Around here, Melendugno usually rhymes with summer, the scents of a Salento to be experienced, and crystal-clear blue sea. Awarded the prestigious Blue Flag several times, this municipality in the province of Lecce encompasses much of the beauty of Salento and one never ceases to discover more aspects and characteristics typical of this corner of Apulia. Travelling the length and breadth of the coast road that connects San Foca to Torre dell"Orso, we cannot fail to notice the remains of the ancient town of Roca with its imposing castle now reduced to ruins, dismantled following the continuous raids of Saracen pirates during the mid-16th century. The origins of the Roca Vecchia Castle date back to the late Middle Ages when it was built together with the fortified town of Roca. The Roca Vecchia Castle was surrounded by an imposing moat and for the time represented an impregnable fortress built with all the criteria to defend the indigenous population. Today this beautiful and evocative castle has almost merged with the surrounding area to form a single block with the cliffs that end directly in the sea and the green of the typical Mediterranean scrub covering most of these ruins that once meant defence and survival. The panorama one enjoys when observing these ruins from any perspective, combined with a horizon so captivating that it links the turquoise of the sky to the deep blue of the Adriatic, is a glimpse of rare beauty. Living certain experiences that link the history of an area to the unspoilt nature of the surrounding landscape fully repays the decision to spend part of our time discovering these wonderful places. Salento"s beauties and one colour above all, the blue that only the Melendugno marinas manage to render as far as it really can. Happy summer from the Castle of Roca Vecchia.
Last update: 28/11/2022, Tonio Viva