A red and green pond and a beach among the pines
Just outside Otranto, two very different natural sights lie a short distance apart. A few kilometres south of the town, the Cava di Bauxite is an old open-pit bauxite mine, active from 1940 to 1976, which after its abandonment was filled by groundwater, forming a small lake of an intense emerald green, surrounded by walls and slopes of bright red earth, coloured by the iron oxides of the bauxite, and by Mediterranean vegetation. The contrast between the red of the earth, the green of the water and the blue of the sky creates an almost Martian landscape, much loved by photographers.
North of Otranto, the Baia dei Turchi, the "Bay of the Turks", is one of the most beautiful beaches of the Salento: a stretch of fine white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water, reached through a wood of pines and Mediterranean scrub, part of the protected area of the Laghi Alimini. According to tradition, it was here that the Ottoman fleet landed in 1480 before attacking Otranto. Nearby, the two Alimini lakes, one of fresh water and one of salt water connected to the sea, are surrounded by nature and long beaches.
Tip: the bauxite quarry is reached on foot along a dirt track; do not bathe in the lake. At Baia dei Turchi, arrive early in summer, the car parks fill up quickly.
Where it is
More things to see in Puglia
Where to stay near Otranto
Tours and activities nearby
Offers from GetYourGuide. Some links are affiliate links: if you book we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.