Oasi del Camperista

It’s likely you’ve come along here for the coast, so first ports of call should certainly be along the shoreline, starting with the scenic beach at Torre Sant’Andrea – the intriguing rock formations are 10 minutes’ walk away. The gorgeous waters, beach bar and lounge area of I Caraibi del Salento are five minutes’ drive away, or you might like to take the 15-minute drive to Baia dei Turchi for a more remote sandy stretch. It’s not quite all about the sea, though – mix up your watery views with a trip to the clifftop pool Grotta della Poesia (five minutes’ drive) or an outing to the peaceful Alimini Lakes (15 minutes) for picnics or canoeing. There’s a lot of historical interest around here too if you’d like to throw in something quite different: check out the prehistoric carvings at the Archaeological Area of Roca Vecchia (five minutes) or explore Castle Acaya (half an hour), surrounded by a walled village. Meanwhile, Riserva Naturale Le Cesine (25 minutes) is the place to go for a bit of wildlife spotting.