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 develops along a rocky ridge washed by the Adriatic Sea on the south-eastern side of Salento and has several points of interest both from a naturalistic and a landscape point of view; in these parts the sea represents the main protagonist with a fresh and very clear water that lends itself favorably to activities such as snorkeling to go in search of these wonderful seabeds rich in life and spectacular plays of light. For diving enthusiasts Porto Russo offers several stations from which to enjoy that very unique thrill of being catapulted into the water in a fraction of a second, thus stimulating the adrenaline in us. The place is enchanting and secluded, you can breathe an air of relaxation and true vacation surrounded by the green Mediterranean scrub and the scent of the sea. Even in the height of summer, Porto Russo maintains its privacy, perhaps this is also why it has retained that original charm of a remote paradise over time. People come here to relax and to spend a day at the beach in peace and quiet so all you need to do is to equip yourself with only rock shoes, mask and fins if necessary, choose an inviting spot where you can spread out your towel and relax with your favorite book under a sun that warms the hearts and spirits of those who decide to come and 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 that develops a few kilometers south of Otranto, in the province of Lecce. We are on the eastern coast of Salento where these characteristic coasts bathed by the Adriatic Sea draw a landscape rich in sea caves and small bays all 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 scrub that mixes with a characteristic pine forest, always convenient for those looking for shaded areas in the height of summer, and with the surrounding cliffs that enclose this small inlet that shelters especially during windy days. To frame the blue of this wonderful sea that lends itself quietly for snorkeling so as to go in search of the many bright corners of these beautiful backdrops, or simply for a healthy and rejuvenating swim. For diving lovers, the Antro di Porto Badisco offers several stations from which to enjoy that unique thrill of diving into these very fresh waters. To find a flaw perhaps the parking lot not exactly easy to find if you are in the middle of summer, for the rest this corner of paradise is ideal for those who are looking for a little relaxation in the company only of the sound of the sea and a warm sun always ready to warm our hearts. A few bars and trattorias are easily accessible nearby to refresh yourself from the summer heat, for the rest, just equip yourself with rock shoes, mask and fins and go ahead and choose an inviting corner to spread your towel and enjoy your well-deserved day at the beach... happy vacations from Porto Badisco.
Spiaggia di Porto Badisco
Salento, Porto Badisco - Otranto: Porto Badisco Beach is a small beach that originates within an inlet in a coastal stretch characteristic for its numerous ravines and jagged cliffs a few kilometers from Otranto. It is said that on this Salento bay Aeneas landed after a long journey following the destruction of Troy; myths and suggestions aside this place is a true wonder of nature, the beach of Porto Badisco in fact is surrounded by two promontories and is perfectly inserted in that mix of Mediterranean scrub and native vegetation. Spending a day in this fabulous stretch of coastline will fully repay the effort of having reached 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 snorkeling or even simply for a healthy swim. The inlet of Porto Badisco is a fascinating landscape all to be discovered, the sensations are a set of strong emotions thanks to the beauty of the surrounding area and it is immediately felt in that typical scent of the vegetation that surrounds us. It will not be difficult for you to find an inviting rock where you can relax, lay down your towel, maybe with your favorite book and take advantage and enjoy these magnificent places and from time to time take a dip in these cool and 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 carefreeness; for lovers of 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 characterize this area embellish even more this beautiful landscape, one among all 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 counted among the most important archaeological discoveries of recent times. This place remains a corner of paradise thanks to its colors 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 suggestive cave develops along a beautiful inlet surrounded by the cliff that in some places is colored by the green of the typical Mediterranean scrub and to frame the wonderful and crystal clear Adriatic Sea. We are on the south-eastern side of Salento, and driving along the coastline that leads from Santa Cesarea Terme towards Otranto it is not difficult to come across and discover a landscape full of surprises and natural beauties; one of them is precisely the rich reef of Porto Badisco that hosts the Funerary Cave. Well this corner of territory completely forgotten by time holds a unique beauty and charm, arriving at this stretch of coast you immediately feel that sense of lightheartedness and relaxation, essential to spend a relaxing day at the beach; at that point you just have to 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 quietly to be discovered in all its diversity through mask and fins, for diving lovers you will be spoiled for choice to identify a point from which to try your hand at savoring that thrill of being projected into the water in a split second, so, what can I say... everything according to the canons of a peaceful and relaxing beach vacation. A vivid advice would be to arrive in the early morning hours so as to avoid being bottled up in traffic risking not to find parking, nearby you can easily find some bar or trattoria just in case. Salento is a land full of surprises that never ceases to amaze and Porto Badisco with 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 there is a beautiful view, from here you can breathe an air of absolute relaxation benevolent to the soul and spirit as well as being surrounded by the beauty of the surrounding nature. Torre Sant Emiliano is part of that complex system of watchtowers erected along the entire coast of Salento during the 16th century to defend the native population from the continuous incursions of Saracen pirates who raged the coast in those years. The tower communicated to the north with Torre Palascia while to the south with Torre Porto Badisco, both of which have now disappeared, and in its present 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 they have been classified as the Otranto series, with a single room and a height of about 9 meters; the final part of the tower is bordered by a curb to mark the two sections. This characteristic historical testimony represents today a source of architectural and landscape 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...have a good summer from Torre Sant Emiliano.
Grotta di Sant Emiliano
Salento, Porto Badisco - Otranto: Sant Emiliano Cave is located at the foot of the tower of the same name along the coast road that leads from Porto Badisco to Punta Palascia, just south of Otranto on the southeastern side of Salento. The not very large Sant Emiliano Cave develops inside a rocky outcrop where the Tower of Sant Emiliano stands as a sentinel. From the top of this promontory, a light relaxing breeze blows and, above all, a respectable panorama can be enjoyed where the blue of the mighty Adriatic Sea, in addition to the green of the Mediterranean maquis and the scents of the surrounding nature, colors the whole surrounding area. The Cave of Sant Emiliano is the result of the erosion of the sea combined with the geological settlement that in this area has drawn some very interesting stretches of coastline; certainly a bit risky to reach the Cave of Sant Emiliano from the mainland on the contrary you can safely admire and photograph it from the sea, renting a light boat and taking advantage in this way to go to the discovery of this beautiful stretch of coastline that offers interesting insights both with regard to the seabed so rich in life but also simply relaxing in the sun for a perfect tan. Glimpses of healthy well-being from the Salento coast and happy vacations from the Grotta di Sant Emiliano.
La Marmitta dei Giganti di Porto Badisco
Salento, Porto Badisco - Otranto: Salento remains a land rich in resources all to be discovered, when you think, after so many years, that you have the whole territory in your grasp thinking that you know most of this wonderful coast here is when someone points out a peculiarity unknown to you and immediately you go back to square one to rewind the tape of territorial expertise. One example out of 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 it is instead a characteristic and striking sphere of rock eroded by the natural elements during the course of time and deposited like a large magic egg as evidence of nature shaping its landscape with often surprising results. However, reaching the Marmitta dei Giganti of Porto Badisco remains a very difficult 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 shoes and embark on this fascinating steep path among rocks mixed with Mediterranean scrub that from the top of the Torre Sant Emiliano descend down to the sea. Once you reach (not without difficulty) the foot of the coast, this spectacle of nature opens to 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 live advice, take advantage the moment you should decide to reach the Marmitta dei Giganti of Porto Badisco of a calm and 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 vacation. Nothing else to add except to emphasize and reiterate that you never stop discovering a magical land that Salento is ... 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 has a fundamental importance both from a landscape point of view but not least from a prehistoric one as well, since wall paintings dating back to the Neolithic period have been discovered inside it and are currently the most impressive pictorial complex in Europe. Unfortunately, the cave for obvious security reasons and to preserve these important paintings is currently closed to the public, and develops through three large corridors on the walls of which are imprinted the prehistoric testimony of peoples who inhabited this territory with the representations of various hunting scenes among which are also several deer hence the name Deer Cave. However, this characteristic sea cave can be admired in all its suggestive beauty from the perspective of the sea, which as a viewpoint is definitely worth taking advantage of by perhaps renting a boat and contemplating first of all the beauty of the surrounding nature with this stretch of coast colored by the green of the Mediterranean maquis and where the limpidity of the Adriatic Sea with its crystal clear blue waters provides the frame. Let yourself be massaged by that special breeze that usually blows in these parts at the height of summer, you are on vacation in the company of the sun that warms your hearts and it is only the sound of the outboard that accompanies your excursion to discover these beautiful coasts... happy vacations from Grotta dei Cervi.