Campomarino
Campomarino di Maruggio: a summer resort in Salento
Campomarino di Maruggio is a village located in the province of Taranto, in Salento. The place is almost exclusively populated in summer and offers a nine-kilometer-long coast that is very diverse and famous for the beauty of the sea.
Territory
The center is located along the Mar Jonio-salentina coast, in an area characterized by vast olive groves and extended Mediterranean vegetation, particularly on the adjacent Dune di Campomarino. The territory is about seven meters above sea level.
History
Campomarino di Maruggio arose in the 20th century in the area where the Torre Moline, the Palazzo Seminarile, and a small port were already present, modified throughout the century. The Torre Moline was an anti-Saracen observation tower from the fifteenth century.
Port
The port of Campomarino is the only port structure on the coast from Porto Cesareo to Taranto. It is divided into two areas: the fishing port on the left and the marina on the right, also known as Blue Dock. The two areas are of equal size and are separated by a large wing reserved for restaurants. The marina has a large square where numerous concerts and shows are held during the summer. Next to the fishing port, there is a large square where a summer market is held. The port is protected by an over-flood dike about 350 meters long and an under-flood dike about 250 meters long.
Piazzale Italia
Piazzale Italia, commonly called "La Rotonda" or "La Piazzetta" by the locals, is the beating heart of Campomarino and was built right where the Torre delle Moline stands today, in 1958. It is centrally located in the resort and has recently been modified: it now consists of terraces with a view of the harbor.
Beaches
The coast of Maruggio offers nine kilometers of very diverse coastline. From west to east, throughout the municipality of Maruggio one encounters the promontory of Torre Ovo, the beach of Acquadolce Cirenaica (also known as "Piri Piri" due to a seaside resort with the same name). Here, fresh water springs rise from the seabed, giving the water a particular color and net clarity. Further east are the beaches of Capoccia Scorcialupi (also known as "della Madonnina" due to the presence of a Marian chapel), the beach of the Commenda and the so-called "D'Ayala beach" (which takes its name from the noble D'Ayala-Valva family, present in Maruggio and in the history of the Order of Malta), which is the least accessible but also the most unspoiled. Following are the beaches of the "wind" (contrada Vento) and the "port", near the marina. Beyond the harbor, there are still the beaches of the "pendolari" (east of the port), the "Giannarelli" beach and finally that of Monaco Mirante, a succession of very high dunes and cliffs that enclose small coves up to Torre Borraco in the municipality of Manduria.
Campomarino di Maruggio is a beautiful and popular summer resort in Salento, characterized by splendid beaches, a marina, and a charming historic center. If you want to enjoy a summer vacation in Puglia, Campomarino di Maruggio is definitely a destination not to be missed.
