Punta Prosciutto

Let us start with the name, because it is unavoidable. The origin of the name has never been definitively resolved, but it seems to derive from the fact that this area once had shallow, marshy seabeds which were then drained, described in Salentine dialect as "prisutti". From there to prosciutto was not much of a leap. A quirky name for a beach that in 2019 the British newspaper the Telegraph included among the 29 most beautiful beaches in the world. Those you need to see at least once in your life, on a par with Hawaii or Thailand.

Punta Prosciutto is one of the most beautiful beaches in Salento and all of Puglia, located in the municipality of Porto Cesareo in the province of Lecce, within the 32-km Marine Protected Area. The beach extends for about 4 km along the Ionian coast of Salento, bounded to the north by Torre Colimena and to the south by Riva degli Angeli, wrapped in ancient Mediterranean scrub. The sea, extraordinarily clear, takes on shades ranging from turquoise to emerald, with shallow sandy bottoms that slope gently. A large part of this paradise consists of free beach: this makes this natural wonder even rarer and more precious. What characterises the shoreline is the presence of so-called "spunnulate", karst depressions filled with water that create a unique habitat for many plant and animal species. The location is part of the nature reserve "Palude del Conte e Duna Costiera", a protected area of over 600 hectares established in 2006, where you can admire precious and rare fauna and flora species, such as the kingfisher, moorhens, marsh bellflowers and bog orchids. The pink flamingos that gather in the nearby salt flats complete a landscape that at certain times of the year is more reminiscent of Africa than Salento.

To enjoy Punta Prosciutto at its best in high season, it is worth arriving early in the morning, before 9, or late in the afternoon at sunset, when the crowds thin out and the colours of sea and sky are at their most evocative. In low season, from May or September, it is a completely different story: the beach is almost deserted, the sea still holds all its summer warmth, and you remember why some beaches are worth seeking out.

The beauty of Porto Cesareo is above all its village, once made up predominantly of fishermen's houses and today a lively tourist hub full of small shops, craft workshops and historic fish markets where you can always find fresh fish directly from the fishermen's boats. Worth an evening stroll, a seafood dinner, and an ice cream before heading back.