in a place which is perfectly unspoiled and solitary.

Tremiti Islands - The Island of Capraia

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Only capers, deserted coves and limpid waters are to be found on the uninhabited island of Tremiti. Relax at Cala Pietre di Fucile and experience breathtaking diving at Punta Secca and Cala dei Turchi, covered by an explosion of sea daisies and caves teeming with octopus, conger eels and nudibranchs.

Vieste

Beaches and coves

Bosco Isola

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One of the most famous beaches in Gargano is Pizzomunno with its enormous rock monoliths embedded in the sea floor. Six kilometres south of Vieste, snorkel in the transparent emerald green waters of Cala di San Felice, a deep inlet framed by a natural arch carved into the surrounding rock.

Peschici

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Hop over to the wild beach of Zaiana, popular with the younger crowd, or visit the Baia di Calenella, an ideal retreat for nature lovers.

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The succession of bays between Peschici and Vieste makes it hard to decide where to stop. If you are a surfer, the bay at Manacore, often windswept, is your place to be. Better suited for leisure reading is the beach of Cala Lunga, 300 metres of beautiful strip of sand amid lush green cliffs. Along the coast, you will run across gigantic structures on water called Trabucchi. Ancient fishing systems with large platforms anchored to the rocks built with long wooden poles, ropes and pulleys now serving as restaurants on the sea.

Beaches and coves

The Trabucchi

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Mattinata

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Going up on Mount Barone, amid Aleppo pines and soft curves, make a stop at the Baia di Pugnochiuso, where the crystal-clear sea laps the spectacular coastline. Along the Vieste-Mattinata coast, a trail takes you within an hour to the bay of Vignanotica, characterized by a white pebble beach, caves, cliffs and herring gulls nesting on the walls.

Do not miss the beautiful Baia delle Zagare, marked by a crescent of sand and cliffs overlooking a sandybottomed turquoise sea.

Beaches and coves

Polignano

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The coastline is dotted with caves and hidden coves.

Just before Polignano, stop in San Vito for a coffee break: a small beach set between low rocks and dominated by the imposing Benedictine Abbey.

Worth a visit, is also the white pebble creek at Cala Paura. Located near the historic city centre is the picturesque beach of Lama Monachile, framed by towering rocks.

Monopoli

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The coast becomes lower again, lined with small coves and stretches of sand. Once in Monopoli, proceed to Capitolo, famous for its long beach with sand dunes and inlets. It is one of the most lively stretches of coastline, with exclusive beaches where to enjoy excellent sushi ‘alla Pugliese,’ with grouper, shrimp and sea urchins. At night, the beach here turns into an outdoor disco.

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Savelletri and Forcatella

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A must if you want to indulge in a delicious meal of the mythical sea urchins. The atmosphere is rustic, sometimes impromptu, and perhaps it is this authenticity that makes it more appealing. It is best avoided during weekends.

Beaches and coves

Rosa Marina di Ostuni

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This is the most exclusive beach on the Brindisi coast. It offers three kilometres of fine sand, with high dunes and a wide choice of both private and public beaches. Slightly farther on, Monticelli di Ostuni is one of the trendiest spots for aperitifs, particularly for the younger crowd.

Torre Guaceto

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Heading south toward Brindisi? The marine protected area of Torre Guaceto is unspoiled and ideal for those who love untamed nature. With your car in the parking lot at Punta Penna Grossa or Apani, you can decide whether to head to the beach by rented bike, on foot or aboard the train that runs across the Mediterranean scrub. Also at Punta Penna Grossa you will find one of the few beaches equipped for disabled people (phone +390831989885).

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San Foca

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If you want to socialize with the local youth on the beach and sunbathing amid picturesque coves, then this is your place to be.

Roca Vecchia

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Ideal for a romantic swim in the emerald green waters that lap the Grotta della Poesia and the cave walls of the Poesia Piccola.

Beaches and coves

Torre dell’Orso

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This coastline, stretching out towards Torre S. Andrea, creates its own spectacle of inlets characterized by waterworn, windswept high sea stacks, like the Due Sorelle (Two Sisters) that dominate the wide bay.

Frassanito

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The alternative beach par excellence, Frassanito is warmed by Jamaican rhythms. It is a popular choice for outdoor parties, to dance to the sound of reggae, rap, electronic or Caribbean music.

Alimini

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This stretch of fine sand alternates small coves with a series of private beaches. The coastline is often windswept, making it a favourite spot for surfers.

Porto Badisco

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It is hard to resist the temptation of a swim in the turquoise waters of this natural bay, amidst prickly pears and patches of myrtle. Before leaving, be sure to enjoy the sea urchins by the seaside.

Beaches and coves

Otranto

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The sea around Otranto is spectacular. It will be hard to decide where to swim, whether in one of the beach towns or farther south at Baia delle Orte, where you will be welcomed by the breathtaking view of the surrounding nature.

Marina di Marittima

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A little corner of paradise, Marina di Marittima will amaze you, with a rich vegetation along the Acquaviva inlet and its 200m-wide fjord. Lapped by cold waters, it provides an invigorating swim.

Ciolo – Marina di Novaglie

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If you love deep diving, try the thrill of diving into this wonderful ravine, which opens onto one of the most beautiful fjords in Salento, with the colors of water ranging from green to intense blue.

Castro

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Before arriving in this wonderful town overlooking the sea, stop for a dive into the cold, clear waters of the majestic Grotta Zinzulusa, named after the stalactites which resemble dangling strips of cloth called ‘’zinzuli’’ in the local dialect.

Santa Maria di Leuca

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The best way to enjoy the Leucan sea, is to rent a boat.

You can explore the many cave sprouting up along the shore, some of which accessible by swimming.

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Here, as well as In Castro and Leuca, is the paradise of those who love walking on rocks. The only question is where to dive. A tip? Swim in the picturesque natural pool just below the baths, separated from the sea by a high rock wall.

Beaches and coves

Santa Cesarea Terme

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Pescoluse

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Miles of fine sandy beaches, dunes covered with lilies and lapped by a crystal-clear sea: it is known as the Maldives of Salento.

Torre Pali

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Ten kilometres in length, this picturesque stretch of coast, with a watchtower immersed in the bay waters, is one of the longest beaches in the area.

Lidi di Ugento

Gallipoli 27

From Lido Marini to Torre San Giovanni is a succession of dunes, Mediterranean shrubs and long shallow beaches, ideal for swimming. Here it is easy to find areas frequented by trendy young people, dancing in the water to the rhythm of the music.

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Punta Pizzo and Punta della Suina are among the trendiest beaches, and if you visit them when the Scirocco winds blows, the sea will look Caribbean.

The shores of Gallipoli are the warmest, and most popular for the Salento nightlife. It is a must to stop at sunset and watch as the sun dips into the Ionian Sea and then return for late-night parties on the beach.

Beaches and coves

Porto Selvaggio

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Walk down the steep path flanked by Aleppo pines and you will reach a pebbled cove that opens onto a sea of green and blue, and tiny inlets dotted with ravines and former quarries.

Porto Cesareo

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It is famous for its beaches and crystalline sea. At sunset, you begin with mojitos and move on to an exquisite seafood dinner in one of the many resorts.

It is also a protected marine area, with sea beds rich in archaeological relics. Off the bay coast are two small islands: Isola Grande or Isola dei Conigli and the nearby Mujusu.

Punta Prosciutto

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This is one of the quietest and most natural beaches - you may find a little bar from the 1970’s out on the cliffs at the most. The large crescent of sand marks the border with the province of Taranto and opens onto wild beaches, which follow one another from that point onwards along the entire stretch of coast.

Torre Colimena

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A beautiful little beach of golden sand, its high dunes covered with Mediterranean brush separate it from the Vecchia Salina dei Monaci, a wetland of 25 hectares.

San Pietro in Bevagna

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Take a dip into the icy water at the mouth of the Chidro River. It wells up from a deep underwater crater and empties into the sea at a beach bordered by rows of Mediterranean shrubs.

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Beaches and coves

Campomarino di Maruggio Coastal Dunes An important site of community interest along the Ionian coast of Taranto, it features miles of sandy hills covered in botanical rarities, such as marine juniper and sea shrub thyme that protect the bays below.

Marina di Leporano

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This is characterised by a series of golden sandy beaches and a clear sea.

Castellaneta and Ginosa Marina

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Visit the Stornara State Nature Reserve, a vast coastal pine forest of Aleppo pine that encompasses the municipalities of Castellaneta, Ginosa, Massafra and Palagiano. Then dive into the crystal clear sea of Ginosa Marina, whose shore is tinted with the green of the pine groves.

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di Chieuti

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di Lesina

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- Foce Varano

FOGGIA

Garganico Spiaggia di Ponente e di Levante

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ANDRIA

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BARI

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del Gargano - San Menaio

42 Margherita

42 BARLETTA TRANI

40 Rodi

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Discovering the coast

37 Marina

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di Savoia

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BRINDISI

Martina Franca

43 Bisceglie

TARANTO

LECCE

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50 51 56 52 55 54 53

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44 Cozze 45 Fasano

Egnazia/Case Bianche, Torre Canne

46 Ostuni

- Pilone, Monticelli, Diana Marina, Villanova, Costa Merlata, Santa Lucia, Torre Pozzelle

47 Carovigno

Beaches of Gola, Mezzaluna, Isoletta, Scoglio del Cavallo, Camerini

48 Carovigno

Morgicchio/Pantanagianni, Specchiolla, Torre Santa Sabina, Lamaforca

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Discovering the coast

49 Melendugno

- Torre Saracena, Torre Specchia Ruggeri, Torre Sant’Andrea, Conca Specchiulla

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- Cala dell’Acquaviva

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di Andrano

52 Tricase

- Porto e Marina Serra

53 Gagliano

del Capo

54 Castrignano

del Capo

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55 Patù

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- San Gregorio

56 Salve

- Posto Vecchio

57 Racale

- Torre Suda

58 Nardò

- Capitano Marshes/Frascone, Torre Squillace, Santa Caterina, Santa Maria al Bagno, Torre Inserraglio, Serra Cicora, Torre Sant’Isidoro

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Lapillo, Torre Castiglione

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The Sea

FOGGIA BARLETTA TRANI ANDRIA

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

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BRINDISI

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Tremiti Islands Marine Reserve

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Coastal Dunes Regional Natural Park from Torre Canne to Torre San Leonardo 33 Torre Guaceto

Regional Natural Reserve of Tarantino’s Eastern Coast

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Porto Cesareo Marine Protected Area 36 5

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Regional National Park of Porto Selvaggio and the Capitano Marshes

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Punta Pizzo Regional Natural Coastal Park and Sant’Andrea Island

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Ugento Regional Natural Coastal Park

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Regional Natural Park of Costa Otranto Santa Maria di Leuca – Tricase Wood

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Marine Protected Areas

Tremiti Islands Marine Reserve

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A marine reserve since 1989, and under the control of the Gargano National Park Service since 1996, the 5 Tremiti islands, less than 300 hectares of land 12 miles from Gargano, are the realm of scuba divers.

San Domino and San Nicola are the only inhabited islands. Capraia offers the most beautiful diving in the Mediterranean, Cretaccio is little more than a rock while Pianosa, 20 kilometres away, has been an Integral Marine Reserve since 1989.

Book a dive at one of the local diving centres to discover the best spots, like Punta Secca and Cala dei Turchi in Capraia, or Punta del Diavolo and the Rondinelle Cave at San Domino. To admire the shipwrecks, go to Punta di Ponente to see the relics of a Roman ship from the 1st century B.C., or to Cala degli Inglesi, where the ‘Lombardo’, a steam-propelled sail boat, sank in 1864 (for more

information, call the toll-free number 800530552, or visit www.parcogargano.gov.it).

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Coastal Dunes Regional Natural Park from Torre Canne to Torre San Leonardo

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Visit it on foot, by bicycle or on horseback, following any of three routes that cover the 1,100 hectares between Ostuni and Fasano. Slip a pair of flip-flops into your backpack as the park reaches to the sea and Includes 6 kilometres of coastline with dunes covered in 600-year old juniper. Around the wet areas of the salt steppes is the realm of cane and Salicornia, as well as agricultural expanses of olive trees, pastures and arable land. It is the Slow Food zone of the Pomodoro Regina of Torre Canne and organic products such as oil, honey, Senatore Cappelli grain, eels and mullet, raised in the basin of an ancient aquaculture facility from the 1800s (mobile

+393286474719, 3665999514, www.cooperativaserapia. it). In summer, tastings are held in the various farms (mobile +393481638228, www.parcodunecostiere.org).

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This is a marine protected area with one of the most varied underwater environments, as well as a nature reserve comprising 8 kilometres of coastline, wetlands, and areas of thick Mediterranean scrub, coves, and dunes as high as 15 metres, lying just a few kilometres away from Brindisi. Among the many activities on offer are: cycle trekking, walking excursions, yoga, workshops and sea watching in summer, sailing courses, as well as theatre performances, also in the evening. At the Visitors Centre Al Gawsit, you will find the museum, aquariums and the botanical gardens. It is a Slow Food zone, with high-quality organic production, such as extra virgin olive oil ’Oro del Parco’, honey, and Fiaschetto tomatoes (Serranova, phone

Marine Protected Areas

Torre Guaceto

+390831989885, www.riservaditorreguaceto.it, guided tours mobile +393319277579, fee required).

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Regional Natural Reserve of Tarantino’s Eastern Coast

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The zone stretches over approximately 1,100 hectares along the Ionian Coast, straddling the towns of Maruggio, Manduria, Avetrana and Porto Cesareo. High dunes covered with Mediterranean scrub separate the small beach of golden sand from the old salt works at Monaci di Torre Colimena, a wetland area of 25 hectares, where egrets, flamingos, black-winged stilts, and kingfishers nest. It also includes the Palude (marshes) del Conte and coastal dunes, Bosco Cuturi and Rosa Marina, and la Foce del Chidro. Take a dip in the icy water at the mouth of the river, which starts in a deep underwater crater and flows to the sea

(+393493789579, www.litoraletarantino.it, guided tours mobile +393478772955).

Continuing along the Ionian Coast of Taranto, you will catch sight of the Dunes of Campomarino di Maruggio which make an important EU site with sandy hills covered in rare botanical species such as marine juniper and thyme shrub.

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It covers over 16,000 hectares, stretching along approximately 32 kilometres of coastline, straddling Porto Cesareo and Nardò, from Punta Prosciutto to Torre Inserraglio, with white beaches, high dunes, low rocks and seven towers scattered along its whole length. The sea floor reflects a thousand colours with coral formations, sea grass meadows, sponges, anthozoans, clams and crustaceans, teeming with numerous archaeological ruins, such as the Roman columns near the Chianca Tower. Follow the guided tours (blue paths) to discover truly amazing underwater scenery

Marine Protected Areas

Porto Cesareo Protected Marine Area

(phone +390833560144, +390833859107, www. ampportocesareo.it).

Regional National Park of Porto Selvaggio and the Capitano Marshes

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Puglia’s most important park, it comprises one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy. Walk down the steep path flanked by Aleppo pines to reach the bay: a pebbly cove that opens onto a green-blue sea and tiny inlet with ravines and former quarries. Numerous caves have yielded prehistoric finds and an abundance of fish fossils. Don’t miss the visit to the Capitano Marshes to admire botanical rarities among the sinkholes, depressions in the soil that fill with brackish water, creating small reservoirs (phone +390833838201, guided tours, phone +393493788738, fee required).

Punta Pizzo Regional Natural Coastal Park and Sant’Andrea Island

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It’s a delight to arrive by boat and moor almost in front of the Punta Pizzo beaches: you will see a narrow strip of sand, soft dunes covered in Mediterranean scrub, fossil dunes shaped by the wind, natural gardens perfumed with thyme and rosemary, wild orchids and rare species, such as Anthillis hermanniaie. At certain points, the coast becomes rocky, marked by sea erosion, hand-hewn limestone quarries and tanks for processing the important purple dyes. Slightly farther on are marshes behind the dunes, now reduced by land reclamation and an important wintering area for birds. Saint Andrea Island is a world unto itself and this important habitat is the nesting ground of the rare Corso seagull (phone +393479022874 Legambiente, www.comune.gallipoli.le.it/ parco-regionale.html).

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Marine Protected Areas

Ugento Regional Natural Coastal Park

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Covering approximately 1,600 hectares, this park encompasses a great variety of natural habitats: from sandy and rocky beaches to coastal dunes and from wetland areas behind the dunes to marshes, pine groves and areas of Mediterranean scrub and olive trees. On foot or by bike, you will discover a truly picturesque landscape. Hiking along the coast, amid dunes and pine trees, you can take in a wealth of indigenous vegetation, while the bike tour along the canals and basins allows you to observe the local waterfowl. These important freshwater areas situated behind the sand dunes were created from the 1930s onwards to reclaim the extensive marshes

(phone +390833986074, +393499112272, info@ parcolitoralediugento.it).

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Regional Natural Park of Costa Otranto Santa Maria. di Leuca – Tricase Wood 9 Occupying one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline, this area offers breathtaking views: approximately 57 kilometres from Otranto to Santa Maria di Leuca. You’ll pass through one of the wildest areas in Salento, the bauxite lake, a former quarry with red rock walls, the Orte Bay and the Torre Sant’Emiliano, with the Marmitta dei Giganti, a rock worn smooth and spherical by the waves, embedded at the bottom of a pit. At Tricase Porto, climb the road that leads to the city of Tricase and admire the Vallonea oak tree, a centuries-old specimen unique in Europe, then continue south to discover the spectacular sea caves which have inspired ancient stories and myths (phone +390836925049, www. parcootrantoleuca.it).

The Sea

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FOGGIA

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BARLETTA TRANI ANDRIA

LAKES

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Lesina and Varano Lakes

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Salso Lake Oasis in Manfredonia

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Alimini Lakes in Otranto

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Lakes

Lesina and Varano Lakes

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These two coastal lakes, separated from the sea by sand dunes, form an ornithological paradise, perfect for bird watching. Visit the Ethnographic Museum, the Fisherman’s House in Lesina and then walk along the lake shore at sunset. Also of interest are the lagoon crossings and excursions to Bosco Island (Centro Visite Lesina, phone +390882707455, fee required).

Salso Lake Oasis in Manfredonia

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5km of nature trails ideal for birdwatching, hiking or for outdoor educational workshops. Activities that allow kids, split into age groups, to observe wild and captive animals and to explore the peculiar ecosystem of one of the most important wetlands in southern Italy (phone +390884571009, +393287882946, www.oasilagosalso.it).

Alimini Lakes in Otranto

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An oasis close to the sea, roughly 10km from Otranto, surrounded by thick pine groves and the Mediterranean scrub. Here the lush vegetation includes swamp orchids, water chestnuts and insecteating plants. Strolling around the two lakes is a pleasant experience: the saltwater Alimini Grande lake, is fed by the sea, stretching over an area of 30 ha which, in the northern parts, has given origin to the Traugnano swampland; Alimini Piccolo or Fontanelle is fed by shallow spring waters. Equipped with binoculars, you can watch the countless species of migratory and sedentary birds, such as coots, pochards, herons, egrets, kingfishers, black-winged stilts and many nocturnal and diurnal raptors. Book your boat trip, and discover nature accompanied by local fishermen (phone +390836805205, +393389821781, www.lalimini.it, fee required).

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The Sea

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FOGGIA BARLETTA TRANI ANDRIA

SEA CAVES

BARI 3

BRINDISI Martina Franca TARANTO

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Tremiti Islands

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Vieste and Mattinata

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Polignano - Palazzese sea cave

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Roca Vecchia

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Castro

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Santa Maria di Leuca

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Sea Caves

Tremiti Islands

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Visit the Viole Cave In San Domino, so called because of the reflections of the water and rocks which in spring are covered by caper flowers (which look like wild violets) as well as moss and sea anemones. You reach the Rondinelle Cave via boat through an unusual opening high on the rock wall, from where you can watch the sea swallows dancing at dusk, as they hover over arches and natural columns. On the west coast is the beautiful anchorage in front of the Bue Marino Cave, woven into the rock for approximately 70 meters, until it opens onto a small beach enclosed between walls tinted blue by the reflections of the sea. Here the monk seal lived until the 1960s. Enter the Capraia Cave or the Cathedral, 15 metres high and10 metres long, where the Madonna was found, today preserved in the Abbey of Santa Maria a Mare.

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Vieste and Mattinata

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The coast between Vieste and Mattinata is a spectacular succession of caves to explore by canoe, boat, or guided tour. Entering the Campana Piccola Cave, it’s as if you have stepped inside a large bell.

Near the Campi Bay is the Viola Cave, named for the colour of its walls, the Sfondata Cave, which is completely open above, and the Due Occhi Cave, with two holes in the rock that look like eyes.

Continuing toward Mattinata, right underneath the bay of Pugnochiuso you will discover the Marmi Cave, whose interior walls are smooth as marble, as well as the haunting Sirene Cave and the Due Stanze Cave, where the two caves meet and merge.

Also of interest is the Tavolozza Cave in Vignanotica, whose colours seem to have been laid by a painter’s hands. Lastly, in the Bay of Zagare, visit the famous Campana Cave, a majestic rock-cut sea cave, 250 metres wide and 40 metres high. Here you can also find the Serpente Cave which nature moulded into the shape of a reptile and the Rossa or Dell’occhio Magico (Magic Eye) Cave with a narrow corridor that widens suddenly into a small cave beach with emerald waters. Make sure to visit them in the morning to fully appreciate their beauty.

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Of the 40 natural caves that line the coast of Polignano a Mare, Palazzese cave, with its 2500 sqm and 21m in height, is definitively the most spectacular one.

Beaches and coves

Polignano - Palazzese sea cave

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Roca Vecchia

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Dive into the emerald sea that laps the Poesia Cave and the walls of the Poesia Piccola, a true sanctuary, where you will find symbols and inscriptions dating back from the protohistoric age to the 2nd century B.C. Visit the archaeological area with stratifications ranging from the Middle Bronze Age to the Renaissance, lying beside Messapian and medieval ruins.

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Castro is famous for the Zinzulusa Cave, whose beauty and majesty rise above the sea. Move your boat closer, to the vaults embroidered in stalactites resembling strips of cloth, called “zinzuli”.

The footpath of about 150 metres flanks the rocky edge. From the entrance, cross the Vestibule, the Corridor of Wonders covered in stalactites and stalagmites, and continue to the Crypt until you reach the Cathedral. Unfortunately, the small basin of freshwater in the Cocito cannot be reached by foot; it contains rare biological species, such as eyeless shrimps without pigmentation, a type of sponge that is unique in the world and a small colony of bats.

Sea Caves

Castro

50

Santa Maria di Leuca

6

The stretch of coast between the two promontories of Punta Ristola and Punta Melisa is interspersed with numerous caves. Several are accessible from the ground as well, like the Porcinara Cave – an ancient pagan site, later on turned into a Christian place of worship, with numerous Greek and Latin inscriptions on the walls; or the Devil’s Cave, rich in Neolithic finds. Hire a boat and set sail to discover those accessible from the sea, like the Presepe Cave on the Ionian side, where a rare endangered sponge was discovered. Several hundred metres farther is the Tre Porte Cave with dramatic arches that opens into an immense cavity and tunnel leading to a large room lined with stalactites and stalagmites.

In the Giganti Cave have been found remains of early elephants, with Byzantine pottery sherds and bronze coins. Take a refreshing swim in the Stalla Cave, enter the Drago Cave and the Cazzafri Cave on the Adriatic side and admire an immense vault covered with stalactites. Visit the Bocca del Pozzo, with its blue lake, the Duomo Cave and the Mannute Cave.

NOTES

Plan your journey at www.viaggiareinpuglia.it Check out all the scheduled events at www.pugliaevents.it Share your experience #weareinpuglia

Find and collect the territorial miniguides and the complete map of Puglia.

UNIONE EUROPEA PO FESR PUGLIA 2007-2013 ASSE IV azione 4.1.2

REGIONE PUGLIA

ASSESSORATO AL MEDITERRANEO, CULTURA E TURISMO

WE INVEST IN YUOUR FUTURE.

PHOTO © Franco Cappellari, Vanda Biffani, Leonardo D’Angelo - NIKON PROFESSIONAL SERVICE Giuseppe Allegretta, Acidi Colori, Gino Fusco, Paolo Gherardi, Carlos Solito COPYRIGHT PUGLIAPROMOZIONE - 2014 EDITION

ISOLE TREMITI

Monte S. Angelo

Foggia Barletta Trani Andria

BARI Castel del Monte

Alberobello

Martina Franca

Brindisi

Taranto Lecce

UNIONE EUROPEA PO FESR PUGLIA 2007-2013 ASSE IV azione 4.1.2

REGIONE PUGLIA

ASSESSORATO AL MEDITERRANEO, CULTURA E TURISMO

WE INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE.

#weareinpuglia

www.viaggiareinpuglia.it www.weareinpuglia.it