SALENTO By RuN - ADRIATIC COAST
LENGth: 68 Km in five stages
DifficuLty: almost all simple terrain for a quick and relaxing run in nature
usEfuL iNfo: www.viaggiareinpuglia.it
sEasoNaLity: any season
REcommENDED timE of yEaR: GPs, suitable water reserve based on the season. We recommend you bring a backpack with a water pocket (there are no water sources along the route). food/energy bars, windproof jacket. Poor mobile coverage.
Salento, Adriatic coast highlights
Running in salento, from the sunny contrasts of the cliffs that look towards Eastern Europe to the relaxing shade that filters through the endless lines of hundreds-year old olive trees. a magic that turns running into a journey.
salento is a spring board, catapulting us beyond new geographical, physical and mental borders!
the routes described in this Guide mainly follow the eastern coast of salento, lapped by the adriatic sea.
salento is a region in the region - an island, anchored to Europe like a final thought, leaning out towards the East and offering the unique grandeur of an independent environment. two coasts and two seas that embrace a sweetly rolling countryside - generous and luxuriant in places - which has, over the centuries, made this population rich and noble thanks to the cultivation and culture of olives. the historical inheritance of this wealth lies in the numerous farmhouses scattered over the territory, the ancient hypogean olive mills and the historical town centres that elegantly flaunt noble palaces and baroque cathedrals that vie with each other for the
attention of visitors.
Running along the cattle-tracks and pathways of salento means enjoying breath-taking places and views over the adriatic cliffs and ionic beaches; to then relax and rejuvenate in the shadow of the olive groves with their infinity of greens and finish by crossing a sunny square where the tufo stone and the golden Lecco rock give life to sublime masterpieces. sun, wind, sea, stone and olive trees… these are the ingredients of our history that permeate every kilometre bringing us back to an almost long-forgotten dimension of wisdom and satisfaction.
our final destination is santa maria di Leuca, the ancient doorway to the East, but each stage of the walk represents a unique goal in itself: the beginning of a new journey. We will be content to flop our tired legs over the side and let the waters of two seas unite, refreshing and taking care of us.
Salento by Run in 5 stages
I Start LaGhi aLimiNi - finish otRaNto – salento trail
II Start otRaNto – PuNta PaLascia
finish PoRto BaDisco – Enea trail
III Start PoRto BaDisco – saNta cEsaREa tERmE – ViGNacastRisi – finish Diso – Blue trail
IV Start Diso – sPEcchia - finish aLEssaNo – trail from the east
V Start aLEssaNo – GaGLiaNo DEL caPo – castRiGNaNo
finish s. maRia Di LEuca – finibus terrae trail
stage i – SAlento tRAil
to the north of the alimini Lakes - two pools of water surrounded by wild nature thick in unexpected woods and olive groves - the salento adventure begins. the south and east become confused in our mind but the GPs turns to the correct mix of the two and show us where our legs must take us. having reached the cattle track, we join the sP48 and turn left coming into otranto, enjoying the beauty of its historical city centre, to then leave towards the end of the port. twenty kilometres of light!
stage ii - eneA tRAil
starting from the moor of the otranto Port harbour-office, a quick climb takes us along the coastal ridge giving us a view of the albanian coast. a difficult but beautiful single track, amidst stones and mediterranean shrubs, hiding paths to the spectacularly-coloured Bauxite caves and Punta Palascia ligthouse, the most eastern side extremity of the italian peninsula, all overlooking the sea. We follow the coast, turning south-west towards barren but remarkable glades, scattered with towers or tower ruins that seems to follow us with their gaze, right up to the jewel of the Port Badisco inlet, the an-
cient landing place of Enea. you cannot leave without taking a dive (even in the low season) in the transparent waters. highly toning!
stage iii - blue tRAil
from the blue bay of Port Badisco, the road climbs the ridge, with a splendid view of tower minervino. We go down to santa cesarea terme, a renowned holiday resort, from where we climb again rather sharply to the countryside through Vignacastrisi and Diso. sheer peace!
stage iV - tRAil fRom the eASt
from Diso, we run along ancient cattle tracks, through splendid and relaxing hundreds-year old olive trees, until we reach the hill dominated by specchia. its historical city centre is unforgettable. (Named one of the most beautiful villages of italy). here, the hospitality, culture and nobility of salento reign supreme. staying in the “distributed hotels” is a unique privilege.
stage V - finibuS lAnd tRAil
from specchia we travel south, a lot. By this point, there is a different fragrance in the air as we run. salty. iodine. tiny specks of the sea enter our bodies, establishing themselves with this final offshoot of the earth. Dirt tracks coasted by perfect ancient dry-stone walls next to an old railway, olive groves and hills and finally a magnificent sunset in Leuca. the sea, or rather, the seas uniting in front of the horizon. Pure isolation!
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