What hotels in San Foca have nice views? Adriatic coast of Salento Torre del Orso beach in Melendugno
Let's start our journey with the coastal towns of Melendugno: San Foca, Roca Vecchia, Torre del Orso and Sant'Andrea, each of which is interesting in its own way.
San Foca
In San Foc is the famous “Cave of Lovers”, according to legend, named after two lovers who took refuge in it from the cold wind of the Tramontana.
The shores here are rocky and rugged, but there are two sandy bays. In the one to the north, there are several sea rocks of interesting shapes, for example, a “figure eight”, similar to this figure, lying horizontally. San Foca, apparently named after the tower of the same name, which now houses the port administration, is a typical fishing town. From above there is an excellent panorama of its port, even more picturesque in good weather, when the silhouettes of the Albanian mountains are visible on the horizon, which are 72 nautical miles away in a straight line.
Torre del Orso
Clean beaches are washed by a clear sea, the climate is mild, and there is a light breeze. The city is surrounded by a pine grove. Numerous tourists come to Torre del Orso every year to spend their well-deserved vacation.
Torre del Orso was once the port of the ancient city-sanctuary of the Rock. The ships of seafarers arriving from the other side of the Adriatic Sea entered it: Virgil mentions this route in the Aeneid. To the south of the reef strip is the cave of St. Christopher, in which graffiti in Greek and Latin was discovered. Basically these are prayers and requests for a happy outcome of the sea voyage. Even further south, next to the beach, two rocks rise into the sea, called the “Two Sisters”. According to legend, two sisters once dived into the sea from a cliff during a storm and were unable to get back to shore. Then the gods turned them into two sea rocks so that they could forever enjoy the beauty of the sea.
Torre Sant'Andrea
Here the waves gave the coastal cliffs very bizarre shapes
In Torre Sant'Andrea, the rocky shores are rugged, and there are often secluded coves and grottoes. The town is named after the tower where the lighthouse is now located - it is simply impossible not to notice this structure towering over the small port. The town is loved by tourists because of its clear sea and magnificent nature. During the summer months, local bars and clubs become the center of social life on this part of the Adriatic coast.
Torre del Serpe
A few kilometers south of Otranto stands a lonely, dilapidated watchtower, the Torre del Serpe (“Tower of the Snake”), one of many along the Salento coast. Once upon a time, they watched the sea from it, so as not to miss the raid of the Saracens.
Its name is associated with an ancient legend, which gives this place a mystery and a peculiar charm. It is believed that the tower originally appeared in the era of Ancient Rome and then served as a lighthouse. But if the caretaker fell asleep at night, a snake swam out of the sea, crawled to the top and drank the valuable oil that fed the lamp wick. The lantern went out, and the satisfied and well-fed snake returned to the depths of the sea. It is also said that one night the Saracens, who had sailed from Turkey, sailed along the coast of Salento in search of plunder. Fortunately, it was that night that the snake drank all the oil again, the lighthouse went out, and the Turks passed Otranto without noticing it, finding themselves immediately in Brindisi. In honor of the miraculous rescue, the snake migrated to the city’s coat of arms, where it is depicted entwined around the tower. However, later, in 1480, the Turks still plundered Otranto, killing 800 of its inhabitants.
Porto Badisko
Continuing your journey to the south, it is worth stopping at Porto Badisco and swimming in its cozy bay.
In summer it is especially beautiful here: flowering gorse bushes seem to cover the shores of the bay with a yellow cloak, reflected in the clear water of the blue-green sea. Try the local delicacy - sea urchins, sold on the street or in one of the trattorias in this pretty town.
According to Virgil, Aeneas first touched the shores of Italy here after fleeing Troy with his father and brother. Between the mythological caves and the wild rocky coast lies the Grotta dei Cervi (“Deer Grotto”), one of the largest prehistoric sites in Europe. Its stalactites and stalagmites were observed by our ancestors about four thousand years ago. The walls of the cave, which is now closed to the public, are covered with drawings of archers, women, children, deer, dogs, and utensils (vessels, wineskins).
Grotta della Zinzulusa
Just seven kilometers from Porto Badisco is Castro Marina, the last of the blue flag resorts on the Adriatic coast. Here, too, the coast is covered with rocks, in which there are picturesque sea caves. The most famous of them is called “Grotta della Zinzuluza”.
One of the most beautiful legends of the Salento coast is associated with this cave. Once upon a time, all of Castro and the surrounding lands were ruled by an evil baron, whose wife died from deprivation, and whose daughter lived in great need and dressed in rags. One day, the good fairy decided to restore justice and threw the baron into a deep cave in the rocks by the sea. Where the baron fell underground, waters erupted from the underworld, forming a lake. His daughter threw away her rags, which turned into stones on the walls of the cave, and happily married the prince. The shrimp that lived in the cave and witnessed these dramatic events became forever blind from horror.
Why is the cave called “Dzinzuluza”? In the local dialect, "dzinzuli" means rags that resemble lime deposits on walls and ceilings. The lake is called “Cochito”, and it is actually home to shrimp (Typhlocaris salentino), blind, colorless creatures about 7 cm in length.
The catalog contains 61 hotels in San Foca of various price categories: it is possible to book rooms in both inexpensive hotels in San Foca and premium hotels. Prices for hotel rooms depend on the level of comfort and location of the hotel, proximity to popular attractions in San Foca. Hotel booking is a service from Hotels that has given thousands of vacationers savings on room fees and an unforgettable vacation in the best cities in the world! If you are looking for a good hotel at a low price, we recommend taking a closer look at the inexpensive hotels in San Foca.How to book a hotel in San Foque?
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The village of San Foca is located 25 kilometers from Lecce, near the small town of Melendugno, which grew out of a fishing village. The local beach is a long and narrow strip of sand, divided into two parts by a small port. These parts have different names: the beach of Degli Aranci (la spiaggia degli Aranci) and the beach of Briganti. Both are ideal for youth holidays and for families with children.
The entrance to the sea is very smooth, the sand is fine and clean, the air is fresh and saturated with salt, and the sea is unusually transparent and has several color shades.
The beach is equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay, and is easy to reach. Near the beach there are pleasant restaurants and cafes with local cuisine, and nearby there is a 16th-century tower and the “cave of lovers”.
Torre Chianca beach Porto Cesareo
Torre Chianca Porto Cesareo beach is located near the seaside district of Torre Lapillo, a former fishing village built around a 16th-century coastal tower erected at the behest of Charles V to protect against Saracen invasions.
This is a beautiful beach with soft white sand and a long coastline that has some rocky areas and is fringed by dunes and dense bushland. The sea in this area is very beautiful, turquoise in color, with clean and very clear water. The bottom is sandy and flat.
The sea near the beach is not very deep; in some places there are several shallows. Many areas of the coast are free, others are equipped with sun loungers, umbrellas and offer a wide range of tourist services. The beach is often crowded during the high season (late July - August).
Torre del Orso beach in Melendugno
Torre del Orso beach in Melendugno is a favorite beach of locals. This is a long beach with soft white sand, but there are also rocky sections of the coastline, with numerous grottoes and gorges.
The beach is located between two cliffs and is bordered by low dunes with delightful green pine groves, through which the Brunese stream runs. This beautiful coastline has a crescent shape and is about 1 kilometer long.
Torre del Orso beach is very popular with surfers, especially on windy days.
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