On this journey you walk 70.6 km over 6 days (an average of 11.7 km per day). The walks mostly follow rocky coastal footpaths, sometimes through low vegetation/bushes, mule tracks and footpaths and a few sections of secondary surfaced roads as you enter the villages/towns. Though the distances and elevation is not much, we have graded the route as moderate because the terrain is rocky and the trail not always obviously visible.
Start: Otranto Finish: Lecce
As soon as you get settled in your accommodation, step outside and breathe in the incredibly fresh, crisp air of the Mediterranean Sea. In the afternoon you can visit the historic centre, and in the evening, let all your senses be delighted as you prepare for your phenomenal walking adventure ahead.
Today's walk is a good warm-up hike, it takes you to discover the small Idro valley, that gives Otranto (Hidruntum) its name. The Idro river spring is about 5km from Otranto, in a location called Monte S. Angelo; the land you will be walking in is very fertile, with orchards, olive trees, oranges and a variety of vegetables. You begin the hike on the orographic left side of the river, upstream, cut into the olive tree's fields and pass by the S. Angelo rock church, then descend along the right side of the stream, back to the Otranto, known as the "Pearl of the Orient".
Challenge: 2 hours, 7.5 km, 96m ascent, 96m descent
Walking through the maze of the narrow alleys of the old town you reach the new port. Here a flat, gravel coastal path contours around a series of coves. You pass by several WWII bunkers and you can make a short detour to an interesting "bauxite lake", going slightly inland. Following the coast you have several "beach stop", with crystal clear waters. You continue along the coast towards the clearly visible Punta Palascia Lighthouse. At some points the knee high Mediterranean vegetation becomes thick and you need to find your way, but as long as you have the lighthouse in front and the sea on your left you are on the right track! On clear days you can see the Albanian mountains across the Adriatic Sea. Punta Palascìa lighthouse is the easternmost point of Italy and 71km away from Albania.
Challenge: 5 hours, 12.5 km, 270m ascent, 240m descent
The first stop of today's walk is the beautiful inlet of Porto Badisco, just before the local bar/newsagent/supermarket where they make great coffee and sandwiches for today’s picnic. Continue contouring the coast following a shepard's path where you will see the typical "pagliari", round, flat topped, dry stone building where the shepherds used to sleep. After 6km you leave the coast, climbing up to the inland plateau. Here you follow narrow paths through the fields. At 8,5 km there is a good pic-nic spot in a little pine tree forest that offers great shade on sunny days. The last section is on a surfaced road, descending to the Spa town of Santa Cesarea Terme. Here there are great swimming spots.
Challenge: 4 hours, 13 km, 200m ascent, 170m descent
A Leave Santa Cesarea, climbing uphill on the surfaced road until you reach an old gravel/grass dry-stone walled road. Staying inland follow narrow paths through the fields until the Ancient Messapian town of Castro, with its imposing high walls. Spend some time exploring the old town and maybe having lunch before descending to the port where you can go swimming. Continue along the coast on a uneven, rocky trail to the Acquaviva cove. A beautiful hidden inlet and a fantastic swimming spot where a fresh water spring comes out at sea level, a. The last part of the path climbs up the thickly forested Acquaviva valley towards Marittima
Challenge: 4.5 hours, 11.5 km, 309m ascent, 245m descent
After buying a good sandwich in Marittima you initially follow a surfaced road that winds it’s way through orchards of immense olive trees. You then see the first of several traditional "tratturi", a system of ancient roads and footpaths used by the locals to go down to the sea or to connect villages and orchards. Each stone tells the story of a hard peasant life The sea is in front of you when you descend to Tricase Porto, where you can taste a good "caffè in ghiaccio" (iced coffee) and go for a swim. From here you have some asphalt to today’s final destination: Marina Serra a small coastal hamlet with great swimming spots.
Challenge: 4.5 hours, 13.5 km, 310m ascent, 370m descent
The last day’s walk starts with a short uphill trail called "enemy's path", Sentiero del Nemico: the ideal place to lay an ambush to unexpected visitors in the old times... After some asphalt on the costal road the walk goes back inland on more ancient "tratturi", finally reaching Novaglie, a nice rocky beach stop. Here starts the breath-taking "Cipolliane path", named after the caves you can visit along the way, that leads you to the Ciolo bridge, the last great swimming spot on this trip. From the tiny Ciolo cove, you walk up the Ciolo valley to Gagliano del Capo where you take the train to Lecce for your last night in the beautiful Baroque city.
Challenge: 5 hours, 12.5 km, 530m ascent, 380m descent
The trip and our services end after breakfast and depart for the airport with public transport unless you have pre-booked a private transfer with us.
Selected 2 and 3* hotels are used in the larger towns, while in the villages and countryside we use cosy, friendly ‘agriturismo’ (farmhouses) and B&B.
In all the accommodations, the rooms have private bathrooms and a good Italian breakfast is included each morning.
The trip is on Bed and breakfast basis because throughout the trip there are plenty of opportunities to taste both the outstanding local cuisine and a wide array of prestigious regional wines. Dinner is only included in Porto Badisco and Marina Serra, because there are no alternative options available in the immediate surroundings.
Alternative accommodation
During high season it is possible that you might sleep in different accommodation to the ones that are indicated in the description. In some cases it is possible that your list of accommodation differs slightly. This means that start or end of the routes are slightly altered. Therefore you should check to see if your accommodation is the same as that mentioned in the programme. If not, you must be alert at the start and end of the routes.
In choosing alternative accommodation we have tried to maintain the same standards and quality. We have also tried to stay in the same towns and villages, in order to change routes as little as possible but this might not always be possible.
Hotel San Giuseppe is set in a 16th-century farmhouse typical of the Puglia region and it's a well-finished and relaxed location in Otranto's historic center just a few steps from the sea. Rooms are well-furnished and beautifully decorated with air conditioning/heating, TV, free Wifi. Quality breakfast is rich. Staff is helpful and courteous.
Masseria Panareo is surrounding by olive trees overlooking the sea. Rooms are furnished in rustic style and at the same time are elegant, well-finished and spacious with free Wifi, telephone, TV. The structure has an external swimming pool and a restaurant with a view on the sea that proposes regional and Italian dishes, made with fresh, local ingredients. Breakfast is very good with fresh products.
Grand Hotel Mediterraneo offers beautiful views of the coast of Salento, from its terrace and some of the rooms. Rooms are basic and funtional with TV, air conditioning, free Wifi, telephone with direct line. Breakfast buffet is good and it is served on the terrace with sea view.
B&B Palazzo Vecchio is an historic castle renovated situated in the historic center of the city and just 10 minutes from the beach and 2 km from Adriatic Sea. The environment is relaxed with external swimming pool and it offers rustic style rooms with air conditioning, TV, free Wifi. Breakfast is served in the courtyard.
This B&B is just 3 minutes by walk from beach of Marina Serra. Rooms are spacious and furnished in a simple way overlooking the garden and have free Wifi and TV. Breakfast is served together at the other guests.
Four star hotel located in the centre of Lecce. Set in a building renowned as one of the most interesting examples of Twentieth century Leccese architecture, the Grand Hotel di Lecce is a hotel in which old world charm perfectly complements the most modern solution.
You can start on any day of the week, subject to availability, between March 20th and July 26th, and between September 1st and October 31st
Arrival in Otranto
If you land in Brindisi, you have several alternatives:
If you land in Bari, you need to reach Bari Centrale train station by either train or bus. From there, you catch a train to Lecce, and then a direct bus to Otranto.
Departure from Lecce
On departure, you can take a train from Lecce to either Brindisi or Bari train station and then a bus to the relative airport.
GPS tracks are available on request
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