Apulia, the heel of Italy’s, “boot,” is a southern region that has long been a tourism hot-spot for Italians and is increasingly more and more beloved among international visitors. In particular, its truly remarkable coastline, dotted by iconic beaches, breath-taking towering cliffs, striking rock formations, and unique swimming spots, makes a villa in Apulia a must for those dreaming of a perfect seaside escape. From the pretty little beach right in the middle of the town of Polignano a Mare, hugged on both sides by the tall cliffs for which the area is famous, to the dreamy 8km-long stretch of golden sand and turquoise waters that is Marina di Pescoluse, there are so many beautiful places to go and swim in the perfect waters and admire the scenery of this part of the world. One of the most picturesque, however, has to be the aptly named Grotta della Poesia, or Cave of Poetry...
This beloved natural wonder is located in the Roca site, between the cities of Lecce and Otranto, and is considered one of the most beautiful natural swimming pools in the entire world. Not far from other natural wonders along the coastline such as Two Sister Beach and the Sea Stacks in Sant’Andrea, the Grotta della Poesia is representative of how remarkable and utterly awe-inspiring this stretch of the coast is. For those who want to seek out the most unique and lovely parts of the coastline of Apulia when they are on holidays, for those who love natural wonders, and for those who are after a bit of romance in their lives, this is the place to go on holiday in Apulia.
Located within a complex of other caves of great archaeological and historic value and importance, the Grotta della Poesia is an elliptical-shaped natural pool that was reached by intrepid swimmers who braved the 5m dive into the beautiful blue waters for many years (there are lower areas that people used to access the waters but part of the appeal was people egging each other on and applauding bold dives into the pool). There are various theories about the origins of the rather romantic name, from it having supposedly been a meeting spot for poets to the name coming from the Greek word, “posia,” meaning a water source.
To get to the Grotta della Poesia today, you will have to first get a ticket and, unfortunately, you are no longer allowed to actually swim in the waters as it is part of a protected Archaeological Area. It is, however, still well worth a visit to admire the remarkable sight and explore the equally impressive surrounding scenery. Plus, you’ll find many great places for a dip nearby so you’ll still be able to fully enjoy a day by the sea. Better still, if you were never going to be one of those willing to face that 5m drop (who could blame you?) and were hoping to avoid any peer pressure when it comes to the matter, you now have no fear of being faced with such a conundrum!
Tickets for entry cost 3 euros for adults and 2 euros for youths and groups, a small and largely symbolic fee for protecting the area and controlling numbers of visitors. The area is open between 9am and 7pm to visitors during the summer. Be sure to wear appropriate shoes if you are visiting and exploring the rock formations along the coastline by the Grotta della Poesia as the surface is uneven and, as one might expect, quite rocky.
So, find your holiday rental in Apulia and come appreciate the endless natural wonders of her beyond beautiful coastline, including the Grotta della Poesia, on your next vacation. And, never fear, even if you can’t swim in it any more, there are a host of great places to swim close by.
