Torre dell'orso
Welcome to Torre dell'Orso!
Hello friends, today I want to talk to you about Torre dell'Orso, one of the most beautiful beach resorts in Salento! Here you can enjoy crystal clear sea and silver sand, take long walks on the beach and in the pine forests, and admire the suggestive rock formations that nature has gifted to this magical place. Are you ready to discover all its secrets? Then come with me!
The history of the name
The toponym Torre dell'Orso has several versions regarding its origin. According to some theories, the name refers to the presence of a watchtower used in the past to signal the arrival of Turkish ships. Other hypotheses suggest that the name may derive from the surname of the probable owner of the land in ancient times, Urso, or from the name of the coastal tower that was once called the Tower of Sant'Orsola. But the most suggestive version is that, looking at the beach from the tower, you can see a rock formation depicting the profile of a bear. The erosion over the decades has modified this resemblance, but it is still visible.
Physical geography
The beautiful beach of Torre dell'Orso is a cove about 800 meters long delimited by two high cliffs. Behind the beach, there are low dunes with a pine forest not natural but planted by man about a century ago to reclaim the area. In the southern part of the cove, a watercourse called Brunese flows. The southern area of the cliff is characterized by the presence of the cave of San Cristoforo, in which ancient graffiti have been found. In the cliff below the tower, to the north of the bay, there are ancient caves, now walled up, that fishermen used several decades ago to store fishing equipment and spend summer holidays.
Furthermore, a short distance from the beach, there are two famous sea stacks called "Le due sorelle" (The two sisters). According to legend, this name derives from two sisters who one day decided to escape the daily struggles seeking relief in the sea. When they arrived at Torre dell'Orso, they jumped from a cliff into the sea in a storm but could no longer reach the shore. The gods, moved to compassion, turned them into the two suggestive sea stacks.
The history of Torre dell'Orso
Torre dell'Orso was once the port of the ancient city-sanctuary of Roca Vecchia and represented a fundamental stopover for sailors arriving or going to the other Adriatic shore. The route connecting the bay of "Valle dell'Orso" in Albania to the bay of Torre dell'Orso is the shortest route, about 80 km, that sailors can take. In 44 B.C., Octavian Augustus, heading to Rome after receiving news of the assassination of Gaius Julius Caesar, is said to have followed this route to reach the safer city of Lupiae.
Conclusion
Here we are at the end of our tour of Torre dell'Orso! I hope I have been helpful in introducing the beauties of this magnificent place. If you happen to be in the Salento area, you cannot miss a visit to this beach resort, with its wonderful beach and transparent sea. Here you can stroll among the sea stacks and caves and be enchanted by the legends surrounding the watchtower. And if you have already had the opportunity to visit Torre dell'Orso, write to me in the comments about your impressions and experiences! See you soon, friends!
