Riserva Naturale Regionale Le Cesine
Just 14 kilometres northeast of Lecce's baroque streets, the WWF-managed nature reserve of Le Cesine protects the last remaining coastal wetland on the Adriatic side of Salento — a mosaic of lagoons, reed beds, and maritime pine forest where flamingos, herons, and migratory waders stop over in spectacular numbers. It is one of the most important bird-migration staging posts in southern Italy.
The Wildlife
Greater flamingos are the headline act and are reliably present in the shallow lagoons from late autumn through spring — flocks of several hundred birds turning the water pink at dawn is a sight that feels wildly out of place this close to a city. Year-round residents include grey herons, little egrets, marsh harriers, and kingfishers along the drainage channels.
During the October and April migration peaks, the reserve can host glossy ibis, spoonbills, black-winged stilts, and occasional rarities blown in from eastern Europe. The WWF maintains a hide overlooking the main lagoon that is open to visitors on guided morning walks.
Visiting Practically
The reserve is open for independent walking along the marked coastal trail that runs from the entrance gate to the beach at Torre Veneri — a flat, easy 4-kilometre return path through pine forest with lagoon views. The WWF guided visits, which include access to the observation hide, run on weekend mornings and must be booked in advance through the WWF Lecce section website.
The adjacent beach at Torre Veneri is one of the least-developed stretches of Adriatic coastline in Puglia — wide, backed by dunes and pine trees, and almost empty outside August. Combine a morning birdwatching walk with an afternoon on the beach for a perfect day out of the city.
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