We wake up quietly in Castellana Grotte, have breakfast in a coffe shop next to our accommodation and leave for our second accommodation.
For the second part of our trip to Puglia, we will visit Otranto and its surroundings (Alimini, San Foca and Torre del Orso)
We make a stop in Lecce to discover the city and rest a little while waiting for the check-in time.
We find a parking space in Lecce in the street “Via Manifattura Tabacchi” 40°21’00.9″N 18°09’54.7″E and start our tour of the city.
Lecce is an important city in Puglia with a baroque architecture that characterizes it. We take a little tour in the streets of the city.
We discover the Piazza del Duomo, the Basilica of Santa Croce, Piazza Sant’Oronzo as well as the street Via Vittorio Emanuelle II
It is 2:00 p.m. and the heat is unbearable. To eat, we choose a bar/restaurant with an air-conditioned room: Caffe’ Della Lupa. In Italy, it is rare enough to note it, their focaccia and sandwiches are lousy.
We have confirmation from our host that our accommodation is available. We leave for Alimini (12 km from Otranto)
City: Alimini (12 km from Otranto)
Accommodation: Tenuta Russo
Location: 40°13’39.8″N 18°26’11.2″E
3 nights, from July 09th, 2023 to July 12th, 2023
Price: €278 (€93 / night)
Booked with Booking.com
Our accommodation is a beautiful bungalow set in the middle of a wonderful agricultural area
With this heat, we leave directly towards Alimini beach:
After a refreshing swim and a shower at our accommodation, we leave towards Otranto for the evening
We park at the parking lot located at the entrance to the city: “Parcheggio Sant’Antonio” (40°08’46.6″N 18°29’11.8″E). Here we go for our tour of Otranto:
Otranto is the Italian city closest to Albania. It gave its name to the « Strait of Otranto » that separates the two countries.
We arrive in Otranto after sunset and we take a short walk in the historic center.
We find a food court (40°08’46.4″N 18°29’18.3″E) where you can have of Panzerotti, pizzas, Foccacias and sandwiches. It’s perfect.
Panzerotti are among our best discoveries in Puglia. As a reminder, it is a semi-circular dough, basically, filled with mozzarella and tomato. You can find it with several types of fillings. The dough is very similar to that of pizza which brings Panzerotti closer to calzones, with the difference that Panzerotti are fried and not baked
To end the evening in style, we opt for a good ice cream at Gelateria Fisotti (Largo Cavour, 8, 73028 Otranto), and objectively, it is a 10/10
We return to our accommodation in Alimini.
For our second day near Otranto, light program:
- Swimming in San Foca
- Tour in Otranto for the afternoon and evening
We start by going to the beach « Le Fontanelle » in San Foca (40°18’12.1″N 18°24’11.1″E).
We settle in the Lido of the beach and enjoy swimming while having lunch there.
PS: In Italian beaches, beach cafes and restaurants are often called Lido
For the evening, we return to Otranto, We arrive earlier than the day before to enjoy the tour in the daylight
Otranto is a beautiful city.
We rediscover its historic center in the daylight. We start by strolling through its narrow, cobbled streets, lined with whitewashed houses. We pass by local shops, charming cafes, and historic churches
We discover the Cathedral of Otranto (Santa Maria Annunziata). It is a magnificent building dating back to the 11th century. Don’t miss its famous floor mosaics, depicting a monumental fresco of the Tree of Life. The cathedral is also known for its Chapel of the Martyrs.
In the historic center, there is also the Castle of Otranto (Castello Aragonese). It offers a breathtaking view of the Adriatic Sea.
We explore the ramparts and enjoy the panorama
The view of the port of Otranto is just wonderful
We also take a walk along the sea. Otranto has a beautiful coastline, with crystal clear waters and stunning views. We logically end with a good ice cream at Gelateria Fisotti (Largo Cavour, 8, 73028 Otranto)
For our last day in the Otranto area, we choose to dedicate the morning to discovering the natural beauty of Puglia.
After a short stop in Sant’Andrea
We start with a visit to the Grotte della Poesia (Cave Of Poetry), located about 10 minutes by car from Torre dell’Orso. We arrive there and find a paid parking lot (40°17’14.0″N 18°25’29.4″E)
To go to the Grotte della Poesia (Cave Of Poetry), it is best to go early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
It is a splendid natural pool dug into the limestone rocks, with clear turquoise water. Legend says that it was a place where poets came to be inspired. You can explore the cave, dive into its refreshing waters, or simply admire the fascinating landscape around this rock formation. If you are adventurous, you can jump from the nearby cliffs
After exploring the cave, we head to the beach of Torre dell’Orso, which is about a 5-minute drive away.
This is a beautiful beach with fine, golden sand. The medieval tower (from which the beach takes its name) is an iconic landmark, and you can relax on the beach or enjoy the local facilities such as bars and restaurants. The sea is ideal for swimming, calm and shallow.
If you want to continue along the coast, you will arrive at the Due Sorelle beach, a spectacular site accessible by boat or on foot (if you are prepared to walk for about 30 minutes). This beach takes its name from the two imposing “sister” shaped rocks that stand out in the sea. The water is exceptionally clear, and the natural environment is unspoiled, far from the crowds, making it an ideal place for a moment of tranquility and wild beauty.
This morning program allowed us to discover some beautiful landscapes by combining this with a magnificent swim
After a short break at our accommodation:
City: Alimini (12 km from Otranto)
Accommodation: Tenuta Russo
Location: 40°13’39.8″N 18°26’11.2″E
3 nights, from July 09th, 2023 to July 12th, 2023
Price: €278 (€93 / night)
Booked with Booking.com
We are leaving for a third evening in Otranto. We had planned to spend the evening in Lecce, but discouraged by the journey and the difficulty of finding a parking place, and also encouraged by the peaceful and charming atmosphere of Otranto, we change our plans.
We return to our accommodation in Alimini to spend the last night there.
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