This beautiful peninsula, surrounded by the Ionian and Adriatic Seas, offers a wide range of beach destinations, each with its own unique charm. Here is a selection of the most striking beaches:
Beaches on the Ionian side
- Torre San Giovanni, Ugento: long beaches of fine white sand with shallow waters where the dominant colour is the brilliant turquoise of the waterùù
- Lido Pizzo, Gallipoli: the Mediterranean maquis and crystal-clear water make this inlet one of the most popular tourist destinations
- Punta della Suina, Gallipoli: defined by The Guardian magazine as one of the 40 most beautiful beaches in Europe and the 5 most beautiful in Italy. The emerald-coloured sea contrasts with the white of the sand gently washed ashore by the waves.
- Pescoluse: known as the ‘Maldives of Salento’, in the extreme tip of the heel of Italy, it will enchant you with its clear waters, white sand and red sunsets.ù
- Punta Prosciutto, Porto Cesareo: crystal-clear waters and white sand, centuries-old dunes covered with typical Salento Mediterranean vegetation, this beach is considered one of the most beautiful in Salento.
- Porto Selvaggio, Nardò: immersed in a natural park, this bay offers a clean sea and an unspoilt atmosphere.
- Torre Lapillo, Porto Cesareo: cWith its white sand and azure blue sea, this beach is perfect for diving thanks to its fantastic seabed.
Beaches on the Adriatic side
- Baia dei Turchi, Otranto: according to tradition, Turkish warriors landed in this bay during the 15th century siege of the city of Otranto. Sandy and uncontaminated, the bay belongs to the prized protected oasis of the Alimini lakes, one of the most important ecosystems in Salento and isCharacterised by white sand and rocks, a true paradise with a crystal-clear sea.
- Torre dell’Orso, Melendugno: Famous for its twin cliffs called the ‘Two Sisters’, this beach offers breathtaking scenery.