On the Ionian coast of the Salento peninsula lies the stunning Porto Cesareo. Crystal-clear waters, 17 km of paradisiacal beaches, an archipelago of unspoilt islets and ancient stories are the main features of this Apulian town.
Besides its extraordinary natural beauty, evidenced by the presence of the Porto Cesareo Marine Protected Area and the Palude del Conte and Coastal Dune Regional Nature Reserve, Porto Cesareo has been for centuries an essential crossroads of peoples: already in Roman times, the ancient Portus Sasinae was a key hub for trade. This role is still visible today thanks to the great artistic and cultural heritage inherited by the town.
Whether you want to spend a relaxing day surrounded by idyllic landscapes on the Isola Grande and the Island of Malva, or immerse yourself in local history and culture with the coastal towers and the Marine Biology Museum, Porto Cesareo remains an unmissable destination for those visiting Salento.
Isola Grande or Rabbit Island
In the archipelago of small islands and rocks located a few hundred metres off the coast of Porto Cesareo stands the Isola Grande, also known as Rabbit Island thanks to the presence of a large rabbit farm in the 1950s.
Measuring 2.5 km in length and 400 m in width, this island is part of the marine protected area of Porto Cesareo. Its distinctive feature is its unspoilt beauty: here you’ll find only crystal-clear sea, white sandy beaches and rich Mediterranean vegetation. The surrounding seabed, covered with precious multicoloured corals and home to a wonderful meadow of Posidonia oceanica, serves as a refuge for fish, molluscs and friendly sea turtles.
Imagine spending the day immersed in the blue of the sea and the green of the vegetation, enjoying a coffee or ice cream purchased from the characteristic boat-bar that periodically visits the island. After relaxing on the beach, take the opportunity to explore the remains of Roman columnson the seabed by joining a diving excursion.
Isola Grande is accessible only by sea, but the options to reach it are countless: you can rent a boat with or without a skipper, rent a pedal boat or canoe on the beach, take the ferry from Porto Cesareo’s small harbour, or join an organised tour. In this last case, don’t worry if you haven’t booked in advance: you can still secure a spot by visiting the websites offering the service or by booking through one of the tourist agencies near the harbour.
Island of Malva
From the turquoise waters of Porto Cesareo emerges a stretch of sandy and unspoilt land: the Island of Malva. This area owes its name to the abundance of Malva arborea growing on it: from April to June, during flowering season, this piece of land transforms into a spectacle of purple petals, green leaves, grey rocks and blue waters. From the Island of Malva you can admire, on one side, the open sea and Rabbit Island, and on the other, the imposing Torre Chianca.
Not to be confused with the tower of the same name on the Adriatic coast, Torre Chianca, also known as Santo Stefano Tower, is one of four coastal towers near Porto Cesareo. Its name derives from the dialect word “chianca,” meaning “stone slab.”
The tower has a square base and is about 18 metres tall. It was built around the 1500s, most likely during the reign of Philip II. It was abandoned in 1842 and later reused during World War II as a refuge for Italian soldiers. During this period, the structure suffered several dents and cracks, restored in 2017.
Today, the building hosts the First Aid Centre for Marine Turtles and the Environmental Education Centre. The Island of Malva is reachable on foot via a very shallow seabed or by boat.
Marine Biology Museum
To dive deeper into the unique characteristics of Porto Cesareo, the Marine Biology Museum is an essential stop. Opened in 1966 by Professor Pietro Parenzan, the museum’s collection of biological specimens includes over 900 exhibits.
In addition to displaying various native plant and animal species originally collected along the Apulian coast, new areas have recently been created, such as the “Fishing Room” and the “Basking Shark Room,” with the aim of promoting integration between the museum and the local community.
The most interesting exhibits in this museum include:
a two-headed aborted shark specimen;
a large carapace of a Caretta caretta turtle and a medium-sized specimen of the same species;
a monk seal specimen (Monachus albiventer);
a specimen of Dermochelys coriacea turtle;
caudal vertebrae of a sperm whale;
a specimen of Ranzania laevis, a rare fish;
a bottlenose dolphin specimen.
Attached to the museum is also a library dedicated to marine biology and museology, with a bibliographic heritage of around 4,300 journal volumes and 500 monographs.
Admission to the museum is free; only educational activities such as guided tours and workshops require a fee. The museum regularly hosts courses and conferences easily accessible to experts and marine biology enthusiasts.
Estimated time to visit Porto Cesareo
If you’re planning to visit Porto Cesareo, you’ll be happy to know that one day is enough to enjoy everything the town has to offer. Start with a stroll through the town centre and a visit to the museum in the morning, then in the afternoon enjoy the beaches and unspoilt nature of this wonderful corner of Apulia.
If you’d like to plan a longer trip, explore what to see in Apulia starting from Porto Cesareo, including the treasures preserved in the beautiful cities of Lecce and Gallipoli, located less than thirty kilometres away.
From Porto Cesareo you can also easily reach the Porto Selvaggio Regional Nature Park, with an area of 1122 hectares, including 300 hectares of pine forest, and 7 kilometres of unspoilt coastline—perfect for nature lovers, hiking enthusiasts and picnic areas.
