I'm not quite sure where to begin with my Salentino story, perhaps because this grim period has left me (and I'm sure many others) in a state of travel deprivation. I guess I'll just start with some background info; I moved to Puglia, located in the Southeast of Italy AKA "The Heel of the Boot" for work related reasons last year and have been residing in Salento (the southernmost peninsula of Puglia, which primarily consists of beaches and the countryside) ever since then. Puglia as a whole is loaded with culture that goes back over a 1,000 years. However, Salento is considered a region by itself; rich with olive fields that manage about 40% of Italy's olive oil production, beaches that make you reconsider the transparency of the Adriatic sea, and food that will leave you wanting to marry a Salentino chef.
The Salentino lifestyle varies from town to town, depending on demographics and occupation. Some areas live for leisure...in that cuisine, nightlife, and social life prevails against all. Yet, other areas seem to live for tradition and keeping their beliefs in tact, whether that is how they eat (orecchiette pasta, il pasticciotto, la puccia, etc), the way they dress, and especially their communication (which is often dialect, and each town/city has their own set of words and phrases). I tend to lean towards a crowd that is in between both I suppose.
What has really caught my eye in Salento, has been the scenery and il mare (the sea). On the west you have the Ionian sea, which is filled with clear calm waters and sandy beaches. While on the other side you have the Adriatic Sea, despite the fact that in the north this sea isn't usually the cleanest, in the south its a completely different story; rocky beaches with transparent turquoise blue waters ( my personal favorite area to be honest).
Baia di Porto Miggiano
The road to this beach alone was out-of-this-world, with beautiful hills on your left and the sapphire blue sea on your right. This specific beach is enclosed within two large walls of stone and terrain making it seclusive and less open spaced. What I found so distinctive was the area in which people would lay their towels and relax; there are two areas, the small sandy area which can probably fit about 20 people and the narrow rocky flat area which majority of the people flock to. The water is so blue that even a swimming pool can't live up to this pigment.
Sant'Andrea
This is an ideal place for those who enjoy caves, water sports, cliff jumping, and trekking. There aren't any private beaches which makes you feel more "one with nature" in comparison to some other areas like Otranto or Torre dell'Orso. The water is exquisite due to its green and light blue tint and the hidden caves are incredible to explore.
Castro Marina
If you are below the age of 35 and interested in mingling amongst other Saleninti, this is probably the best bet for you. I wouldn't describe this beach as being designated for those looking to socialize, however, the majority of people that come here are usually in groups of 5-10 and stay here all day till the late afternoon for aperitivo. The beach itself is mostly rocks and large stones to lay on and the water is a bit cold at times but immaculately clean.
Torre dell'Orso (Le Due Sorelle)
I've always felt like this beach has so much potential (because it absolutely breathtaking) but unfortunately it's overly crowded at the peak of the summer. The length of space that crosses the beach is pretty interminable in comparison to some other beaches on the Adriatic coast (reaching approximately 800 meters in length). There are both private and public which gives you more variety in case its too crammed at one or the other.
Marina Serra
I wouldn't consider this a beach but more like a set of natural pools placed along a rocky coastline. The water in these natural pools makes you feel like you're dipping yourself into a crystalline lagoon. However, on occasion the "pools" can fill up with rambunctious families that just want to have fun, so you're better off staying in a more secluded area above the pools.
Otranto
Last but certainly not least, the hotspot amongst all types of people ranging from families to foreigners. This beach town is easy to reach and has a pretty broad selection of beaches to go to. The port is directly adjacent to the town center and from there you can either go north or south to reach countless little beaches such as Baia dei Turchi, Baia delle Orte, Porto Craulo, etc. The water is impeccably clean and you can have both rocks or sand depending on which direction you're heading in.
Hope you enjoyed reading, tune in for my next post!
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