The flavours and the blue of Santa Cesarea Terme, the jewel of the Salento summer

There is a strong sense of the Orient in Santa Cesarea Terme, the jewel of the Apulian summer of 2026. This amphitheatre-like village, built on white, somewhat otherworldly limestone rocks dating back to the Palaeocene, lies between Otranto and Castro. It stands precisely where the final foothills of the Serre Salentine plunge into the cobalt blue of the Adriatic, carrying with them a bountiful supply of groundwater hidden in secret cavities such as the Vitigliano sinkhole, the ‘vora’ of Andrano, the cave of Madonna della Serra in Giuggianello, the sinkholes of Monte Vergine and Mellone di Nociglia, right up to the ‘vora’ of Scorrano. Thus, in four caves known as Fetida, Sulfurea, Gattulla and Solfatara, mineral springs gush forth, possessing properties that are beneficial and curative for the skin and the respiratory system. Whilst noble families from all over Europe were already flocking here as early as the beginning of the 20th century, and Ashkenazi Jews found a base of support here before setting sail for the longed-for Promised Land, this seaside resort is now enjoying a new lease of life. The literary legend of Carmelo Bene still exudes all its charm, especially now that the Moorish-style Villa Sticchi – with its Arabesque dome, so dear to the flamboyant actor and director – is about to open its ground floor to guests. Even the Caicco beach resort, nestled into the rock, resembles a dazzling, sparkling seashell. An intimate and special connection with the sea is felt immediately, even at the Bagno Marino Archi and, above all, at Porto Miggiano – a secluded cove with golden-hued stone cliffs that harbours sandstone caves and pinnacles. And whilst the historic Caffè delle Terme has just reopened, reviving its former reputation as a hub of nightlife in the 1970s and 1980s, it is the thermal baths themselves—with the stunning views from their rooms and the Grotta Fetida, accessible via a mysterious cave—that are well worth experiencing as part of this new Apulian summer. You can then savour the dairy products, parmigiana dishes and pucce, prepared with genuine passion and careful attention to natural ingredients by Marisa Fasanelli in the all-blue, Mediterranean-style kitchen of Sfizi e Delizie.