Ostuni: the “white city”

Called the “White City” due to its characteristic historic center entirely painted with white lime, Ostuni is located in the province of Brindisi in Puglia.

Since 2009 it has received the Blue Flag and the 5 Sails of Legambiente for the cleanliness of the waters of its coast and for the quality of the services offered.

The historic center

Picturesque and renowned tourist destination, it boasts a medieval village with winding streets and whitewashed houses. Divided between the old city known as the “land” and the more recent “marina” one, it offers evocative views of stairways, alleys and small squares overlooked by shops, small shops and typical restaurants.

The fascinating city stands on three hills in the Itria Valley, at whose center stands the fifteenth-century Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace.

In the historic centre, among alleys and intricate streets, there are numerous churches and stately homes.

Masserie of Ostuni

The most dynamic economic activities are tourism and agriculture. In fact, there are numerous “farms”, i.e. ancient fortified farms, present in the forest and on the coast, many of which have been transformed into luxurious resorts or farmhouses (masserie).

Since the early 1900s, Ostuni has been the tourist hub of the province of Brindisi, as well as one of the tourist destinations par excellence, being an integral part of the Itria valley and upper Salento.

Here, along the coast of the area, sandy beaches stand out in a play of colors among the Mediterranean scrub; among all Costa Merlata for its line of extremely jagged coasts, which form unusual and intimate sandy coves.

Naturally, hotels, B&Bs and tourist villages cannot be missing, as well as numerous restaurants and pubs.

Among the typical dishes, originating from the White City, there is the famous dish Broad Beans and Chicories; Focaccia Ostunese is also famous, which differs from the Bari one due to the addition of mozzarella.

Gallipoli from the classical Greek “beautiful city” is known as the “Pearl of the Ionian Sea”. To welcome you in the oldest Gallipoli you will find the Angevin Castle, almost completely surrounded by the sea. This charming defensive structure in which past and present merge, houses large rooms, the original catapults and cannons used to defend the city.

What to see in the historic center of Gallipoli

Once outside the Castle, many suggestive streets open up in a tangle together with a series of churches, including the cathedral of Sant’Agata, located at the highest point of the island, representing one of the main monuments of the Baroque expression of Salento.

Worthy of note, without doubt, are the city’s two ports. Landing and mooring places for boats, the oldest port (the fishing port) is located near the Greek Fountain on the border between the modern village and the old city.

The transition to modernity is given by the “Skyscraper” located at the entrance to Corso Roma, the nerve center of the city with its shops, bars and restaurants, theater and cinema, a meeting place for young people but also for families .

The city is able to offer different types of accommodation, in order to satisfy the most diverse needs, with hotels, B&Bs and campsites.

Most beautiful beaches of Gallipoli

In Gallipoli not only art, culture and history blend together. The sea is one of the main elements: an expanse of blue and very fine sand covers the coast from south to north, where the town of Rivabella is located, known for the most important bathing establishments.

In the southern part there is an alternation of sand and rocks where the most famous discos and beaches in the area are located.

The Mediterranean scrub with typical plants and pine forests surround the beaches, including a beautiful protected oasis which is the Regional Natural Park of the island of Sant’Andrea and the coast of Punta Pizzo.

The most important events

Among the traditions and folklore we can mention the typical Gallipoli “Cuccagna a mare” and the Carnival dating back to 1941.

Gallipoli cuisine

Cuisine is a fundamental “ingredient”: it happens that the inhabitants and tourists immerse themselves in the succulent dishes typical of the place, where we can taste the scapece, fried fish marinated between layers of breadcrumbs soaked in vinegar and saffron, the Gallipoli-style fish, pittule and puccia.

In addition to good food, we must not forget the excellent local wine (Malvasia, Negroamaro, Lambrusco) which among other things are the protagonists in the typical festivals and celebrations of the town.

The sun, the wind, the sea are an exceptional triad in favor of a favorable climate all year round. You cannot help but be fascinated, enchanted and seduced by a city that describes itself as magical!

Characterized by an entire neighborhood of Trulli, its historical importance and architectural uniqueness, the city of Alberobello has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The history of Trulli

The history of these buildings dates back to very distant times, when farmers were forced to build dry, thus having to use only stone. They therefore found the best configuration in the round shape with a self-supporting domed roof, composed of circles of overlapping stones.

The roofs were then embellished with decorative pinnacles, inspired by spiritual, symbolic and mystical motifs.

What to see in the historic center

Being very small, the village can be visited on foot, navigating the very narrow streets that compose it and enjoying all the beauties that belong to it.

Walking you will discover an almost magical and fairy-tale world, where the color white reigns supreme and where trulli of all sizes alternate with souvenir shops, restaurants and clubs.

Two places that most deserve attention are Rione Monti district and the Aia Piccola district.

The Rione Monti district to the south of the city is home to the fascinating trullo-shaped Church of Sant’Antonio, dating back to 1927. The oldest trulli are located here, via Monte Nero and via Monte Pasubio. Among these, the Trulli Siamese, two trulli joined at the top, with entrances on two different streets.

One of the unmissable stops is Casa Pezzolla, a real museum, made up of 15 trulli recognized by UNESCO as an artistic heritage of global interest. It is designed as a container of tools, finds and testimonies relating to history, traditions and folklore.

Also not to be missed are the Trullo Sovrano in Aia Piccola, the only two-storey trullo and the Basilica of Love and the Belvedere of Alberobello, a splendid balcony overlooking the historic center of the Rione Monti.

Wandering around the shops, you can’t help but take a break in the trulli used as restaurants, to enjoy some of the most varied cuisine in Europe and typical local products such as turnip greens and Apulian burrata.

What to see near Alberobello

For those wishing to stay for several days, you can move to nearby cities such as Polignano a Mare, Monopoli and Castellana Grotte to discover the beauty of these places and enjoy the beautiful sea of these areas.

Vieste is a small town on the Gargano coast which every year attracts numerous holidaymakers due to its hotel and seaside facilities which satisfy the needs of tourists: not only hotels, bed and breakfasts and tourist villages but also campsites and bungalows for the more adventurous, a close to expanses of sandy beaches and shady pine forests.

What to see

• Vieste is famous for its wide and well-equipped sandy beaches suitable for families, groups of young or elderly people who want to enjoy the summer with beach games and crystal clear waters. Of particular beauty is the stretch of beach located south of Vieste, characterized by Pizzomunno to which the legend of Cristalda and Pizzomunno is linked, also sung in Sanremo by the famous singer Max Gazzè.

• In addition to the beaches, Vieste has no shortage of historical beauties such as the Castle, built by Emperor Frederick II which stands in the highest part of the city or the 11th century Cathedral, built where a pre-Christian temple once stood.

• Another church is that of Santa Maria di Merino, 6 km from Vieste, located in a place where the remains of a Roman villa dating back to the first century BC were found: the people of Vieste are very attached to this Madonna and on May 9th they celebrate the procession of the 15th century canvas depicting the Virgin.

• For all lovers of narrow streets where you can walk and buy souvenirs, the historic center is the ideal place. The point of interest here is Piazzetta Petrone from which it is possible to admire the beautiful expanse of sea or stop for a romantic candlelit dinner.

• One of the places of Vieste nightlife where concerts or live musical events often take place is Marina Piccola, a bay from which it is also possible to observe the islet of Santa Eufemia and its lighthouse.

• Again, for museum lovers, the Civic Archaeological Museum where tomb kits and dating back finds are preserved or, again, the Malacological Museum where shells from different seas are exhibited, beautiful to visit even in the company of your children.

What to do in Vieste

There are many activities that tourists can carry out in Vieste or in its immediate nearby locations: for all explorers who want to immerse themselves in uncontaminated nature, the Umbra Forest which is part of the Gargano National Park and which extends for over 11,000 hectares of surface at 800 meters above sea level is unmissable: here it will be possible to practice trekking or excursions on foot or by bike in a dense vegetation of tall trees such as the old beech forests, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO or observe the fauna that lives in the forest, composed, among others, of deer and fallow deer and aquatic animals from the park lake. Furthermore, visitors will also be able to admire photos and other artefacts kept in the Forest Natural History Museum.

In the many areas equipped for picnics it will be fantastic to eat your packed lunch, breathing the pure forest air and listening to the singing of the many birds that are part of the local fauna or improvising a game of football with your children and socializing with the others families singing songs (perhaps with a guitar), will make the experience even more fun and unforgettable.

Furthermore, an activity that can be practiced in Vieste that will certainly not be easily forgotten is that of taking part in a fishing trip in one of the Trabucchi, wooden structures used for fishing, which further enrich the coastal scenery of the Gargano: it has been a widespread trend lately that to use the Trabucchi as scenic restaurants where you can go for an aperitif at sunset or have a lunch or dinner based on freshly caught fish.

What to eat

In addition to the natural and historical beauties of the place, Vieste also satisfies the most refined palates with excellent Mediterranean cuisine and appetizing dishes that will remain in the hearts of all those who visit the small town, to be consumed in breathtaking locations served with kindness and hospitality by the people local.

The typical cuisine of Vieste is the Apulian one with some very tasty dishes made with local products: tomato bruschetta, the inevitable appetizer, with strictly Apulian extra virgin olive oil (remember to stock up on it before returning to casa) accompanied by caciocavallo podolico obtained from the milk of podolica cows reared in a semi-wild state; excellent both fresh and in its roasted variant. Obviously, being in a seaside city there is no shortage of excellent fresh fish and cuttlefish, octopus, oysters that will brighten up any dinner accompanied by an excellent glass of local wine.

Worth trying is the fish soup called “Ciambott” which will be an excellent alternative to the famous orecchiette with turnip greens (among other things, excellent in Vieste). And for pizza lovers, the “Paposcia” cannot be missed, so called because it resembles a slipper, made with type 00 flour, water, salt, extra virgin olive oil and crescenza (natural yeast): in its original version it is topped with buffalo mozzarella, tomato and a drizzle of oil but there are different variations, all very tasty.

As for desserts, in addition to the delicious artisanal ice creams to be tasted in the cloisters and bars of the town, there is no shortage of “K’lustr“, fried folders covered in honey and almonds.

How to reach Vieste

To reach the town of Vieste, depending on the means of transport used, there are several possibilities:

• by car, for those coming from the North, take the A14 Bologna-Taranto motorway and exit at Poggio Imperiale, then continue along the Strada Veloce del Gargano to reach Peschici. Vieste can be reached via the coastal road, a road full of beautiful coastal scenery and thick vegetation.

For those coming from the South, you need to take the A14 Taranto-Bologna, then the Cerignola Est exit until you reach Manfredonia via the state road. At this point, continue towards Mattinata and then via the coast road to Vieste.

• By train, first you need to reach Foggia and then take a local bus to Vieste (Ferrovie del Gargano or Sita).

In the city, in fact, it is not essential to use a car but you can easily get around on foot or by bicycle as all services are within walking distance.

On the northern coast of the Gargano there is a small town, Peschici, which attracts numerous tourists especially during the summer season and has become a very popular seaside tourist resort where, in addition to hotels and residences, there are campsites and tourist villages. The town is full of beaches where landscapes of uncontaminated nature and crystal clear waters alternate but also historical and artistic beauties with finds of great value.

What to see in Peschici

Peschici is a small town with some very beautiful views to admire and photograph and narrow streets where you can get lost among craft and souvenir shops. The terracotta and wood are worked by master craftsmen to create beautiful subjects including the fish and the bird defined as the symbols of the Gargano, but it is also among these streets and alleys that it is possible to find restaurants and places where you can taste excellent typical dishes.

Among the historical beauties to admire, there is certainly the 13th century Castle which enjoys a beautiful view of the sea, together with the Torre del Ponte but also churches of historical value such as that of Sant’Elia and that of Santa Maria del Suffragio ( also called Purgatory) or, again, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, counted among the most important monuments of the Gargano.

For history lovers we mention the Necropolis of Monte Pucci, once used as a burial place where 24 hypogea were found. A place full of history and emotion where it is possible to relive the past thanks to the signs left by man.

The most beautiful beaches

Not only art and history in the beautiful Peschici but also breathtaking bays and beaches with crystal clear waters certified Blue Flag which have made the town one of the jewels of the Gargano.

• An example is the Bay of Manaccora, one of the largest caves on the entire northern coast of the Gargano, which can be reached with organized tours to visit the caves or by boat.
• Again, Marina di Peschici, an expanse of sandy beach that extends from the promontory on which the town stands to the Monte Pucci area. This is one of the famous Trabucchi of the Gargano coast, structures used for fishing and which today have been transformed into spectacular restaurants overlooking the sea.
• Next is Jalillo Beach, a small inlet suitable especially for the more adventurous who seek greater tranquility and a more isolated beach that also enjoys coolness and shade.
• A short distance from the town, there is San Nicola Beach, another beautiful sandy beach which also hosts a Trabucco. From this Trabucci is possible to observe a small inlet, that is, another beach, that of Procenisco.
• Also worth mentioning is Zaiana Beach, known above all by young people. In the morning it is the ideal place for great dives, in the evening it is the perfect location for summer parties.
• Finally, Calalunga and Gusmay, true natural paradises especially suitable for families with children.

Activities to do

• Peschici not only offers relax and beautiful beaches to its tourists but also satisfies lovers of water sports such as windsurfing and kitesurfing. Sfinale Bay, one of the largest here, is well suited to these sports thanks to its favorable currents and its exposure to the South East.

• You can also carry out other adrenaline-filled activities: in fact, by renting a dinghy or taking part in organized tours, it will be possible to dive to discover the Gargano caves among crystal clear waters and uncontaminated nature. Not far from Peschici there are the beautiful Tremiti Islands which can be reached by motorboats or by taking part in organized tours.

• Diving enthusiasts will be able to admire the statue of Padre Pio on the seabed of the island of Capraia. It is 14 meters deep and since 1998 it has risen 3 meters high in the crystal clear waters of this sea. But it will also be wonderful to take a guided tour of the picturesque caves of the islands or go for a swim.

• Again for nature lovers, a trip away from the sea and the shady Umbra Forest cannot be missed. This offers the possibility of hiking or cycling or trekking among the majestic trees and pure air of this place.

Typical dishes

In Peschici it’s possible to taste the typical cuisine of Gargano with dishes that will remain in the hearts of the tourists who try them. A simple but tasty cuisine with local raw materials as protagonists.

As an appetizer, bruschetta made with slices of toasted bread, tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil and peppered mussels, served in terracotta pans, cannot be missing.

Furthermore, Paposcia, typical of many towns in the Gargano, is a bread ciabatta made with sourdough and cooked on stone. His classic seasoning is with capers, anchovies, escarole and olive oil or even with caciocavallo podolico.

Among the typical desserts, we mention the Cartellate which are covered with almonds, honey or cooked wine. Again, the taralli which, in addition to their savory variant, are also sweet.

How to reach Peschici

Reaching the town of Peschici is possible in several ways:

• by car, for those coming from the North, take the A14 towards Bologna-Bari and exit at Poggio Imperiale. From there, take the highway to Vico del Gargano and continue on the SS89 Gargano state road up to Peschici.

Even for those coming from the South, take the A14 towards Pescara and always exit at Poggio Imperiale.

• By train, the closest railway station to Peschici is San Severo or Foggia. Once you reach these cities, it will be possible to arrive in the Gargano seaside resort, using the Sita or Ferrovie del Gargano buses.

• By plane, the closest airport to Peschici is Bari Palese (which is just over 200 km from the town). With the transport seen above it will be easy to reach the beautiful jewel of the Gargano.

A splendid place that takes its name from the landing of Turkish warriors in the 15th century, Baia dei Turchi has now become a location known for its crystal clear water beaches.

It belongs to the protected oasis of the Alimini Lakes and holds the Blue Flag and the 5 Sails of Legambiente.

The sandy and uncontaminated bay with clear waters and surrounded by a Mediterranean scrub cliff has nothing to envy of international tourist destinations. It can be reached up to a certain point by public transport; the last stretch of about 4 minutes on foot.

Overlooking the sea there are some beaches, but also free beaches although a little crowded.

Furthermore, for those who have a lot of free time, it is possible to reach Punta Palascia or the nearby beaches of the Alimini Lakes very easily.

How to get to Baia dei Turchi

• From Brindisi:

SS613 direction Lecce; before entering the city, take the West Ring Road towards Maglie-Otranto; take exit 11B towards Maglie. Just before arriving in Maglie, take the SS16 for Otranto. Once in Otranto, take the coastal road (SP366) towards Torre dell’Orso, past the Le Cale Resort, parked in the large car park near the pine forest. From there continue for a few minutes on foot along the path that will take you to the beach.

• From Bari:

Take the SS16 towards Brindisi; without turning, continue towards Lecce. From here follow the directions above.

Punta Palascia or Capo d’Otranto, an unmissable location in the province of Lecce, is the easternmost point in Italy where you can admire the suggestive lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1867 and then replaced by a solar-powered light located at the headquarters of the Navy. Here, on December 31st many young people meet to await the first dawn of the new year, a symbol of good omen, during the “Dawn of the People” event.

The European Community has declared this lighthouse among the five most important in the Mediterranean. This nomination has redeveloped it, making it a destination for many tourists. In fact, many stop right here to admire the sunset and take wonderful photos.

In fact, there are many professional or amateur photographers who, enchanted by the beauty of the scenery, never miss the opportunity to take shots.

A scenography much appreciated also by the world of cinema, in fact the lighthouse appeared in the “Mine Vaganti” movie and in the TV-series “Braccialetti rossi 2″.

History of the Lighthouse

The name Palascia perhaps derives from Panagia, the Virgin venerated in a rock church. Until the 19th century, near the lighthouse, there stood a medieval watchtower from which possible incursions by Turkish pirates could be monitored. Between 1700 and 1800 the tower was no longer used and this, together with the wear and tear of time, reduced it to a wreck. Today nothing remains of the old carparo structure. The current lighthouse, however, was built in 1867, positioned lower than the watchtower.

Until the 1960s the lighthouse was powered by oil but then, with the arrival of electricity, rooms were built inside it for the families of the lighthouse keepers. Now it is powered by a solar cell instead.

What to see in Punta Palascia

From the terrace of the lighthouse, anyone will be left breathless by the spectacle that will appear before their eyes: the meeting between the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea and, on clear days and good weather, even the coasts of Albania. The lighthouse also represents the access point to an unmissable path for all archeology lovers, namely the “Grotta dei Cervi” (Deer Cave). Inside the cave, traces of art from the Paleolithic era have been discovered. It is a point particularly popular with trekking and nature walks enthusiasts, among the colors and scents of the Mediterranean scrub.

A short distance from the lighthouse is the Multimedia Museum of the Sea with multimedia stations that allow visitors to learn news about nature, the marine environment, the fauna and flora of the province of Lecce.

How to reach Punta Palascia

If you stay in Otranto, you can reach Punta Palascia with one of the city buses (in about 13 minutes) or use the taxi service. In fact, the lighthouse is only 3 km from the city.

To reach it by car, just proceed along the SP87 provincial road which from Otranto leads to Santa Cesarea Terme.

If you ask a Puglian what the typical Christmas dish of their land is, they will mostly indicate a dessert, most likely the Purcidduzzi from Salento and the Cartellate from Bari. These preparations bring with them a mix of aromas and flavors typical of that time of year, of one’s childhood, of one’s family.

The ancient Arab and Spanish contacts certainly influenced the Apulian confectionery production, but the elements used for the preparation came and come from our countryside. Almonds, honey, wheat, figs, quinces, ricotta, olive oil are the good raw materials used to prepare simple desserts such as cartallate and more elaborate and rich desserts such as almond paste fish from the ancient tradition of female Apulian monasteries. And so, despite the differences in forge and the slang variations, those preparations, so different from province to province, have the products of our land in common.

The purcidduzzi from Salento and the Cartellate from Bari, for example, are prepared with the same ingredients and according to a very similar procedure. Cartellate are the Christmas dessert par excellence of the popular tradition of Puglia. From a mixture of flour, oil and dry white wine, ribbons of pasta are obtained which are shaped to form a spiral, with a design reminiscent of a rose, full of small concavities and interstices which, after frying, must collect the wine ( or must) cooked or cooked figs. This last spraying and the final addition of finely chopped cinnamon and cloves, tiny sprinkles or toasted almonds, represent the personalizing element of the Cartellate, the aromas and flavors that lead back to our Christmas, to our family and to our tradition.

Below we show you the ingredients for a correct preparation of Purcidduzzi.
The recipe is a bit particular, but the result will be excellent!

The original recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 kg of flour,
• 200 ml of olive oil
• Freshly squeezed orange and mandarin juice
• 1 pinch of salt
• honey
• pine nuts

Method:

1. Knead the listed ingredients first and knead them for a long time.
2. Then slowly add the orange and mandarin juice, or just the orange is fine, together with a pinch of salt.
3. The quantity of juice needed is what ensures that the mixture is homogeneous.
4. When the dough is ready, cut it into small pieces and with the help of a grater, turn them inside out, crushing them and sliding them downwards.
5. These small pasta dumplings, the Purcidduzzi Salentini, heat them in oil in a pan and fry them. Take care that the oil temperature is not too high.
6. When the purcidduzzi are golden, drain them and let the oil absorb.

The sasanello gravinese is a typical dessert of the Apulian tradition, in particular of Gravina in Puglia. It is made with simple ingredients: flour, sugar, fig vincotto and chocolate which give it its particular dark colour. The pleasant scent is instead given by the orange peel and cinnamon. This dessert, with its unmistakable flavour, cheers up not only the Christmas holidays but any other period of the year, given that it is no longer enjoyed only at Christmas but every occasion is a good one to appreciate it, also because it is very easy to prepare in home.

In fact, even if it can be purchased in the bakeries or pastry shops of Gravina in Puglia and many other Apulian towns in the Murgia, the Gravina sasanello can be made in a short time at home.

The recipe

Ingredients

• 250 g of 00 flour
• 250 g of durum wheat semolina
• 150 g of sugar
• 100 ml of milk
• 50 g of bitter cocoa
• 300 g of fig vincotto
• 150 g of dark chocolate chopped into coarse pieces
• 50 g of extra virgin olive oil
• 10 g of ammonia for desserts
• zest of half an untreated lemon
• zest of half an orange
• a pinch of cinnamon

Method

1. Combine the two flours in a bowl and, after making a well in the centre, add the sugar, lemon and orange zest, cinnamon, cocoa and oil.
2. Separately, in a saucepan, heat a little milk to which add the ammonia for desserts so that it dissolves.
3. Add the milk to the other ingredients and mix with a spoon, then add the vincotto and knead with your hands.
4. Pour in the rest of the milk until the mixture is smooth and soft.
5. Add the chopped dark chocolate and continue kneading the mixture.
6. Form the sasanelli with the help of a spoon greased with oil: simply take a little dough and place it on a baking tray covered with baking paper and give it the typical rounded shape.
7. Bake the sasanelli in a hot oven at 180° for 10-15 minutes after sprinkling a little granulated sugar on their surface.

The spicy aroma and extraordinary flavor of this soft sweet make it perfect to accompany a coffee or herbal tea during snacks.

Curiosities about Sasanello gravinese

Originally, Sasanello gravinese was prepared during weddings or parties in middle-lower class families. Today it is prepared mainly for Christmas but it is possible to enjoy it throughout the year and, although it is typical of the Apulian Murgia, it is also prepared with small variations in other regions of the South, where it is also known by the name of “mustazzolo” .

In the splendid setting of the Otranto Canal with its crystal clear waters, stands an ancient village with a multifaceted charm: Santa Cesarea Terme.

50km from Lecce, located on the south-eastern coast of Salento, it represents one of the most popular Salento destinations for travelers seeking relaxation and well-being. This is also thanks to the beneficial thermal waters that flow from the subsoil which are, in fact, a true elixir of beauty and health.

Historic center of Santa Cesarea Terme

The beauty of the rocky coast overlooking the sea is combined with the suggestions of a town with an Art Nouveau atmosphere and renowned spa. In the intermediate area you discover the characteristic town lined with beautiful villas, including Villa Sticchi and Villa Raffaelli, while, in the upper part, with the surrounding countryside where you can admire numerous vineyards and olive groves, which houses some sites of high historical and landscape interest like the fourteenth-century Mother Church of the Sacred Heart.

Going further up the hill, you will reach a grove of Aleppo pines where there is also a small playground and the Belvedere. Here you will admire the entire coast up to Leuca at a glance and, on days when the sky is clearer, the high Albanian mountains are clearly visible from the other side of the sea.

History of Santa Cesarea Terme

Officially, Santa Cesarea Terme was born as an autonomously administered municipality only in 1913. This splendid municipality in Salento blossomed late, due to the numerous attacks by the Saracens along the coasts.

In the sixteenth century, continuous clashes distanced the population and made the creation of an urban center difficult. Only in the nineteenth century were the caves and sulphurous waters with healing properties rediscovered, transforming Santa Cesàrea Terme into a renowned hydrothermal town, adorned with splendid noble and bourgeois villas. Over time, between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the village grew so much that it became larger than the nearby towns and thus the need for adequate administration arose.

Popular legends

The beneficial waters are also the protagonists of some of the most fascinating legends of popular tradition.
Santa Cesarea Terme takes its name from its patron saint; popular tradition says that Cesaria Vinciguerra was born in the 14th century. The Saint lost her mother when she was still a teenager, and to escape the inappropriate attentions of her father she took refuge in a cave in the Castro marina, under a rocky hill near Otranto, around which the town was later born. Her father, in an attempt to kidnap her, was swallowed up by the waves, and since then a spring of sulphurous water has flowed from that very point. However, the young woman decided to continue her life in that cave, dedicated to total dedication to God. After her death, a church was built where pilgrims could go on pilgrimage.

According to another legend, the waters of Santa Cesarea have mythological origins linked to the defeat of the Leuterni on the Phlegraean Fields by Hercules. Some of these giants, who are said to have been tempered in fire and sulphur, managed to escape from the demigod and hide in the Salento caves in the Santa Cesarea area, inside which, from the dissolution in the water of the substances generated by their bodies in decomposition, sulfur springs were born.

Thermal baths of Santa Cesarea

If Santa Cesarea Terme has become, in a certain sense, the capital of Salento wellness, it is thanks to its beneficial salt-bromine-iodic-sulphurous-fluorinated waters that flow from four natural sea caves (called Fetida, Sulfurea, Gattulla and Solfatara) to a temperature of around 30 degrees.

This type of water is considered a real asset from a medical point of view as it boasts high therapeutic properties. They are particularly effective in the treatment of respiratory tract pathologies, they are able to relieve pain and disorders of the musculoskeletal system, treatments of epidermal pathologies, up to baths and massages, and thanks to the presence of bromine, they boast sedative effects useful in cases of stress, fatigue, agitation and insomnia and, for some years, they have also been used in the field of aesthetic medicine.
At the facility it is also possible to enjoy special treatments which, in addition to water and mud, also exploit other natural, zero-mile products. Try the oil and olive leaf scrub, the treatment based on honey and Negramaro wine or sea salt, and the thermal showers.

There are also bathing establishments:

• Il Caicco is a historic lido, terraced on several levels on a cliff overlooking the sea.
• The Sulfur Pool, with a 30° thermal water pool with a view and access to the sea by a staircase carved into the rock.

Events

• Among the events of Santa Cesarea Terme, the most important one, in the month of July, is the “Blue Night”. An alternative version of the traditional white nights, with shops and various museums open. Characterized in this case by the theme of energy saving, it is in fact celebrated on a full moon night, and therefore naturally brighter. The whole night is animated by a series of shows, plays, street artists, cabaret and tastings of typical dishes.
  
• The Patron Saint, who also gives her name to the city, is particularly loved. Every year on 11 and 12 September the Patronal Feast of Santa Cesarea Vergine is held. The celebration begins with a procession that winds through the streets of the city, and continues at sea, with the blessing of the waves and a procession of boats that reaches the cave where the Saint is said to have spent most of her life, dedicated to prayer.
  
• Don’t miss the Palio of Santa Cesarea, during which the best “Venetian rowing” is awarded. It consists of rowing standing to see if there is sufficient seabed for navigation). There is no shortage of spectacular fireworks, tastings and the traditional “pizzica salentina” (typical Salento dance).