We offer you Ugento and its splendid marinas, on the Ionian side, a concentration of very white beaches, postcard-perfect sea, history, folklore, and culture. And one of the most popular holiday destinations on the Salento peninsula.
Ugento, a town in the inland Salento, is a jewel that encloses unparalleled architectural and artistic beauties, as well as enjoying a strategic position for any travel within the territory. Perfect as a tourist destination, it embraces a stretch of coast that also includes the marinas of Torre San Giovanni, Torre Mozza, Lido Marini.
Among the peculiarities of the place are the reclamation basins, connected to each other through special canals that allow an orderly collection of water regulating its flow to the sea, basins that, being on the main migration routes of particular birds, have become the perfect habitat for various species that stay in this area to feed and reproduce.
Known for its monuments and points of interest, Ugento is a town of uncertain origins, difficult to date. What is known is that archaeological finds such as imposing menhirs, megalithic monuments where religious rites were performed, but also dolmens, funerary monuments destroyed over time, suggest very, very ancient origins.
The city had its greatest splendor around the nineteenth century B.C., a period when the influence of the Messapian civilization reflected on Ugento, making it a city-state with its own army and its own mint.
Evidence of the Messapian settlement includes the powerful walls, of which some sections are still visible and which likely included several towers stretching along the entire length.
Today Ugento has a well-maintained historic center, full of history, traditions, but also dotted with religious and artistic monuments of great value. One of these is undoubtedly the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, built in the early 18th century, with a neoclassical façade and a single nave with a Latin cross plan. Among the church’s peculiarities is the presbytery, with a choir entirely made of olive wood.
Another noteworthy place is the Castle of the Princes of Amore: repeatedly renovated over the years and damaged following the occupation of the city by barbarians around the mid-1500s, the castle underwent a radical transformation thanks to the settlement of the princes of Amore at the end of the 17th century, who, with various restoration works, made the residence majestic and splendid, stripping it of the purely military features that characterized it. Among the beauties to admire inside the manor are the paintings and decorations that adorn the spacious rooms, with mythological-themed cycles.
The former Franciscan convent of S. Maria della Pietà has been housing the new Civic Archaeological Museum for the past six years, a large space spread over two floors that houses and preserves artifacts retracing the city’s history. The ground floor, in the part that previously hosted the refectory, offers visitors a view of a large model reconstructing the history of Ugento, while in the cloister there is one of the most interesting finds, the Tomb of the Athlete. The latter, dating back to the late 6th century B.C., was discovered in 1970 and consists of a base, covering slabs, and enclosure slabs, with painted decoration in bands.
Additionally, on the road connecting Casarano to Ugento, there is a place of unique beauty, the Chapel of the Madonna of Constantinople, dating back to the early 1600s. A single barrel-vaulted room welcomes visitors who are completely captivated by a system of frescoes that fills and illuminates it, despite the visible signs of time having faded the colors. The Madonna of Constantinople is depicted on the wall above the altar, surrounded by saints portrayed full-length. A truly evocative place worth staying even for just a minute.
The significant historical and artistic value of the various monuments present in the city has led to the creation of a real network, which has given life to a functional and efficient museum system, comprising the New Archaeological Museum, the “Adolfo Colosso” archaeological collection, the Crypt of the Crucifix, the Church of the Madonna of Constantinople, the Castle of the Princes of Amore, and Palazzo Rovito.
Ugento, therefore, an ancient Messapian center, cradle of art, civilization, and culture, is recognized by the Apulia Region as an important hub and tourist reception point, due to all the beauties that embrace architecture, environment, art, which it still preserves with commitment, care, and consistency.
For more information visit https://www.comune.ugento.le.it
Torre San Giovanni
Torre San Giovanni is the marina closest to Ugento (actually it is a real district of the city), and since ancient times has represented an important hub because of the port, consolidating the town’s welfare and development over the years.
The symbol that distinguishes it is a coastal tower, today turned into a lighthouse, impossible to miss due to its characteristic black and white checkerboard pattern, giving it a style totally different from the various other coastal towers dotting the Salento coasts.
In summer Torre San Giovanni becomes the vibrant heart of tourism, welcoming thousands of visitors every year who find themselves experiencing it intensely both by day and by night, with a series of activities, events, and festivals that offer immersion in the habits and traditions of the south.
The jewel of the place is the seafront, spacious, well-kept, very busy and perfect for enjoying the evening breeze or sipping a coffee facing the sea in one of the many bars. If you love photography, the seafront offers sunsets that become true natural shows, with intense and vibrant color shades, so memorable they stay impressed forever.
The coast of Torre San Giovanni seems made to satisfy the most demanding tourists with the most varied tastes, as it offers the convenience and accessibility of sandy beaches, but also all the wild beauty of rocks, ideal for diving and snorkeling lovers.
To stay here it is advisable to book by choosing among the best offers and preferred accommodations: bed and breakfasts, villages, campsites, and private houses are all comfortable and valid options to rely on, you just have to decide how you want your holiday to be. More information can be found at https://www.nelsalento.com/torre-san-giovanni.html
Torre Mozza
Just after the small port of Torre San Giovanni begins a stretch of sandy dunes bordering a stretch of sea protected by pine groves that seem almost to wrap and cradle it. The sea here shows colors, scents, and transparencies worthy of the most sought-after exotic destinations, with vibrant shades of blue that excite.
Torre Mozza is located a bit further south of Torre San Giovanni and takes its name from an ancient 16th-century coastal watchtower around which the entire town has developed over the years. The erosion of the sea combined with several collapses that occurred at different times has given it an almost unique shape, as if it were literally truncated on the side, making it very similar to a sandcastle missing its top, abandoned on the shore by some child.
The beach surrounding Torre Mozza is splendid, without too many paraphrases: very white sand, typical vegetation of sandy and brackish environments, and above all, plenty of free space make it one of the most popular beaches during the summer months.
Moving further ahead it is also possible to enjoy the conveniences offered by various equipped beaches, but in general those who choose Torre Mozza do so for the freedom to enjoy the beach without schedules, with a towel over their shoulder and lots of sunscreen. In the evening the marina sheds the crowd that almost plagues it during the day to gather in moments of tranquility and relaxation, among open-air dinners, aperitifs, or barbecues.
Booking holiday homes or hotels nearby can be a very good solution for those who love convivial moments, evenings under the starry sky, without necessarily the stress of having to do something. Alternatively, it is possible to choose the marina as a base and then move to the nearby resorts if you are looking for nightlife. More info at https://www.marinediugento.it/#torremozza
Lido Marini
The third marina of Ugento is Lido Marini, a location extending south toward the marinas of Salve in the direction of Santa Maria di Leuca. Part of Lido Marini belongs to the municipality of Salve, and it is the ideal destination for a holiday full of sun, sea, food, and pure relaxation.
The fact that it developed later compared to the other two marinas, with works that brought it back into the spotlight for holidaymakers, makes it a very quiet marina, equipped with essential services and a myriad of private villas lining the streets.
Its sandy, shallow, and easily accessible coastline is especially suitable for simplified descents for those not very familiar with water or for families with children in tow. One thing to note for anyone who decides to book a holiday here is that there is no ATM to withdraw money, so you will need to go to nearby marinas for this service. This does not detract from the beauty of the place, which looks like a snapshot worthy of any travel agency catalog, and it is possible to choose it as a base to then move around Salento by car.
More information at https://www.Lido-Marini.com
