9 Beaches of Sant Andrea - Melendugno
I Faraglioni di Sant Andrea
Salento, Sant Andrea - Melendugno: Traveling through the Salento countryside, to the east where the sun rises, when the vegetation begins to show us its proximity to the sea, among the wild rosemary, rushes and expanses of feathery fairy flax here we come to a quiet, small fishing community, we are in Torre Sant"Andrea in the municipality of Melendugno, 30 kilometers from Lecce and 15 kilometers from Otranto. This locality, which takes its name from an ancient 16th-century coastal tower, in addition to the small town, the presence of a beautiful inlet with a small golden beach and the crystal-clear blue sea, is most famous for its Faraglioni, these characteristic rock formations that emerge from the sea and seem to have been artfully designed by a famous architect are instead the result of a natural process through centuries of geological evolution and change. The Faraglioni of Sant"Andrea rise from the sea just a few meters from the shore and are a spectacle of nature in different shapes; some look like huge columns, others like unusual geometric shapes covered in the green Mediterranean scrub, but the most popular of all, the absolute princess is the one in the shape of a round arch, it looks like the entrance to a Romanesque-style church, a beauty of nature called the Lovers" Arch, and there will be a reason for it. Taking a swim under this marvelous arch in the cool, transparent waters of this corner of paradise perhaps represents the high point of your vacation in Salento; access to the sea is safely guaranteed by a concrete ladder that is just a few steps away from this beautiful rock, the so-called Scala de lu Bastimentu: a legend says that a shipload of grain ran aground between these inlets and the locals opened a gap between the rocks to recover the precious cargo. Several other accesses to the sea can still be found at different points, moreover the path above the coast, among the fragrant vegetation and unspoiled nature will allow you to admire this splendid landscape in all its complexity. The Faraglioni of St. Andrew are a unique spectacle, experiencing these enchanted places live is like traveling first class in the most luxurious of private jets, a free wonder of nature an enchantment for your vacation and your spirit.
Grotta di Mafar
Salento, Sant Andrea - Melendugno: Salento is a land full of surprises both for the lone traveler who for the first time finds himself in close contact with unspoiled nature, as well as for families who every year in the summer do not change their destination deciding to spend their vacations discovering still unknown places, but also for groups of young people looking for fun and at the same time the right relaxation. So let us continue our interactive tour to discover those corners of Apulia completely forgotten by time and light years away from those frenetic rhythms with which we are accustomed to confront on a daily basis. We are in Sant"Andrea, a small hamlet of the municipality of Melendugno, several times awarded Blue Flags for the clarity of these wonderful waters. Already on arrival in the car we can breathe that serene and relaxing air, not at all noisy if we think of the crowded beaches of a Salento summer; crossing the path that leads from the parking lot to the sea we will find ourselves immersed in a riot of scents that only intense Mediterranean scrub conveys, with the various wild species, the dry stone walls and a surrounding panorama to leave us breathless. A long rocky ridge overlooks the marvelous Adriatic Sea and opens to our eyes all the beauty of a crystal blue water; going down through a narrow and impervious staircase that reaches down right to the water we just have to take off our shoes, choose a rock to lay our towel on and dive into the water without thinking twice to discover the various caves and inlets along this stretch of coast. The Mafar Cave also known as the Cave of the First Beach is a small rocky cavity among the white rocks surrounding this enchanting place, and is a popular destination for many tourists who decide to visit it every summer with mask and snorkel in tow. This beautiful sea cave has all the appearance of a small chapel with different shades of colors intertwined in a succession of white, bronze, brown, and with the ends of the rocky sedimentations testifying to the passage of time and the continuous flow of sea waves to draw every single inch of this characteristic cave. Take advantage of it to snorkel to discover a seabed rich in fish and glimpses typical of this marvelous bay, or even for a simple regenerating swim; these waters convey a freshness and a sense of well-being that is rarely felt in other places. This is the summer of Salento, as the maxim goes ... sun, sea and wind ... happy vacations.
Spiaggia della Punticeddha
Salento, Sant Andrea - Melendugno: If you are planning your next summer vacation and have already decided to pop over to Puglia and specifically want to visit that wonderful heel of the boot called Salento, memorize this name well: Baia di Sant"Andrea. This location falls under the municipality of Melendugno, which has been awarded several times with the prestigious Blue Flag recognition, issued by an international organization that rewards beaches, marinas and all operators of sustainable tourism. The bay of Sant"Andrea is a small fishing community that during the summer is populated by tourists who come from all over the world to admire the unique beauty of these areas made up of coves, cliffs, golden beaches hidden by small rocky inlets, sheer cliffs, the characteristic stacks and a whole surrounding natural landscape of rare beauty. Punticeddha Beach represents a true piece of paradise, here the sea is reflected transparently in the sun"s rays so that you can count every single stone and every single rock from the top of a breathtaking panorama. The walk along the rocky ridge before reaching the small beach is a unique spectacle, we find ourselves immersed in a natural landscape with all the typical scents of the Mediterranean scrub among the aleppo pines and native vegetation that accompanies us along our path. These places represent a spectacle for the eyes and for the spirit, a sense of infinity pervades the traveler"s soul when arrived in front of the edge of the ridge his gaze scans the horizon while breathing that intense scent of blue sea mixed with the green of the surrounding nature. Rock shoes are recommended, through a narrow natural staircase you descend down to the beach and here the sensations, as often happens when visiting enchanting places, are different; go ahead and spread your beach towel, make yourself comfortable and relax, let the warm sun of a Salento summer to remember warm you up after which take advantage of this crystal clear sea for a dip in the cool blue and transparent waters. The depth of the water maintains an all-too-shallow height for long stretches, the seabed, sandy for the most part, also features rocks from time to time, plus small caves and coves are all to be discovered perhaps to be immortalized with a selfie to send to friends who couldn"t leave for vacation, just to be nice. The Punticeddha Beach represents a unique gem of its kind all to be discovered, there are no words to describe these places so full of charm where the hands of time seem to have stopped to convey that sense of wild and lonely nature to the lucky guests who decide to visit it. Take care of the place, bring back your garbage bags with you, nature will thank you. Have a great summer!
Grotta dello Mbruficu
Salento, Sant Andrea - Melendugno: The Bay of Sant"Andrea is an inlet that overlooks the Adriatic Sea, among steep cliffs, sea cavities, and characteristic caves all worthy of a visit both for their beauty and for the charm they enclose. We are in the heart of Salento, on the eastern coast, there where the dawn rises and manifests itself in an explosion of colors and hopes for a land full of surprises that offers glimpses of a land to be discovered. Glimpses of impervious terrain accompany us along our walk before we get to the bottom of the coast, the surrounding nature manifests itself in all its beauty, through the green of the thick Mediterranean scrub, nature trails, juniper, wild rosemary and other plants typical of the place; until we reach the edge of this white and immense rocky ridge, a heavenly panorama opens up to our eyes with the blue and transparent sea to encompass in its immensity every single rock large or small. Real natural pools color this beautiful stretch of coastline, looking around a bit people seem as surprised and amazed, perhaps enraptured by so much beauty that only Salento so generously can offer. A dive where the water is bluest sang Battisti a few years ago, but here in Sant"Andrea we are spoiled for choice, a fresh and clear water invites us to dive among these beautiful waters, more than once awarded with Blue Flags for their clarity; equip yourself with rock shoes, but above all with mask and fins to discover a wonderful seabed and every ravine and cave present along this bay. One among many is the Mbruficu Cave, a huge rock with an unusual rectangular shape, with an immense green beard due to the wind that has carried that typical Mediterranean vegetation all the way up to the tops of this rock and that preserves a beautiful cave that looks like the mouth of a large fish; it is not very deep as a cave but it holds a charm and beauty that is manifested through a series of colors ranging from green, to yellow, to white, to brown and draw a wonderful place; take advantage of it for a selfie so you can immortalize a magical moment of your vacation. These places are corners of paradise and one has a hard time finding the words to describe a spectacle of nature of these proportions, one has to experience them live, feel the freshness of the sea, the transparency of the seabed and catch all the whims of a nature that has had fun in creating the Bay of St. Andrew...have a good summer.
Scoglio il Tafaluro
Salento, Sant Andrea - Melendugno: The Adriatic coast of Salento presents many surprises all to be discovered; let us first of all dispel that cliché that the most beautiful beaches are on the Ionian Sea side while on the Adriatic Sea side they are all cliffs, it is a mental competition from which I gladly shy away in making a judgment of merit and taste. The Adriatic coast also offers expanses of soft, golden beaches, but if we broaden the horizon and analyze this particular stretch of coastline we realize how wonderfully beautiful and rich this land is in its complexity of terrain, both from a naturalistic point of view, and for its hidden coves including impervious cliffs. Certainly the most interesting area from the point of view of unspoiled nature, and the deep blue represented by the immensity of the Adriatic Sea is found in the territory of Melendugno, a marina that has been awarded several times by Blue Flags for the clarity of its waters and the quality of sustainable tourism. Off the bay of Sant"Andrea, a small hamlet in the municipality of Melendugno, we find the Tafaluro rock, the so-called Sphinx of Salento; as we stroke closer to this beautiful rock we immediately notice that no master stonemason could actually have sculpted this spectacle of nature, indeed we are amazed and perplexed at how over time this rock formation has been masterfully shaped by the waves of the sea and the various atmospheric events that have contributed to the formation of this beautiful stacks. The rock of Tafaluro stands in a crystal clear blue sea, take advantage of it for a regenerating swim and equipped with fins and masks you will discover a seabed rich in fish, hidden coves, small caves that are crossed by beautiful beams of light, in a play of wonderful effects and colors. The beauty of this land is represented by the fact that it knows how to offer the traveler who decides to visit it different points of interest, and you never stop discovering and marveling at the spectacle of nature with its manifestations and scents that characterize much of Salento. If you pass through these areas, don"t forget to take a refreshing dip for a dutiful salute to the Tafaluro rock...have a good vacation.
Spiaggia di Sant Andrea
Salento, Sant Andrea - Melendugno: The beach of Sant"Andrea is a small beach that lies within a characteristic bay, on a stretch of coast typical for the beautiful inlets, caves and stacks that emerge from these crystal blue waters. The sea maintains for long stretches an all in all shallow depth that"s why the beach is also frequented by families with children in the height of summer, but also by groups of young people who choose this place to spend a day at the beach relaxing and having fun. Easy to access via a staircase that descends directly onto the beach, once you arrive all you have to do is plant your umbrella and lie down under the warm Salento sun for a perfect tan to make your colleagues envious of you once you return to work. Take advantage of it for a refreshing swim among these beautiful waters, suitable for both snorkeling and a healthy rejuvenating swim. The environment is nice, you can breathe an air of quiet vacation, it is not at all chaotic and noisy, the right place in short to relax with a good book and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us. This is the Salento summer -- happy vacations at Sant"Andrea beach.
Grotta del Pepe
Salento, Sant Andrea - Melendugno: Sant"Andrea is an enchanting place, a shimmering pearl that illuminates this wonderful corner of Salento made up of small coves, sea caves and rocky inlets all waiting to be discovered. We are in the territory of Melendugno, a town in the province of Lecce that for several years has been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag recognition, for the clarity of its waters, sustainable tourism and the various beauties of the coast. One among many is the Grotta del Pepe, a characteristic sea cave located just below the Torre di Sant"Andrea and very close to the Grotta del Canale, most of the time they are confused; you can find parking either near the lighthouse or along the road that goes down after the traffic circle to Torre Sant"Andrea, after which you should equip yourself with sneakers, rock shoes, mask and fins. The surrounding landscape that accompanies us before descending below the coast is marvelous: from the top of the rocky ridge you can admire at a glance all the beauties of Sant"Andrea, from the Faraglioni to the small beaches and all the inlets of a coast full of charm and magic. The sea appears blue and clear to our eyes, moreover the scent of the surrounding nature accompanies us along our route with wide expanses of Mediterranean scrub and typical native vegetation. Through a small concrete staircase we arrive down until we find a natural platform with access to the sea, here all you have to do is choose a place to spread your towel and relax under the warmth of the Salento sun. After that as you dive into this crystal-clear sea you will feel an adrenaline rush from the singular freshness of these waters, let the relaxing wave motion of the sea massage you first and then, equipped with mask and snorkel, proceed to discover this beautiful cave. Carved out by the passage of time, this sea cave is one of the many caves in St. Andrew, and all of them are worth visiting both for their beauty and for the tranquility and peace inside; in close contact with nature, as in this case, you can feel those sensations and emotions that become precious during a vacation, that"s why Salento now represents a fixed destination for thousands of tourists who every summer decide to visit it taking advantage of beautiful places such as the Grotta del Pepe and other glimpses of an area that never ceases to amaze. Have a great summer at the Grotta del Pepe.
Spiaggia del Pepe
Salento, Sant Andrea - Melendugno: Pepe Beach is located in Sant"Andrea, a hamlet of the municipality of Melendugno in the province of Lecce. We are on the beautiful Adriatic Sea, and this small beach originates within a typical natural inlet, right in front of the stacks of Sant"Andrea. The clear blue water maintains an unusual freshness perhaps due to the presence of several freshwater springs, and right from the first dive you immediately feel this adrenaline rush that goes through your whole body; here you experience the true essence of the Salento summer, we are in front of the presence of a real natural swimming pool, the surrounding landscape is a spectacle for the eyes, with the green of the Mediterranean maquis that climbs up to the top of the striking stacks. Equip yourself with rock shoes but above all mask and fins to discover a seabed rich in all respects but also just for a regenerating swim. If you are planning your summer in Salento, I highly recommend Sant"Andrea with all its natural beauty...have a great vacation.
Grotta del Canale
Salento, Sant Andrea - Melendugno: The Grotta del Canale so called precisely because it looks like a canal masterfully designed by the hand of nature is a spectacular place, one of the many natural beauties that this small fishing community called Sant"Andrea offers to the eyes and spirit of those who, every summer, come to these parts even if only for a refreshing swim. We are in the municipality of Melendugno, in the province of Lecce, and the Adriatic coast of Salento has all the typical characteristics of the place: the dense vegetation of the Mediterranean scrub we find it a bit everywhere, even on the most famous Faraglioni of Sant"Andrea, a blue and transparent sea, but above all we are far from the confusion of noisy beaches. An infectious relaxation reigns in these places, discovering small coves you will be surprised at the first dive by the freshness of these waters, perhaps due to the several freshwater springs in these areas. Grotta del Canale is located along this rocky ridge, clearly visible from above when along the path we have to take before reaching the sea we can admire the beauty of a breathtaking panorama. We can count every single rock for the transparency of a sea that leaves no doubt as to its cleanliness and clarity, during the tramontana days you can even mirror yourself in these wonderful waters, and you will certainly not regret having preferred the cliffs to the beach. Once you get down, all you have to do is pick out an inviting rock, spread out your towel and let the Salento sun warm you up for the perfect tan. For diving enthusiasts looking for an adrenaline rush, you can choose several spots to dive into the sea, but don"t forget your flippers and mask to discover the richness of these wonderful seabeds. At the end of this natural gully we arrive at the Grotta del Canale and then you will be surprised by the glimpses of light that filter through these natural crevices, a spectacle that cannot be described in words but you have to experience it firsthand through the emotions and surprises that these places transmit. Grotta del Canale is one of the many caves and rocky inlets in St. Andrew, this beautiful bay of singular white rocks reflected in the Adriatic Sea reflects with brilliance and encapsulates all the beauty of the surrounding area. Summer is just around the corner, if you are a lover of rocks and tranquility Sant"Andrea is for you.