Alto Salento in October: Salina dei Monaci, Punta Prosciutto, Torre Colimena

We had planned to drive along the coast to Gallipoli but it’s just too pleasant to enjoy the beach and warm weather where we are. In the morning we stay on the beach, I cook, we relax. I have had family worries but now the situation seems to be improving and finally I can allow myself to relax a little. After lunch we drive to Salina dei Monaci for the beach, which yes, is very nice but what is unexpectedly nice is the Salina, a nature reserve which is clean and well cared for. We read the information boards about the various bird and plant species and immediately see the same birds quite close, going about their business at the water’s edge. 

In the middle of the Salina there are the ruins of the Benedictine salt works, hence the name. There’s a pleasant and easy walk from Specchiarica to the north to Torre Colimena to the south. An interesting place. 

We drive on to the famous Punta Prosciutto beach, the first place where we have seen many people since we arrived in the area. Yes, the sea is transparent and there are no rocks to watch out for and the sand is nice but there are, well, people, and quite a lot of rubbish behind the beach and the sand dunes. Is the sea better than where we are? 

Possibly. Is it worth driving 35 minutes for? No. Or is it just because it’s a little cloudy and a little windy? After a walk along the beach we drive back to Torre Colimena only because I seem to remember that when I was looking for accommodation there was a possible on the sea front. This turns out to be wrong, but it doesn’t matter. Torre Colimena is an interesting little place.

First of all, it’s the other end of the Salina dei Monaci reserve, secondly there is the tower, restored and housing a ceramics museum which we don’t visit because of the amount of steps. Then it seems to be one of the few places in the area which has noticed it’s on the sea where there are ...uhm... fish…… We find a pescheria, open, with some local fish, and buy some paranza. There are also quite a few restaurants which haven’t closed for the season. Here, the coast is rocky. We walk along the tiny harbour and along a narrow canal which takes us to a large basin of salt water which used to be used for fish farming. Now there are just a few fishermen but there are also a couple of paths leading off into the macchia mediterranea. A promising place to return. Time to go home, there’s a little cloud and the sunset produces a blaze of red. Fantastic.