Salento: the sun, the sea, the wind

One aspect that constantly distinguishes the Apulian summer is the presence of wind. It is, in fact, absolutely no accident that local saying that has now become a real slogan: “Salento, lu sule, lu mare, lu ientu,” meaning “Salento: the sun, the sea, the wind.”

Those who know Salento well from visiting it over several years easily realize that wind is an ever-present ingredient of summer here. Its presence, in addition to sometimes making the days less muggy, decisively influences the state of the sea on which it blows, Adriatic or Ionian as the case may be, generating a situation in which – in turn – when one of the two seas is calm, the other turns out to be rough.

Change your mind as the wind changes, in Salento you can do it (to choose the best beach).

That is why knowing how to “read” the wind situation is important for choosing the sea where you want to go. Choosing the coast is a valuable prerogative that only a few lands have at their disposal, even among those with a strong tourist vocation. An added advantage that allows you to enjoy the best sea every time. Below we give a reading based on the two prevailing winds: north wind and sirocco, plus other special cases.

The sirocco churns the Ionian seas, while making the seas along the northern Adriatic side calm.

In these conditions, we especially recommend Torre dell’Orso, or the Faraglioni of Sant’Andrea or the cave of Poesia where a long sandy inlet of more than a kilometer offers a crystal clear sea where bathing is not only a pleasure, but so beautiful that you will spend more time soaking than on the beach.

Again there are a few exceptions on the Ionian for which the sea remains fairly calm despite the sirocco.

An example is the stretch from Punta Pizzo (inland side) to Punta della Suina. The “horn” of Punta Pizzo protects the sea, thus allowing less wave motion even in the presence of sirocco. Between the two locations is Lido Pizzo, which – although placed in the best geographical position.