Holiday apartment in Marittima – Towers, rocky landscape and fig festival

Marittima combines historic buildings with a path through rocky terrain to a hilltop overlooking the Adriatic coast. In Marittima stand the Torre di Alfonso, the Santuario di Santa Maria Costantinopoli and the Colonna dell’Osanna. There is also an underground olive mill from the 17th century, destinations in the surrounding area and the Festa della Fica.

Towers and local history in Marittima

The Torre di Alfonso is considered the largest, most important and most ornate of Marittima’s towers. Its upper façade features a cornice and a balcony.

Near the Torre di Alfonso, the only underground olive mill from the 17th century still preserved today has been conserved. It formed part of an earlier network beneath the historic town centre.

The Santuario di Santa Maria Costantinopoli is a Franciscan-influenced building dating from 1610. It contains a crucifix altar made of Lecce stone, created in 1691, an icon niche, two sacristy doors and an elaborately designed portal.

The Colonna dell’Osanna is a column made of Lecce stone, erected in 1620 and topped with a cross. The Chiesa Parrocchiale is accessible. In Marittima, Lecce stone can therefore be seen both in a crucifix altar and in a column.

In Marittima, towers, religious buildings and the column bring together different forms, materials and dates.

Rocky landscape and the Adriatic coast

Torre Lupo is one of the oldest coastal towers in Salento and dates from the late 15th or early 16th century. An old road leads from the historic centre of Marittima through rocky terrain with dovecotes and dry-stone walls to Torre Lupo. It ends on a hilltop overlooking the Adriatic coast. The starting point is the historic centre, and the endpoint is the hilltop.

For planning purposes, the town centre with its buildings and the route to Torre Lupo can be considered as distinct points of focus.

Destinations in the surrounding area

Several destinations with clearly distinct characteristics lie near Marittima: the Museo Naturalistico Marittima is a museum, the Castello di Castro is a castle, the Grotta Zinzulusa is a cave and the Spiaggia di Porto Miggiano is a beach.

The Palazzo Sticchi, a palace, and the Castello dei Gallone, a castle, are also located in the area around Marittima. Further afield in the region are the Spiaggia di Cala Casotto and the Spiaggia di Porto Grande, both beaches.

Festa della Fica and local specialities

The Festa della Fica originated in 2000 as a local festival launched by residents of Marittima.

At the Festa della Fica, visitors can sample fig products such as dried figs, candied figs, jams, sweet treats and taralli.

Further destinations

Further destinations include Salice Salentino, Marina Serra, Felline, Cerfignano, Tuglie, Posto Rosso, Villaggio Resta and Cutrofiano.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lecce.