When it comes to the Salento, more than a few people often tend to follow the cliché that the most beautiful beaches are on the Ionian coast while the Adriatic coast is mainly characterised by high cliffs and a coastline that is difficult to navigate; well, all this means knowing little about the area and simplifying it according to an unrealistic scheme. The Alimini are proof of a perfect testimony of soft, golden beaches and sandy dunes overlooking the Adriatic Sea, and in fact clear the field of simplistic and untrue theses. We are just a few kilometres from Otranto, in the province of Lecce, and this area is a mix of unspoilt nature, stretches of soft sand and a clear blue sea. As we walk along this beautiful coastline our view is interrupted by Torre Fiumicelli, a 16th-century coastal tower that was part of the watchtower system erected during the 16th century to defend against the constant raids of Saracen pirates. Torre Fiumicelli communicated to the south with Torre Santo Stefano, and to the north with Torre Sant"Andrea, a tower that has now completely disappeared. The marvellous aspect of Torre Fiumicelli is that it rises directly on the beach, completely engulfed by the green of the Mediterranean maquis that mingles with the sand dunes, and partly washed by the perennial wave motion of the waters. This tower, now reduced to a ruin, conveys a sense of wonder and amazement at the same time, the emotions one feels go beyond the simple historical fact as one immediately notices how the construction has now become one with nature to the point of merging with the surrounding landscape so as to preserve its memory over time. The beach sometimes has a few black veins, a characteristic feature of the area due to the presence of iron ore, while the seabed, so clear that it can be mirrored, maintains a shallow depth for long stretches, making it ideal for families with children. As soon as we enter the water, we are captured by this marvellous crystal-clear sea, so that bathing while contemplating the view of the tower multiplies the sensations to the point of transforming a simple day at the seaside into a jubilation of emotions... this is the Salento, on the side of the beautiful Adriatic coast... have a good summer.
Last update: 19/10/2022, Francesco Nestola
