Baia dei Turchi
A 30-minute walk through fragrant Mediterranean scrub north of Otranto leads to Baia dei Turchi, the bay where Ottoman forces allegedly landed in 1480 — and one of the most unspoiled stretches of coastline in all of Puglia. Fine white sand, shallow turquoise water and a backdrop of ancient juniper forest make it feel genuinely remote.
Getting There on Foot
The trail starts from the Le Orte nature reserve car park on the SP87 road, about 4 km north of Otranto. The path winds through a protected coastal forest of centuries-old Phoenician junipers — some of the last remaining examples on Italy's Adriatic coast — before opening dramatically onto the beach.
The walk is flat and easy, about 2.5 km each way, but there is no shade on the beach itself so bring water, sunscreen and a hat. The reward is a bay that feels genuinely wild even in high summer.
The Water & the Crowds
The sea here is exceptionally clear and shallow for a long way out, making it ideal for snorkelling over the sandy bottom and patches of Posidonia seagrass. Bring your own mask — there are no rental facilities on the beach.
In July and August the beach does attract day-trippers, but it never reaches the sardine-tin density of more accessible Pugliese beaches. Visit on a weekday or arrive before 09:00 to have long stretches entirely to yourself.
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