Our tour continues to discover Puglia and Salento, strictly aboard the SmartVan.
In the first part of the trip, starting from Bari, we arrived in Ostuni, stopping in Polignano and Alberobello, passing through the Itria Valley until reaching the White City. At this point the adventure on board the Camper allows us to choose two different routes: from Ostuni down to Gallipoli, along the coast of Salento, or in the direction of Basilicata, discovering extraordinary panoramasme.
In this second part of the Wild Tour we tell you about the journey to discover the most beautiful villages and beaches of the Salento peninsula.
The first stop on the Salento tour is Otranto.
1 day
Otranto, the easternmost point of the boot, known as the City of Martyrs, is a magical place, rich in art, history, culture and paradisiacal beaches. To reach it, it is possible to take several roads: the most suggestive is certainly the coastal road that you can take once you reach San Cataldo, marina of Lecce.
On your way you will encounter some splendid places such as Le Cesine Nature Reserve, San Foca and the Grotta della Poesia.
Historically a bridge between East and West, Otranto preserves the treasures of the populations that have inhabited it: the Aragonese Castle, an ancient military fortress built between 1485 and 1498 by Fernando I of Aragon, is unmissable. Numerous churches dot the historic center: we recommend that you lose yourself in the alleys of the ancient village, enclosed within the imposing defensive walls, to discover churches and architectural treasures.
The town offers several parking options for those travelling by camper: we recommend the Oasy Park rest area near the Castle, just 300 metres from the historic centre.
Duration of the route from Ostuni to Otranto: about 124 km
2 day
One of the reasons to visit Otranto is certainly its marina: Porto Badisco, Fontanelle, Serra Alimini, Frassanito, Conca Specchiulla are some of the seaside resorts most loved by tourists with various stopping possibilities for those traveling by camper.
We would like to point out the coast road from Otranto towards Alimini: near the Lido Balnearea and Lido Due Mori you will have numerous possibilities to stop a few steps from the sea.
3 day
The tour on board your SmartVan continues from Alimini towards Santa Maria Leuca. We leave the chosen camper stop area to immerse ourselves in the sea of Santa Cesarea Terme and Castro Marina, two places that are definitely worth a visit.
Santa Cesarea Terme is a small town that rises above the sea. The village is full of prestigious Art Nouveau villas built in the late nineteenth century. The town is known for its thermal waters with salt-iodine and sulphurous properties. In Castro, one of the most characteristic ports of Salento, you can visit the Zinzulusa Cave, both by sea with organized boat trips, and via a pedestrian path.
Our journey to discover the Salento continues in the direction of Santa Maria di Leuca - “De finibus terrae” - where, according to popular belief, the Mare Adriatic and the Mar Ionian meet.
Duration of the route: about 60 km
4th day
We leave the East coast to head along the Ionian Sea towards Gallipoli. The Beautiful City (meaning of its name in Greek) rises on the sea. The ancient village, located on an island, is surrounded by walls and bastions. Gallipoli is famous for its beaches with clear waters, populated by lidos and seaside parties.
The Ionian coast will amaze you with the quality of the Caribbean colored sea and breathtaking sunsets. Do not miss the beach of Punta Prosciutto: the small size of the SmartVan will allow you to travel along the coast road to the pine forest. Walk through the pine forest and enjoy the crystal clear sea of one of the most beautiful beaches in Puglia.
Duration of the route: about 110 km
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