Santa Cesarea Terme
Discover Santa Cesàrea Terme, a tourist destination in Salento
If you are planning to visit Salento, don't miss Santa Cesàrea Terme, a town in the province of Lecce, located on the eastern coast of the Salento peninsula, at the entrance of the Strait of Otranto. With its 2869 inhabitants, Santa Cesàrea Terme is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area and is renowned for its thermal waters with beneficial properties.
Physical geography
Territory
The territory of Santa Cesàrea Terme covers an area of 26.66 km² in the eastern part of the province of Lecce. The landscape is characterized by a flat morphology inland, with lush centuries-old olive groves, and a high and jagged coastal strip with sea stacks, caves and small bays. The town is located on a plateau of the cliff overlooking the Strait of Otranto and is crossed by the coastal road connecting Otranto to Santa Maria di Leuca. One of its greatest treasures is the four sulfuric caves from which thermal waters at 30°C flow: Gattulla, Solfurea, Fetida, and Solfatara. The natural landscape of Santa Cesàrea Terme is protected by the Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca and Bosco di Tricase Coastal Park, established by the Puglia Region to safeguard the eastern coast of Salento and preserve its architecture, flora, and fauna.
Climate
Santa Cesàrea Terme enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot and humid summers. The average temperature of the coldest month, January, is around +9°C, while that of the hottest month, August, is around +25.1°C. The average annual rainfall fluctuates around 676 mm, with a peak in autumn-winter.
History
Although the beneficial properties of thermal waters were already known in ancient times, the town of Santa Cesàrea Terme began to develop only in the late nineteenth century, due to the isolation caused by the difficulties of the territory. Only after the construction of an easy road, in the nineteenth century, the town began to develop as a spa resort.
Tourism and attractions
Santa Cesàrea Terme is an ideal destination for those seeking relaxation and wellness, thanks to the therapeutic properties of thermal waters. The four sulfuric caves are a destination for many tourists who go to the town to bathe and take advantage of the beneficial effects of sulfuric, salsobromoiodic and thermal waters. But Santa Cesàrea Terme is not just a spa resort: the town also offers numerous cultural and naturalistic attractions. One of the most famous attractions is the Castle, built by Baron Antonio Faggiano in 1930. The Castle is located on the homonymous promontory and offers a splendid view of the Salento coast. Other attractions include the Zinzulusa Cave, a spectacular karst cave a few kilometers from Santa Cesàrea Terme, and the Mother Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which contains important works of art.
Gastronomy and typical products
Salento's cuisine is famous for its delicious dishes and genuine ingredients. In Santa Cesàrea Terme, you can enjoy typical dishes of the tradition such as "orecchiette" pasta with turnip tops, rustic "pitta" bread, stuffed eggplants, "zeppole" pastries of Saint Joseph, and much more. Moreover, the territory of Santa Cesàrea Terme is renowned for the production of fine olive oil and high-quality wines such as Negroamaro and Malvasia.
How to get there
Santa Cesàrea Terme can be reached by car from Lecce along the SS16 in about an hour and from Bari along the SS379 in just over two hours. Alternatively, you can arrive by train at the Otranto station and then take a shuttle or taxi to Santa Cesàrea Terme. The nearest airport is Brindisi, which is about 90 km away.
