Salento, the, “heel,” of the boot that is Italy is a stunning coastal area of Apulia that is an exceptionally beautiful part of the world. Here you will find a landscape that is dotted with incredible beaches featuring impressive and scenic rock formations and bluer than blue waters, stunning ruins and historic buildings perched picturesquely on hilltops, peaceful lakes that make for the perfect place for relaxing and enjoying picnics, meadows blanketed with colourful wildflowers in National Parks, and some uniquely charming and unusual natural attractions. If you are looking to surround yourself with the most breathtaking of landscapes that you could possibly imagine, then browsing our villas in Salento and our villas in Apulia is a great idea as it makes for a truly incredible and picturesque vacation destination.
Among all of the wonderful beaches in Salento, all of the nice places to go for a swim, all of the scenic spots to take in the majestic beauty of this part of the world, and all of the astounding natural attractions of the region, however, one of the most spectacular of all is the Grotta della Poesia, meaning the Cave of Poetry. This circular-shaped cave and naturally-occurring swimming pool is located on the Adriatic Coast, in the Rocca Vecchia area between San Foca and Torre dell’Orso. Torre dell'Orso itself boasts a perfect white sandy beach with azure waters, evocative rock formations as a backdrop and excellent facilities and the area of Rocca Vecchia is a rocky part of the Salento coastline that is made up of a series of coves, beaches, underwater canals, grottos, caves, and swimming holes but the Grotta della Poesia is the most beautiful of all among them.
Listed among National Geographic's 10 Most Beautiful Natural Pools in the World, the Grotta della Poesia, like the many other historical and archaeological sites in the area of Rocca Vecchia, is steeped in local myth. In fact, its very name comes from the legend that this perfectly scenic spot was once the favoured swimming location of an ancient princess and that the sight of the stunning young woman enjoying the waters was so inspiring that poets who caught a glimpse of her went on to create great literary works. Today, the pool is so arrestingly lovely that it continues to inspire photographers and travellers, looking to capture its beauty to take away with them and share with others. Looking at an image of it certainly makes viewers ache to be immediately there and to see it for themselves. Of further interest to those with fondness for history who are visiting the Grotta della Poesia are the inscriptions on the walls of Messapic origin, which indicate that the cave was originally the seat of worship of the god Taodor, the only known Messapic god.
Hewn from the light karst cove over thousands of years by the sea, this amazing swimming pool of impossibly rich azure water was created by Mother Nature when the roof of the cave fell in, opening it to the sun and allowing access from above. It is a beloved spot that attracts both those who want to actually swim in the water and those who just want to lay their eyes on it and take it in. During summer months, it is full of crowds who come to sunbathe in the scenic setting, who descend the rock-hewn staircase down the four metres to the pool to go for a dip, the thrill-seekers who show off and dive into the water, and the crowd of spectators who live vicariously through them and enjoy the show. If you want to enjoy this communal energy and take part in the excitement – whether you are actually joining in on the adrenaline rush or merely egging others on from a safe distance – then you should head to the pool after noon.
Those who would prefer to enjoy the majesty of the Grotta della Poesia more peacefully should plan a visit before 10am during the busy summer months, come towards sunset to soak up the enhanced charm of the spot with other romantics, or head over there during the late spring/early summer or early autumn instead. The crowds reach their peak in August and in the months of June and September you'll find the best intersection of pleasant weather and smaller numbers of visitors. If you're travelling with kids, it is an especially nice swimming spot as there are no currents to worry about, it is not overly deep, and it is easy to keep an eye on those in the water. Do remember to wear shoes with a decent sole, if you are planning a visit, however, as the rocky surface can be painful on the feet!
So, if you are in this stunning part of Italy and you have found a villa in Salento, be sure to plan a trip to the utterly gorgeous Grotta della Poesia.
Listed among National Geographic's 10 Most Beautiful Natural Pools in the World, the Grotta della Poesia, like the many other historical and archaeological sites in the area of Rocca Vecchia, is steeped in local myth. In fact, its very name comes from the legend that this perfectly scenic spot was once the favoured swimming location of an ancient princess and that the sight of the stunning young woman enjoying the waters was so inspiring that poets who caught a glimpse of her went on to create great literary works. Today, the pool is so arrestingly lovely that it continues to inspire photographers and travellers, looking to capture its beauty to take away with them and share with others. Looking at an image of it certainly makes viewers ache to be immediately there and to see it for themselves. Of further interest to those with fondness for history who are visiting the Grotta della Poesia are the inscriptions on the walls of Messapic origin, which indicate that the cave was originally the seat of worship of the god Taodor, the only known Messapic god.
Hewn from the light karst cove over thousands of years by the sea, this amazing swimming pool of impossibly rich azure water was created by Mother Nature when the roof of the cave fell in, opening it to the sun and allowing access from above. It is a beloved spot that attracts both those who want to actually swim in the water and those who just want to lay their eyes on it and take it in. During summer months, it is full of crowds who come to sunbathe in the scenic setting, who descend the rock-hewn staircase down the four metres to the pool to go for a dip, the thrill-seekers who show off and dive into the water, and the crowd of spectators who live vicariously through them and enjoy the show. If you want to enjoy this communal energy and take part in the excitement – whether you are actually joining in on the adrenaline rush or merely egging others on from a safe distance – then you should head to the pool after noon.
Those who would prefer to enjoy the majesty of the Grotta della Poesia more peacefully should plan a visit before 10am during the busy summer months, come towards sunset to soak up the enhanced charm of the spot with other romantics, or head over there during the late spring/early summer or early autumn instead. The crowds reach their peak in August and in the months of June and September you'll find the best intersection of pleasant weather and smaller numbers of visitors. If you're travelling with kids, it is an especially nice swimming spot as there are no currents to worry about, it is not overly deep, and it is easy to keep an eye on those in the water. Do remember to wear shoes with a decent sole, if you are planning a visit, however, as the rocky surface can be painful on the feet!
So, if you are in this stunning part of Italy and you have found a villa in Salento, be sure to plan a trip to the utterly gorgeous Grotta della Poesia.