Cammino del Salento
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The Way of the Villages and the Way of the Sea
The Cammino del Salento is a deep immersion in the Salento region, a route of extraordinary beauty that winds along the heel of the peninsula. The starting point is the historic center of Lecce, a baroque city known worldwide for its history and artistic and cultural heritage. From here, two different itineraries branch off: the Way of the Villages and the Way of the Sea.
The Cammino del Salento route, as mentioned, offers two main itineraries:
• The Way of the Sea: This 115-kilometer route focuses on the coast, offering breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea and comprising 5 stages.
• The Way of the Villages: This 135-kilometer route delves into the hinterland, allowing you to discover ancient villages, farmhouses, and underground olive oil mills, comprising 6 stages.
In the final stretch south of Otranto, the two routes merge, following a route that winds through trails, coastal towers, natural pools, caves, and enchanting bays.
Cammino del Salento
Both routes begin at Porta Napoli in Lecce, the capital of Salento; from there, they split and head in different directions.
Via dei Borghi
The Via dei Borghi is a complete immersion in the urban centers encountered along the route. At a slow pace, you walk along dirt roads and country lanes that connect small agricultural villages with interesting monuments and historic buildings. Consider the center of Soleto, with the Raimondello spire, or the village of Corigliano d'Otranto, reached at the end of the second day, and graced by the beautiful Castello De' Monti.
We then proceed towards Otranto, with its precious historic center rich in vestiges of the past, such as the Porta Alfonsina, the Byzantine church of San Pietro, the Aragonese Castle, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata with its extraordinary mosaic floor.
From Otranto, the two routes reunite and continue together to Santa Maria di Leuca.
La Via del Mare
The Via del Mare also begins at Porta Napoli and heads towards the small villages of Merine and Acaya, an extraordinary example of a 16th-century fortified city.
You then walk into the Cesine Nature Reserve, passing through Aleppo pine forests, ponds, and marshes.
The Via del Mare continues to San Foca at the end of the first day.
The second stage leads to the Roca Vecchia Archaeological Park and the Grotta della Poesia.
We then reach Torre dell'Orso, one of Salento's most beautiful beaches, with its crystal-clear waters and fine sand. The extraordinary panorama unfolds before your eyes, with the Two Sisters, the sea stacks of Torre Sant'Andrea, which owe their name to a legend according to which two women, captivated by the beauty of the place, dived into their hands and drowned. The gods, struck by this terrible misfortune, decided to transform them into rocks to allow them to remain eternally in that marvelous place.
We then reach the bridge of the Alimini Lakes, two natural basins where you can observe the local birdlife. At the end of the stage, we reach Otranto. Here, the two routes reunite and travel together along the coastal stretch that leads to Porto Badisco and finally to Santa Cesarea Terme.
The next day, we set off again, reaching spectacular fjords and inlets, such as Acquaviva and Ciolo, and following paths that lead to Marina Serra.
The final stage of the two routes is approximately 22 km long, finally reaching the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Leuca De Finibus Terrae.
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Return home
Congratulations on completing your journey! Once you've reached the finish line, here are the main options for getting to Lecce train station or Brindisi airport.
Maggiori informazioni
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