Santa Caterina: Rocky Coast, Coastal Towers and Traces of Antiquity

Santa Caterina combines a low, rocky coast with a small sandy cove. Over gently sloping seabeds, the water is transparently turquoise.

Coast and Coastal Towers

Torre Santa Caterina stands in a pine grove 200 meters from the sea, at an elevation of about 32 meters. In 1582, construction was definitively assigned to Massenzio Gravili of Lecce. In 1613, the tower was presumably already standing; the year of its completion is not known with certainty. The restored exterior staircase still leads to the usable floor.

Another coastal tower is Torre Santa Maria dell’Alto, which is also known as Torre dell’Alto. It is a coastal tower in the village of Santa Caterina in the municipality of Nardò and is located in Parco di Porto Selvaggio e Palude del Capitano.

Guided Excursions and Kayaking Routes

Guided coastal tours of the park depart, when sea and weather conditions are suitable, from the slipway in Santa Caterina. These excursions are available for groups of two to twelve people by prior reservation. For beginners, they may be limited to the area as far as Torre dell’Alto or the cove of Porto Selvaggio.

Santa Caterina also has a diving center and a canoe club, from which coastal excursions toward Porto Selvaggio Park depart. The kayak route passes beneath Torre dell’Alto and may include a walk through the pine grove as well as a visit to the freshwater spring. The kayaking excursion in the park is also suitable for people with no previous kayaking experience and leads to hidden caves and gorges.

Archaeological Traces on the Coast

Off the coast near Punta dell'Aspide, opposite the northern pine grove of Santa Caterina di Nardò, lies a shipwreck from the late Republican period about 300 meters offshore. Approximately 150 amphorae were recovered from this wreck.

The harbor, or landing place, of Santa Caterina was used in the 5th century BC and from the second half of the 4th century to the 2nd century BC. The remains of the ancient landing place include quays and moles, as well as probably warehouses and storage depots. The ancient complex also includes significant fortifications with a moat and an isodomic wall with a gateway.

The Grotta di Capelvenere was a place of worship in the Archaic and Hellenistic periods.

Travel Planning Information

Parco Porto Selvaggio e Palude del Capitano has nature and cultural heritage trails. The park's address is Via Litoranea Sant Isidoro, Santa Caterina, 73048 Nardò LE.

Discover More Destinations

Other Italian destinations you can explore include Bagnolo Del Salento, Strudà, Specchia, Caprarica di Lecce, Conca Specchiulla, Casalabate, Marina Di Pescoluse and Torre San Giovanni.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lecce.