From Gallipoli direct the prow northwards; the wind at the back will push the boat ahead to make good speed. A rocky coast begins to rise to the left, sheltering inlets with pristine stretches of sand. This is the characteristic landscape of the lower Salento, where it is advised to sail about two miles from the coast to avoid running aground in the shallows. Santa Maria al Bagno with its crystal clear waters is well worth a visit and holds many surprises for the traveller. Porto Selvaggio is a must-see to get a little closer to the coast; it is the first of a series of stops until reaching Sant’Isidoro and Porto Cesareo. Porto Cesareo is an example of this karstic landscape rich in fresh-water springs: here where the Lapillo tower overlooks two spring-fed lakes known as the Spunnullate the air is always coolly refreshing, even in August. From here, head towards Campomarino and then on to Punta Prosciutto, just steps away from the celebrated beach Lido di Fata Morgana, near the exquisite town of San Pietro in Bevagna. This stretch of coast features captivating high natural sand dunes held in place by Maquis shrubland. From here Capo San Vito can be seen on the horizon, marking the Mar Grande of Taranto, commercial and touristic port and the last stop on the journey.
Type
Sailing boat
Period:
April - May - June - July - August - September
Not to be missed:
The resort towns of Gallipoli and Porto Selvaggio, the Marine Refuge of Porto Cesareo and San Pietro in Bevagna are definitely worth a visit, as is the city of Taranto overlooking the gulf of the same name and featuring a wealth of archaeological remains dating to the Greco-Roman period.
Useful informations
Porto Cesareo features an excellent landing because it is equipped with a large bay and well-marked in pilot books; guiding buoys assist in a precise and safe landing; be sure to take account of the guiding jigs on the ground. There are 300 spaces for boats of up to 10 metres in length. Depth varies from 1 – 2.5 metres; the seabed is sand and rock. The marina is well-organised with a 10-ton crane and offers services such as showers and water supply. Campomarino is a fisherman’s port that can accommodate 300 boats up to 20 metres in length with cranes lifting up to 30 tons. However the seabed here is rather tricky, ranging from 1.5 – 4 metres in depth; entering the port here must be undertaken with great caution. When arriving in Taranto from the southeast, it is important to remember to leave Capo San Vito straight one mile from the coast with the prow in the direction of the island of San Paolo and the San Vito beacon at a 90° angle to remain starboard while passing through the San Vito seawall and the seawall of the island of San Paolo. Travelers coming from the west or northwest must coast the Island of San Paolo staying at a distance of a mile and half, then let down the West cardinal buoy starboard which indicates shallows. Landings in Taranto, ‘the city of two seas’, are easily and clearly marked in pilot books; they feature all kinds of services appropriate for a well-organized city with a long history of sea-faring.
Sources: Claudio Santoliquido Updated on: 09/08/2011
Project created in collaboration with InnovaPuglia.
Regione Puglia
Regione Puglia