The 'Two Sisters' in front of a sandy beach
On the Adriatic coast of the Salento, in the municipality of Melendugno, Torre dell'Orso is one of the most famous seaside resorts of Apulia, with a long crescent-shaped beach of fine, pale sand, about a kilometre long, closed at both ends by limestone cliffs and backed by a pine forest. The sea is shallow, transparent and turquoise, ideal for families, and the beach has been awarded the Blue Flag many times.
Its symbol is the pair of faraglioni, two sea stacks rising from the water just offshore at the southern end of the bay, known as "Le Due Sorelle", the Two Sisters. According to a local legend, two sisters, enchanted by the beauty of the sea, dived in to bathe but were overwhelmed by the waves; the gods, moved, turned them into two rocks so that they could remain forever together in front of the bay. At the northern end of the beach, the cliffs are dotted with caves, including the Grotta di San Cristoforo, with ancient inscriptions. The name of the resort comes from a sixteenth century coastal watchtower, a ruin of which remains on the cliff.
Tip: the view of the Two Sisters is most beautiful at sunrise, from the cliffs at the southern end; in July and August the beach is very crowded.
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