8 Beaches of Porto Badisco - Otranto
Porto Russo
Salento, Porto Badisco - Otranto: Porto Russo is a characteristic bay located in Porto Badisco, in the province of Lecce. This beautiful inlet stretches along a rocky ridge washed by the Adriatic Sea on the south-eastern side of Salento and presents several points of interest from both a naturalistic and a landscape point of view. Here, the sea is the main protagonist with its fresh and crystal-clear water that lends itself favourably to activities such as snorkelling to discover these marvellous seabeds rich in life and spectacular plays of light. For diving enthusiasts, Porto Russo offers several stations from which to enjoy the unique thrill of being catapulted into the water in a fraction of a second, thus stimulating the adrenalin within us. The place is enchanting and secluded, one breathes an air of relaxation and true holiday surrounded by the greenery of the Mediterranean maquis and the scent of the sea. Even in the height of summer, Porto Russo retains its seclusion, perhaps also because of this it has retained that original charm of a remote paradise. People come here to relax and spend a day at the beach in peace and quiet, so all you need to do is to equip yourself with rock shoes, mask and flippers if necessary, choose an inviting spot to spread out your towel and relax with your favourite book under a sun that warms the hearts and spirits of those who decide to visit Porto Russo... have a good summer at Porto Badisco.
Antro di Porto Badisco
Salento, Porto Badisco - Otranto: Antro di Porto Badisco is a beautiful inlet a few kilometres south of Otranto, in the province of Lecce. We are on the eastern coast of Salento where these characteristic coastlines bathed by the Adriatic Sea draw a landscape rich in sea caves and small bays waiting to be discovered. The Antro di Porto Badisco, in its specificity, encompasses all the essential elements to stimulate the innermost feelings of the human soul; the place is surrounded by the green of the Mediterranean maquis that mixes with a characteristic pine forest, always convenient for those seeking shady areas in the height of summer, and with the surrounding cliffs that enclose this small inlet that provides shelter especially during windy days. The blue of this marvellous sea provides the perfect setting for snorkelling, so that you can go in search of the many bright corners of this beautiful seabed, or simply for a healthy and regenerating swim. For diving enthusiasts, the Antro di Porto Badisco offers several stations from which to enjoy that unique thrill of diving into these cool waters. One flaw is perhaps the car park, which is not exactly easy to find if you are in the middle of summer. Otherwise, this corner of paradise is ideal for those in search of a little relaxation in the company of only the sound of the sea and a warm sun always ready to warm our hearts. A number of bars and trattorias are within easy reach in the vicinity to refresh yourself from the summer heat. For the rest, all you need is a pair of rock shoes, a mask and flippers, and an inviting spot to spread out your towel and enjoy a well-deserved day at the beach... Happy holidays from Porto Badisco.
Spiaggia di Porto Badisco
Salento, Porto Badisco - Otranto: The Porto Badisco beach is a small beach that rises within an inlet in a stretch of coastline characteristic for its numerous ravines and jagged cliffs a few kilometres from Otranto. It is said that Aeneas landed on this Salento bay after a long voyage following the destruction of Troy. Myths and suggestions aside, this place is a true wonder of nature, the beach of Porto Badisco is in fact surrounded by two promontories and is perfectly set in that mix of Mediterranean scrub and native vegetation. Spending a day on this fabulous stretch of coastline will fully repay the effort of reaching it. The sea is a crystal-clear blue to be envied, letting yourself be massaged by the coolness of these waters is a pleasure that cannot be described, the rich seabed is also ideal for snorkelling or even simply for a healthy swim. The inlet of Porto Badisco is a fascinating landscape waiting to be discovered, the sensations are a mixture of strong emotions thanks to the beauty of the surrounding area and you can immediately smell the typical scent of the vegetation that surrounds us. It will not be difficult for you to find an inviting rock where you can relax, spread out your towel, perhaps with your favourite book, and take advantage and enjoy these magnificent places and occasionally take a dip in these cool, transparent waters. The small but enchanting beach of Porto Badisco is quite visited by the many tourists who flock to this part of Salento every summer in search of moments of relaxation and light-heartedness. For those who love hiking and trekking, the area offers several routes to be in close contact with nature and admire the beauty of this place. The presence of numerous caves among the rocks that characterise this area make this splendid landscape even more precious. One of them is the Grotta dei Cervi, unfortunately closed to visits to safeguard the important paintings on the walls that have been preserved over the millennia and are among the most important archaeological discoveries of recent times. This place remains a corner of paradise thanks to its colours and the beauty that nature offers us, this is the magic of Porto Badisco... this is Salento!
Grotta Funeraria
Salento, Porto Badisco - Otranto: The Grotta Funeraria is a characteristic sea cave located in Porto Badisco in the province of Lecce. This evocative cave develops along a beautiful inlet surrounded by cliffs that in some places are coloured by the green of the typical Mediterranean scrub and framed by the wonderful, crystal-clear Adriatic Sea. We are on the south-eastern side of Salento, and travelling along the coastline from Santa Cesarea Terme towards Otranto it is not difficult to come across and discover a landscape full of surprises and natural beauty; one of them being the rich cliffs of Porto Badisco, home to the Grotta Funeraria. Well, this corner of land completely forgotten by time encloses a unique beauty and charm. Arriving at this stretch of coastline you immediately feel that sense of light-heartedness and relaxation, essential for spending a relaxing day at the seaside; then all you have to do is choose an inviting rock and relax in the company of the sun, the sea and the wind, contemplating in this way the three maxims of this wonderful land. The seabed lends itself easily to being discovered in all its diversity through mask and flippers, and diving enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a spot from which to enjoy the thrill of being thrown into the water in a fraction of a second, so, what can I say... all in keeping with the canons of a peaceful and relaxing seaside holiday. A lively advice would be to arrive in the early morning hours so as to avoid being bottled up in traffic and risking not finding a parking space, in the vicinity you can easily find some bars or trattorias just in case. The Salento is a land full of surprises that never ceases to amaze, and Porto Badisco and the Grotta Funeraria are clear evidence of this... have a good summer.
Torre Sant Emiliano
Salento, Porto Badisco - Otranto: Torre Sant Emiliano is a coastal tower in Salento and is located along the coastline that connects Porto Badisco to Punta Palascia on the eastern side of the Salento coast near the more famous Otranto. Torre Sant Emiliano stands on a high rocky ridge from which one can enjoy a beautiful panorama. From here one can breathe in an air of absolute relaxation that is good for the soul and spirit as well as being surrounded by the beauty of the surrounding nature. Torre Sant Emiliano is part of the complex system of watchtowers erected along the entire Salento coast during the 16th century to defend the local population from the constant incursions of the Saracen pirates that raged along the coast in those years. The tower communicated to the north with Torre Palascia and to the south with Torre Porto Badisco, both of which have now disappeared, and in its current state the ruin is in a state of semi-abandonment. Torre Sant Emiliano has a conical structure identical to the other nearby towers in this area, so much so that it has been classified as the "Otranto series", with a single room and a height of about 9 metres; the final part of the tower is delimited by a kerb to mark the two sections. This characteristic historical testimony is now a source of architectural and scenic interest. Certainly it should be restored to preserve the very solidity of the tower so as to return it in all its beauty to future generations... Happy summer from Torre Sant Emiliano.
Grotta di Sant Emiliano
Salento, Porto Badisco - Otranto: The Grotta di Sant Emiliano is located at the foot of the tower of the same name along the coast road from Porto Badisco to Punta Palascia, just south of Otranto on the south-eastern side of Salento. The Grotta Sant Emiliano cave, which is not very large, develops inside a rocky spur where the Sant Emiliano Tower stands as a sentinel. From the top of this promontory, a gentle, relaxing breeze blows and, above all, you can enjoy a respectable panorama where, in addition to the green of the Mediterranean maquis and the scents of the surrounding nature, the blue of the mighty Adriatic Sea colours the entire area. The Grotta di Sant Emiliano is the result of erosion by the sea combined with geological settlement, which has shaped some very interesting stretches of coastline in this area. It is certainly a bit risky to reach the Grotta di Sant Emiliano from the mainland, but you can easily admire and photograph it from the sea, renting a light boat and taking advantage of this to explore this beautiful stretch of coastline that offers interesting insights into the seabed, so rich in life, and also simply relaxing in the sun for a perfect tan. Healthy glimpses of the Salento coastline and happy holidays from the Grotta di Sant Emiliano.
La Marmitta dei Giganti di Porto Badisco
Salento, Porto Badisco - Otranto: The Salento remains a land rich in resources waiting to be discovered. Just when you think, after so many years, that you have the whole area in your grasp, thinking you know most of this marvellous coastline, someone points out a peculiarity unknown to you and you immediately start to rewind the tape of territorial expertise. One example above all is the Marmitta dei Giganti di Porto Badisco, found on the eastern coast of Salento between Otranto and Porto Badisco. Now some claim it is a bombard ball used in past centuries by Saracen pirates to bombard the nearby Tower of Sant Emiliano, I want to think of it instead as a characteristic and evocative sphere of rock eroded by the natural elements over the course of time and deposited like a big magic egg testifying to nature shaping its landscape with often surprising results. Reaching Porto Badisco"s Marmitta dei Giganti is, however, an arduous undertaking considering the high rocky ridge, so once you have parked your car on the coast road, all you have to do is put on your hiking boots and set off along this fascinating, steep path among rocks mixed with Mediterranean scrub that descend from the top of the Torre Sant Emiliano down to the sea. Once you reach (not without difficulty) the foot of the coastline, this spectacle of nature opens up before your eyes. Immersed in a kind of natural well lies this spherical stone, perfectly polished by the weather, and the emotions you feel are really strong in front of such a spectacle of nature. A lively piece of advice, take advantage when you decide to reach the Marmitta dei Giganti in Porto Badisco of a calm, windless day, because otherwise, given the position, a particularly rough sea could create enough problems that it would be better to avoid, especially if you are on holiday. There is nothing more to add except to emphasise and reiterate that you never cease to discover a magical land that is the Salento... have a good summer.
Grotta dei Cervi
Salento, Porto Badisco - Otranto: The Grotta dei Cervi is a characteristic sea cave located in Porto Badisco along the eastern coast road leading to Otranto in the province of Lecce. The Grotta dei Cervi is of fundamental importance both from a landscape point of view and also from a prehistoric one, as wall paintings dating back to the Neolithic period have been discovered inside it and are currently the most impressive pictorial complex in Europe. Unfortunately, for obvious safety reasons and to preserve these important paintings, the cave is currently closed to the public. It is developed through three large corridors on the walls of which prehistoric evidence of the peoples who inhabited this area is imprinted, with representations of various hunting scenes including several deer, hence the name Grotta dei Cervi. This characteristic sea cave can however be admired in all its evocative beauty from the perspective of the sea, which as a viewpoint is certainly worth taking advantage of, perhaps by hiring a boat and contemplating first of all the beauty of the surrounding nature with this stretch of coast coloured by the green of the Mediterranean maquis and where the limpid Adriatic Sea with its crystal-clear blue waters provides the setting. Let yourself be massaged by that special breeze that usually blows here in the height of summer, you are on holiday in the company of the sun that warms your hearts and it is only the sound of the outboard motor that accompanies your excursion to discover this beautiful coastline... happy holidays from the Grotta dei Cervi.