The Cipolliane caves path

On the boundary line between the earth and the sea of ​​Salento, among the craggy rocks and clear waters, walk along the Trail of Cipolliane, a hiking trail in Salento following the pace of the coast, sometimes uphill and sometimes in descent.

Just under an hour and 2.5 Km for a very scenic route that takes its name from the caves that are located along the coast. They can visit and witness the presence of prehistoric life with numerous traces such as pebbles with carvings, cave paintings, remains of animals etc.

It is one of the most beautiful hikes in the area of ​​Santa Maria di Leuca: four rock shelters located approximately 30 meters above sea level, which constitute a case in point for the study of prehistory and particularly the Upper Palaeolithic period. On the ground there are traces of important and numerous findings and along the way there are numerous caves that are today still under investigation.

It ‘a nature trail that begins leaving behind places “Chiancareddha” and continuing towards the Marina di Novaglie, where is our vacation home and beach villa. The trail winds along a breathtaking landscape overlooking the sea with stunning views over the coastline, rocky cliffs dotted with euphorbia, prickly pear. A succession of ample curves, behind which you can see, from time to time, witnesses of a now forgotten peasant life: pajare, dry stone walls and mantagnate, real stone walls built to repair the coastal area, a cultivated time , the wind coming from the sea, laden with salt.

It then moves on to the suggestive Gully Ciolo. With its vertical sides, which rise from the sea until it reaches 90 m in height, the inlet of Ciolo stops with its groove of the cliffs overlooking the east and lies between the sides on the rare natural beauty and landscape. This cove, locally called “gully”, is a river valley shaped in the most humid weather of today and in a period characterized by a lower level of the sea.

Finally, you come to the splendid panorama offered by Cipolliane Caves. Of extraordinary beauty it is the caves “Overall Mannute” including the most striking is the cave of THREE PILLARS, named for the three beautiful stalactites formed over the years to the right of. It then crosses the Cave of the Cathedral so named for the shape of a cathedral to a stalactite-stalagmite which reminds the “Madunnina” in Milan.

The most majestic, proceeding towards Novaglie, is the cave of the Well Mouth so named for the large opening on time. At the main entrance, just to the right, there is a small lake originated by sea water infiltration. The cave through the Inland uphill for about 200 mt. through tunnels that open into wide cavities including “The Dome Room“.