Without doubt, Salento's 250 km of coastline is of great importance to the area, not only in terms of tourism.
It's beauty comparable to that of Sardinia and Greece.

The beaches line the Mediterranean (from the Torre dell'Orso to Otranto), roll sensually along, and support a host of jet-setters (who prefer Porto Cesareo, Gallipoli, Otranto and Torre dell'Orso).

The quiet little coves and bays of Specchiulla, baia dei Turchi, Porto Badisco, Sant'Emiliano, Porto Selvaggio and Bagni Selvaggi are sheer magic.
Visitors who don't want to look far and wide for an secluded beach could do much worse than S. Cataldo, just 13 km from Lecce. Known as the beach in Lecce, it is also the site of an antique Roman port, the Porto Adriano.

Following along the seemingly endless shore, hikers will come to Torre dell'Orso, heralded by the sight of a huge cliff which plummets to the sea. Torre dell'Orso is a tourist center, well-organized and equipped with bathing facilities, restaurants and hotels.

Nearby, to the east, is Otranto. Sights to see are the stupendous cathedral built in 1080, the Castello with its Torre Alfonsina, and the ruins of the celebrated Abbazia di S. Nicola di Casole, founded in 900 AD. The impressive bay, Porto Badisco, mentioned in the Aeneid , is close by. Also in the immediate area are the thermal baths of S. Cesarea Terme as well as the Zinzulusa and the Romanelli grotto (with ancient murals).
The charming little village of Castro provides a worthy excursion, with its starkly Medieval imprint best exemplified by the castle and former 12th-century cathedral.
A road atop a peak rising from the sea leads to the gleaming Leuca on the Ristola peak.

click on the "barocco leccese"
discovering Lecce and Salento