Dunes, scrub and a protected sea
On the Adriatic coast north of Brindisi, near Carovigno, the Torre Guaceto nature reserve and marine protected area safeguard one of the best preserved stretches of coastline in Apulia: about eight kilometres of coast and over 2,000 hectares of sea. It takes its name from a sixteenth century Aragonese watchtower, which stands on a small promontory at the centre of the reserve, and from the Arabic "gaw-sit", place of fresh water, because of the springs that feed a coastal wetland.
The reserve is a mosaic of habitats: sandy beaches backed by dunes covered with junipers and Mediterranean scrub, reed beds and marshes frequented by herons, ducks and migratory birds, olive groves and farmland, and a sea with Posidonia meadows and rocky reefs, home to a rich fish fauna, sea turtles and, sometimes, dolphins. The reserve is also a model of sustainable fishing: local fishermen take part in managing the area, fishing with selective methods only on certain days, with catches that have increased considerably since the protection. Access to the beaches is regulated: in summer you leave your car at the car park and reach the sea by shuttle, bicycle or on foot.
Tip: the reserve offers guided snorkelling, canoe and bicycle tours; the beach of Punta Penna Grossa is one of the most beautiful. Arrive early in summer.
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