Cammino del Salento Via del Mare
Puglia, Italy
Italy · Lecce, Italy → Gagliano del Capo, Italy
Distance
114 km
Stages
5
Difficulty
moderate
Best months
Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct
Cammino del Salento Via del Mare · Stages and distances
Walking distances for Appy’s stages (5)
| Stage | km |
|---|---|
| 1. Lecce → San Foca | 24.7 |
| 2. San Foca → Otranto | 22.7 |
| 3. Otranto → Cerfignano | 21 |
| 4. Cerfignano → Tricase | 23.2 |
| 5. Tricase → Gagliano del Capo | 22.1 |
| Total | 113.7 |
About
A 110 km coastal walk from Lecce to Gagliano del Capo, the Cammino del Salento Via del Mare is a sensory feast. Five stages of sun-warmed sand, rocky cliffs, and the salty tang of the Adriatic breeze.
Historical sites dot the path: the medieval Torre dell'Orso stands sentinel, while Porto Badisco whispers tales of Aeneas. With 1,031 m of elevation gain, it’s perfect for beginners seeking a week of discovery.
April to June and September to October are ideal, fewer crowds, pleasant weather. This is walking as an art form, where every step is a brushstroke on the canvas of Puglia.
Stages
5 stages
Stage 1Lecce → San Foca
easy- Distance
- 25 km
- Ascent
- 7 m
- Descent
- 29 m
Stage 2- Distance
- 23 km
- Ascent
- 61 m
- Descent
- 71 m
Stage 3Otranto → Cerfignano
moderate- Distance
- 21 km
- Ascent
- 248 m
- Descent
- 227 m
Stage 4Cerfignano → Tricase
moderate- Distance
- 23 km
- Ascent
- 365 m
- Descent
- 363 m
Stage 5Tricase → Gagliano del Capo
moderate- Distance
- 22 km
- Ascent
- 350 m
- Descent
- 283 m
Points of interest
- Monastero degli Olivetani
Monastery in Romanesque style, in Lecce, Italy.
- Villa Sticchi
Palace in Moorish Revival style, in Santa Cesarea Terme, Italy.
- Tower of San Foca
A sixteenth century coastal watchtower, once called Torre di Capo Sapone, built to spot Ottoman raiders along the Salento coast.
- Torre dell'Omomorto
Tower in Renaissance style, in Castrignano del Capo, Italy.
- Monastero dei Carmelitani
A Baroque convent of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, grouped around a square cloister of round arches with a loggia above.
- Monastero dei Teatini
Monastery of the Theatines. Monastery in baroque style, in Lecce, Italy.
- Lecce
Historic village, in province of Lecce, Italy, at 49 m elevation, covering 241.0 km².
- Castle of Charles V
A fortress ordered in 1539 by Emperor Charles V to replace a medieval stronghold, designed by Gian Giacomo dell'Acaya with the outer works finished by 1549.
Travel
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All articles and guidesMaps and navigation
Via del Mare: the track from Lecce to San Foca
Walk the 25 km Via del Mare stage from Lecce to San Foca via Merine and Acaya. Find the stage map in AppyPilgrim and follow the right branch out of Lecce.
How to choose a walking route: stages, days and ascent
How many days can you actually spend walking? Start there, then choose stages that leave you time to stop along the way.
How to plan a walking trip by train and bus
Two different stations, a last bus and a backpack. Fit the journeys out and home around the days you want to spend walking.
Take your walk with you: download Appy
Cammino del Salento Via del Mare. Explore maps, stages and elevation in the app, and plan your train or bus journey.
