The Maldives of Salento

Someone, at some point, looked at the sea of Pescoluse and thought of the Maldives. It might seem like a marketing comparison, one of those exaggerations typical of tourist communications. It is not. A shoreline of fine, golden sand that blends with the turquoise and crystal-clear Ionian Sea, with shallow depths, awarded the Blue Flag and three Sails by Legambiente. The water is that shade of turquoise you expect from the Caribbean, not from Italy. And yet it is here, a few kilometres from Giardino dei Pini.

The Maldives of Salento are located along the Ionian coast of Puglia, between Posto Vecchio and Torre Pali, in the marine area of Pescoluse, municipality of Salve. The name came from a beach club, opened in 2000 as "Le Maldive" and renamed "Maldive del Salento" in 2008. Over time, the name expanded to identify an entire stretch of coastline that includes Pescoluse, Torre Pali, Torre Vado, Lido Marini and Torre Mozza.

The beach stretches for about 4 kilometres, offering an expanse of fine white sand bathed by crystal-clear waters that slope gently. The surrounding natural landscape, characterised by sand dunes covered in Mediterranean vegetation, contributes to creating a unique atmosphere. On windless days, the sea is so calm you can clearly see the sandy seabed even several metres from the shore. If you want zero crowds, simply move a few hundred metres away from the most frequented spots: free beach exists, it is just as beautiful, and early in the morning it is almost deserted.

The advice is low season or early morning in August. The Mediterranean scrub is the ideal habitat for many animal species, including sea turtles, and in September the sea retains all its summer temperature while the beach rediscovers its most precious quality: silence.

Torre Pali is a lively village with a long beach; Pescoluse is the heart of the Maldives of Salento; Torre Vado is a characteristic village with a small harbour and a family-friendly beach. From Giardino dei Pini it is 15 minutes by car: close enough to go every morning, easily.