Puglia - Brindisi In November - Punta Serrone

On Monday the weather forecast is good so we decide on some shopping and an early lunch and then set off by bus to Punta Serrone and Punta Penne which seems to be the only seaside area we can reach from Brindisi by local bus. It's easy to get to the Punta Penne Serrone Nature Reserve from Brinidisi by taking bus number 4 (1 euro single fare) until the 'capolinea', end of the line. 

The driver seems a bit surprised at our obviously touristy presence and checks we know the times for going back. We carry on a little way along a beach which is quite pleasant and clean with clear water and nice sand 

and some facilities although everything is closed because it's out of season, then head back towards the nature reserve. The area is interesting for the coastal erosion phenomen 'campi carreggiati' 

and the Mediterranean vegetation specific of low water areas with a lot of salt and we potter along happily among the rocks exploring. 

A little behind the coast there are remains of buildings from the II world war which are interesting to walk around and on top of. We stop and read some notice boards with useful information, there are also benches and walkways. 

The weather is warm and sunny with a slight breeze and we see a lot of birds but no people and the whole area could be very pretty. The big problem is the almost shocking amount of rubbish thrown up by the sea, and not only. It's a sobering view, to see what a mess human beings are making of such potentially beautiful places.......

Back in Brindisi we visit Palazzo Granafei Nervegna, a sixteenth-century Renaissance building, with an interesting façade with Latin epigraphs and the Granafei's family crest on the portal: a Lion with some ears of grain in its mouth. Nowadays the building, which is free to visit, houses some town hall offices, but also the original capital 

which belongs to the Roman Column at the top of Scalinata near the port, you can see it close up including the figure of Neptune, who is the Sea god and protector of Brindisi's Port. There are also some Roman remains including a mosaic.

Also free to visit, just across the street there are more Roman remains - the excavation of a Roman street with cobbles and cart tracks and baths. We wander back to the apartment via Piazza Duomo which is especially beautiful in the evening with the soft lighting.