Rock formations and eye-catching caverns abound along Puglia’s coastline. One of them, Grotta della Poesia, may be the most stunning. A natural pool has developed inside the rocky beach, and it is.
Grotta della Poesia must appear on any list of the best natural swimming holes in the world. As is the case with Momodo’s top 10 ranking. It’s a genuinely lovely location and attractive sight to witness. Let’s dive in and investigate this well-known Puglia attraction.
What is the meaning of the name?
This beautiful pool is known as Grotta della Poesia. This translates to “Poetry Cave” in the English language. It’s possible that you’re curious about the backstory of this, so allow me to fill you in.
There was a princess who is said to have lived in this part of the Salento peninsula at one time, at least according to the local tales. This stunning princess spent each day in the cave, where she swam around in the glistening waters and admired the rock formations. Poets have flocked to the setting as word of mouth has spread about it.
Every single one of them had their sights set on winning her love, and her stunning appearance was an inspiration to the poets. They composed verse and prose for her benefit. Because of this, people often refer to this location as the “Poetry Cave.”
If you are in search of a princess, then we are sorry to inform you that you will not find one. She has long since passed away, so nobody can say for certain whether or not the stories were ever based on fact. You will, however, come across a natural beauty that is unparalleled. The kind that causes one to exclaim, “Wow!”
Where is Grotta della Poesia?
The Poetry Cave can be found in relatively close proximity to the city of Roca. It lies nearly in the middle of the journey among Otranto and Lecce. When traveling by car, access is quick and simple. Melendugno is the name of this particular region in Italy. You will locate it in the heart of the rocky scenery of the shore.
Archaeology and history at Roca
The Sacred Place, which is devoted to the Madonna of Roca, can be found nearby, along with the ruins of the walls of the castle, which were constructed during the 1600s, and the observation tower.
But the second, more modest cave that is located a few kilometers away from the larger one, is the one that is most significant. The two caves include tunnels that lead directly to the ocean, where one can either swim or use a small boat to reach the water.
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The inscriptions in Messapian, Latin, and Greek that were found in the small cave give it greater archaeological significance than the larger cave. This is due to the fact that archaeologists rediscovered the inscriptions in the Small Cave.
Instead, the most well-known Poetry Cave, which is also called “Grotta della Poesia” in Italian, is very charming because of its elliptical shape and large size, which allow visitors to take a relaxing bath after doing a huge dive of five meters.Â
When should I go?
When it comes to tourism, the best time to visit Puglia is in the month of August. In general, the area is visited by a large number of tourists from the beginning of June until the first few weeks of September. We recommend that you wake up very early in the morning if you are going to be here during these months.
From what we’ve seen in the past, the area immediately surrounding Poetry Cave can become quite crowded quite soon. People will visit any tourist destination to take in the scenery and swim in the water, just as they would at any other attraction. If you are able to get up early, you will have the opportunity to avoid the throng. Before the others arrive, snap some pictures, admire the scenery, and then engage them in swimming and having fun in the water.
During the shoulder seasons, you have more freedom to choose when and where to go. Even though there will still be tourists, you should go there early if you want to get the most out of your photo opportunities. Because there is less tourism inside the area during the colder months, you can visit whenever you like without encountering many other tourists.
At Grotta della Poesia, is swimming permitted?
Yes! It’s not just doable, but also strongly advised. Inside the cave, we discovered pristinely clear water that was the perfect temperature.
We suddenly discovered there are several rock structures you can scale to descend into the Poetry Cave’s natural pool, but we suddenly discovered they are better for scaling out. Jumping is the most effective method of entering the water.
The perfect height to perform some fantastic cliff jumping and enter the ocean in style. It’s a lot more fun and slightly raises your heart rate.
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Observe shallow water. Check the water levels before you jump in or allow anyone else in your group to jump in. There are areas that are deeper and more rocky. Make certain that you are diving into the cave’s deepest part.
Along with diving and swimming around the pool, you can start looking for a few tiny caverns and even sea caves. If you want to plunge into the unknown by swimming down there, there is an entire secret universe.
Don’t miss these amazing locations; the excellent traditional Puglian cuisine will give you the energy you need to discover them. But if you’re traveling in the summer, don’t forget your sunblock—it will keep you safe while you’re out and about.
More info & Photo courtesy:Â Pexels.com | Wikipedia | Imaginapulia
