Vacations in Torre Suda, between boat routes and resorts where you can relax (and eat well)

We have been to and around Torre Suda and have decreed it one of the most strategic destinations in Salento. In fact, unlike other more crowded locations, Torre Suda is saved from the hustle and bustle of the movida, but it is very close to all the attractions and activities you might want. In fact, it is located a few kilometers from Gallipoli and is very close to Punta della Suina, one of the most popular beaches in Salento, with fine sand and crystal clear water.

Then, it is minutes from Torre Vado, but also not far from Santa Maria di Leuca, the southernmost tip of Salento, with its sea caves and famous lighthouse, a must-see destination for boat trips. Not only that. We also like it because it retains a more authentic and less touristy atmosphere than other places. In short, one really feels catapulted into the arms of true Salento hospitality.

The highlight, the boat excursions

In Torre Suda, you enjoy the sea. That is why it is highly recommended to book boat excursions with lunch or aperitif included. We left from Torre Vado and were at sea about 4 hours.

Just outside the harbor, skirting along, you can see small coves where the water is particularly cool and clear because of freshwater springs emerging from the seabed. They are a great spot for a refreshing first dip if you so desire, although the best is yet to come.

At some point, the landscape changes as the coast begins to show its true character, gradually becoming more rocky and jagged, heralding the wonders of the caves. The coast rises and opens into a succession of sea cavities of extraordinary beauty. Sailing here is a succession of discoveries.

Past the small stretch of mixed sand and rock coastline of Felloniche, the cliffs become high and sheer, marking the beginning of the most spectacular caves.

We point out some of them: the Dragon Cave, named after a rock formation that, with a little imagination, resembles the head of a dragon. You can enter by small boats. The Cave of the Crib, one of the most impressive, with stalactite and stalagmite formations creating an environment reminiscent of the Nativity scene. The Cave of the Giants,which isassociated with local legends of mythological creatures. Very popular is the Cave of the Three Doors, with three openings that unite into one large interior cavity. The water inside is a deep emerald color, with plays of light are spectacular.

Our favorite is the Lovers’ Cave: you get there by swimming and it is a small, almost hidden cavity where warm and cold water alternate until you reach an inner, semi-submerged beach that allows you to get up and walk inside. The water is incredibly clear and takes on shades of green and deep blue.

The walls have natural colors ranging from pink to green to the brown of the limestone rocks, and the light filtering through the entrance creates shadow play that dances across the water and walls, making the environment almost ethereal. Legend has it that once inside, looking outward through the entrance, the top two curves of the entrance slot form the outline of a heart.
If it is seen, the expressed wish comes true.

From there we then headed to Punta Ristola, the most extreme point of Salento, where the rocky coastline rises majestically. Here one has the feeling of witnessing the meeting of the waters of the Ionian Sea with those of the Adriatic, although scientifically the dividing line is further south. And here, on the cliff, is the imposing Leuca lighthouse, one of the tallest in Italy and a symbol of the resort. Time to take another swim and enjoy lunch or an aperitif before slowly heading back home.

Relaxation at the Pine Garden, an oasis of peace

Hosting us, is the boutique hotel Pine Garden of The Begin Hotels in Marina di Alliste, in the locality of Posto Rosso (LE). We couldn’t ask for better: a green oasis nestled in the Salento countryside, an ideal starting point for exploring Salento. The architecture is what you expect to find in Puglia (and it has to be, in our opinion). Natural colors, local materials, Mediterranean style, with a large garden with mature trees, green spaces, a large pool and areas to relax in nature.

The Pine Garden is green, it is fresh, it is spacious. And modern at the same time. There are only 39 suites and rooms. In the early 1900s it was a farmhouse, which has now been restored and brought to its former glory. From a single original building, a diffuse boutique hotel was born, designed to tell the story of the place with a refined style consistent with the philosophy of The Begin Hotels: to enhance local identity through an elegant and never conventional aesthetic.

The spa is an intimate place of stillness. Here, time stands still between treatments, and the wellness journey that begins with the large whirlpool with chromotherapy, continues in the Turkish bath, the Kneipp path, the flotation tank, and ends in the relaxation area, where the scent of herbal teas mingles with the warm light of candles.

Nota bene: The food is great. AtAmaranta Restaurant, nestled in the green surroundings of the location, the menu is a sensory experience that carefully mixes tradition and innovation without ever being predictable. The theme evenings-we attended the one dedicated to pizzica and Taranta-are not to be missed: buffets of Salento specialties, music and entertainment in the resort’s small square used for parties, as if it were a small village hamlet. And if you had an encore of orecchiette, well, you can book the cooking class to learn how to make them!