The Puglia coasts are beautiful to be walked all year round and some have asked us to organise their January holiday, but many facilities at this time of the year are “resting ” after the hard work in the warm season … what a pity!
In March the nature wakes up and in April many villages are dedicated to the events for the Holy Week and various celebrations dedicated to the Virgin Mary, as the Annunziata of Castro from 24 to 26 of April with spectacular fireworks from the sea.
In May you will fill your bags of delicious seasonal fruits purchased from vans along the roads and Otranto will host a procession that, as every year, starts from the Hill of Martyrs to arrive to Porta Terra in honour of San Francesco, who tried in vain to alert the duke Alfonso of Aragon on the ongoing massacre of August 1480.
In June, the days seem endless and the sea is a dream … in September the summer hustle and bustle decreases but not festive occasions: enchanting processions on the sea in Santa Cesarea and Otranto. On the contrary if you prefer a total peaceful holiday and early mornings wake up, choosing to leave in autumn could be an excellent solution. You are in the most eastern coast of Italy, where the sun rises first.
Self guided 
Walking
Wonder Puglia: walking the Southeast Coast
Salento - PugliaDifficulty path:Highlights
Walk along wonderful Puglia coast trails: Otranto and its cathedral, Punta Palascia and its lighthouse, Cippano and its ruins, Tricase and its castle … and then the sea, the beautiful sea of this corner of Italy. Until you finally reach Leuca, following a stretch of Via Francigena just like pilgrims and crusaders from Rome or the rest of Europe did on their way to Jerusalem, and once you have arrived, you will let yourself be enchanted by its white splendor.
A week to be taken by the sweetest sea winds and enchanted by the warm colours of this land.
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Walk in the beautiful Baroque of Lecce
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Dolmens and Menhirs, evidence of an ancient past
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Otranto and the Tree of Life
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The marvels of the coast from Otranto to Leuca
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The last stretch of the Via Francigena, an ancient path for pilgrims and crusaders
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The whiteness of the Finibus Terrae, Santa Maria di Leuca
Program
Lecce
“Perhaps you know that the Florence of the Baroque is a nice city, the affable spoken, home to a baroque style that is similar to a Spanish city. And maybe you do not know more.” from Cesare Brandi, art critic and historian.
Welcome to Lecce, a city that will surprise with its peculiar Baroque style and the whiteness of its stones.
Walk from Lecce to Otranto
13km, +55m -130m
After breakfast a private transfer will take you to La Cutura Botanical Garden, with its amazing private collection of succulents from all five continents.
From here your Walking holiday in Puglia, Salento, will start.
Today’s itinerary evokes rituals and legends, myths and pagan cults related to the peoples who over the millennia have inhabited and traversed these lands.
Your walk brings you to magical places such as the great Massi della Vecchia, the incredible and remote Dolmen Stabile, and the Menhir of San Paolo. After the small town of Giurdignano you will reach Le Costantine Foundation, a farm that promotes social activities ranging from biodynamic agriculture to handicraft production of rare fabrics. From here it’s a few kilometres to the sea and Otranto, the southernmost city in the east of Italy.
Overnight in Otranto.
Walk from Otranto to Uggiano La Chiesa
14km, +160m -90m
After breakfast, look for the small Byzantine Basilica of San Pietro, completely frescoed, among the narrow streets, and compare it with the majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata. The Cathedral preserves one of the most important mosaics of Italy, the so-called “Tree of Life”, a symbolic work that collects, like an antique book, legends and symbols of medieval traditions.
Once you leave Otranto behind, you will walk along a wonderful coast. Immerse yourself in the beautiful unspoiled landscapes described by Maria Corti in her masterpiece “L’ora di tutti”. Admire the stunning lunar landscape offered by the Blue Lake; recall the past by spying on the ruins of the ancient Abbey of Casole, located on an ancient passageway and pilgrimage for crusaders and devotees to the Holy Land. You can reach the Palascìa lighthouse, the easternmost tip of Italy – from here, when the north wind blows hard and the sky clears up, the mountains of Albania become clearly visible (Albania’s shores are only about 70km from this part of the coast). So many emotions in a few kilometres walk, before you reach your accommodation near the village of Uggiano La Chiesa, where you will spend the night.
Walk from Uggiano to Santa Cesarea Terme
15km, +130m -180m
Today you will resume your walking along Puglia coast trails, in the Salento area, with the backdrop of the scenic Saracen Tower of Sant'Emiliano. Leaving it behind, you will proceed on a dirt road to Porto Badisco, a site inextricably linked to the Neolithic Grotta dei Cervi. Then you will come up the hill walking on the Via Appia Sallentina before taking a dirt path that follows the line of the coast. Here the blue of the sea and the blue of the sky sometimes get confused, making the white Balkan Mountains visible when the north wind blows.
And finally you will reach Santa Cesarea with its thermal baths, a place sacred to the Apulian actor and director Carmelo Bene, who filmed his dreamlike “Nostra Signora dei Turchi” here.
Overnight in Santa Cesarea Terme.
Walk from Santa Cesarea Terme to Castro/Vignacastrisi
8/10,5km, +130/210m -130m
After a leisurely breakfast with the background of the Moorish dome of Villa Sticchi, now a symbol of Santa Cesarea Terme, you can start again your journey south.
Today the stretch is short, almost all on dirt road and between the hills. Here the landscape changes constantly throughout the year, from the vernal green to the yellow of summer heat, always leaving space for welcome glimpses of the sea.
Once in Castro Alta you will have the time to reflect on the similarities between this village and Otranto, or to get involved by the latest sensational discoveries that have unearthed the remains of a Temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. Then you can go down along the coastal paths, to find refreshment in a rocky cove: one of the highlights of this Walking Holiday in southern Italy.
Walk from Castro to Tricase
15km, +180m -100m
Early in the morning you will continue for a short distance along the coast, and you will be captivated by the briny scent of its wild herbs. Then you can choose between a short, challenging and exciting trail on the rocks or an easier path to reach the beautiful inlet of Acquaviva, a small beach with a picturesque marina set in the rock. After a recommended and refreshing dip in the sea, you will go up the path until you reach the village of Andrano with its prestigious architectural complex of the Spinola-Caracciolo Castle. Then on a nice stretch of road to reach Tricase, another splendid pearl of Salento history: along the narrow streets of the old town you will feel yourself going back in time along with its beautiful buildings, first and foremost Palazzo Gallone.
Overnight in Tricase.
Walk to Santa Maria di Leuca
11km, +150m -40m
Last day of this week of walks along amazing Puglia coast trails.
After breakfast, a short private transfer will take you to Marina di Novaglie. From here you will take the Cipolliane path, walking along a breathtaking cliff overlooking the sea, with stunning views over the coastline, and rocky cliffs dotted with euphorbia and prickly pear ... very similar to the Path of Gods on the Amalfi coast! After the Ciolo Canyon, you will continue through fields, plants and flowers of the Mediterranean maquis to arrive in the small town of Gagliano del Capo. The last stretch on country roads runs along the end of the Via Francigena del Sud and will take you to the Sanctuary of Finibus Terrae in Santa Maria di Leuca. In the past many penitent pilgrims have gone so far, reaching the Sanctuary along "ways of forgiveness" that could also begin from France.
In the afternoon time for the beach or a boat trip discovering the sea caves along the coast of Leuca.
Overnight in Santa Maria di Leuca.
Leuca
Leuca, white light. You might have the chance to meet the local fishermen who will gladly tell you about the sea splitting in two, and lots more about this place, made of physical boundaries and endless sensations…
After breakfast end of services.
Tour programme variations
Due to organizational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday.
Along the way you may find temporary deviations (for example road works) which cannot be foreseen; in this case each walker can decide autonomously how to deal with these stretches.
What's included
Our offer includes
- 7 nights with breakfast in double room
- Welcome briefing
- Entrance at the Botanical Garden day 2
- Private transfers day 2 and 7
- Detailed route directions with maps
- Travel App (maps, tracks, route notes)
- Luggage transportation hotel to hotel
- Phone assistance 08:00-20:00
Not included
- Transfer IN and Transfer OUT
- Other meals and drinks
- Entrance fees and tips
- Hotel tourist taxes
- Insurance and what's not listed as “Included”
Departures and prices
Supplements per person
Other Information
The Puglia coastal tour is suitable for anyone with a minimum of training. The length of a walking day ranges from a minimum of 8 to a maximum of 15km, with almost undemanding unevenness and travel times between 2.5 and 4 hours.
The tour winds mainly through dirt paths and country lanes; rarely, and only when strictly necessary, on busy roads.
We recommend to wear comfortable walking shoes and to bring with you a hat, drinking water, sun cream, swimsuit and a waterproof jacket in case of rain.
The Standard tour offers accommodation in simple B&B and selected 3* hotels.
The Superior tour offers accommodation in charming B&B and 4* hotels.
All rooms are ensuite.
- 1 night in Lecce
- 1 night in Otranto
- 1 night in Uggiano la Chiesa
- 1 night in Santa Cesarea Terme
- 1 night in Castro/Vignacastrisi
- 1 night in Tricase
- 1 night in Leuca
In Uggiano, if available, accommodation in typical Masseria farmhouse.
7 breakfasts included.
The morning of the second day, after breakfast, you will have a Welcome briefing.
→ We will take care of your luggage while you are walking.
For the whole duration of your tour, you can contact our assistance numbers.
A few days before departure you will receive by email the Service List with instructions for using the Travel App.
During your Welcome briefing you will receive:
- Updated Service List;
- Ticket for the botanic garden;
- Luggage Labels;
- Detailed Route Description with maps.
Getting there
Lecce is easily reachable by car, train, bus and by air.
BY TRAIN. Trenitalia connects the main Italian cities with the capital of Salento. On www.viaggiatreno.it you can find update informations about train routes.
BY AIR. The closest airports are Bari and Brindisi, both connected with the most important Italian and foreign cities.
The Salento airport of Brindisi is about 40 km from Lecce, and the airport of Bari-Palese is about 160 km from Lecce. From Bari and Brindisi there are several public transport solutions to reach Lecce. More info on the website Aeroporti di Puglia.
BY BUS. Lecce is also accessible by bus. Here some of the major operating companies: Marinobus, Baltour & Flixbus, Busmiccolis, Sais autolinee, Buscenter.
BY CAR. The main highways are the A14 Bologna-Taranto and the A16 Napoli-Canosa. We recommend you exit the motorway in Bari and continue along the highway to Brindisi, then take the SS613 towards Lecce. maps.google.com can help you with the directions.
Back to Lecce
From Leuca, the last stop of the Salento trek, it is possible to reach Lecce using the train.
Gagliano is the closest station, reachable in 10/15 minutes by taxi from Leuca. The train ticket is cheap (from 5 to 6.50 €), the travel time is quite long: about 2h30min with a change in Zollino or Nardò. NB: the train rides are reduced during Sunday.
→ If you prefer to travel in total comfort, you can book a private transfer on the days of arrival and departure.
Ask for a quote
Travel tips
When do you fancy leaving?
Why choose this Walking Holiday in Italy?
Because you will walk in the more true southern Puglia to discover art, customs and the most unspoiled nature: the baroque Lecce will enchant you, the cliffs and coastline will take your breath away, and the endless sea, the woods and the countryside will capture you indelibly. You will also walk the ancient routes of pilgrims who came to Puglia to embark from Otranto or Leuca for the Holy Land, such as the Via Francigena of the South and the Via Sallentina, historic paths that will take you for a walk in time.
If you fancy stunning coastal walks, look at our tour along the Amalfi coast.
Comfortable and cheap
Traveling with us you will have the convenience of following safe routes especially designed from us, of taking with you only the minimum required every day and finding your luggage at the next hotel, of knowing that for every little emergency or any discomfort we will always be ready to answer through a phone number dedicated to you. You will know also that our packages have the right price, in the respect of those who travel with us and who work to offer the best.
Local specialties
Puglia enchants with its uniqueness such as the lovely “zeppole” typical of Lecce and surroundings and only available in March in honour of San Giuseppe. If you choose this tour for Easter holidays 2024 your lunch bags will be completed by Easter specialties such as “Quaresimali“, special biscuits made with almonds, sugar, flour, eggs, or the aromatic almond paste in its various forms.
In our blog you can find easy recipes for a typical menu from Salento, Puglia.
Better than “All inclusive”
All done for you! Our packages generally include just enough to make your holiday safe and serene, and the bare minimum to make you feel free to choose where to stop and when to walk again, where and what to eat. We give you all the information for this, for a holiday “flavoured” all inclusive, but leaving the choice to you.
