Holiday apartment in Santa Cesarea Terme: thermal springs, coast and culture

Santa Cesarea Terme is a coastal town where thermal landscapes, the sea and architectural history open up several travel interests. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Santa Cesarea Terme, you can use the kind of day you want to plan as your starting point: Are you more interested in sulphurous springs, historic buildings, coastal destinations or a combination of nature and culture? The town’s distinctive features provide concrete starting points for this.

Thermal landscapes on the coast

Piscina Solfurea has a terrace cut into the rock, offering views of the Strait of Otranto. Along the coast of Santa Cesarea Terme there are natural caves from which sulphurous water emerges; this water is considered beneficial. The thermal landscape includes the four thermal caves Gattulla, Solfatara, Fetida and Solfurea. Sulphur-, salt-, bromine- and iodine-containing waters emerge from them at a temperature of 30 °C. This creates a clear focus for anyone who wants to combine the sea and thermal experiences in their travel plans.

Church, villas and thermal history

The development of Santa Cesarea Terme as a spa town began in the mid-19th century, when the springs attracted the attention of the medical community. The Chiesa del Sacro Cuore in the centre of Santa Cesarea Terme is a three-aisled church; it contains a chapel with a papier-mâché statue of Saint Cesaria. Villa Sticchi was built between 1894 and 1900 on behalf of Giovanni Pasca, the first concessionaire for the thermal use of Santa Cesarea. Villa Raffaella was built in the second half of the 19th century as the summer residence of Baroness Raffaella from the Lubelli family. Palazzo Tamborino dates from the early years of the 20th century. Alongside the thermal theme, these buildings provide several concrete points of reference for the town’s history.

Beaches, cave and nearby destinations

In the immediate surroundings of Santa Cesarea Terme are Palazzo Sticchi, a palace, and Castello di Castro, a castle. Spiaggia di Porto Miggiano, a beach, is also located nearby. In the surrounding area you will find Spiaggia di Cala Casotto and Spiaggia di Porto Grande, both beaches, as well as Grotta Zinzulusa, a cave. Also located in the area are Museo Naturalistico Marittima, a museum, and Circolo Ippico Tumara, an ancient site. These destinations broaden the coastal and thermal perspective to include architecture, history, beaches and nature.

Guidance for your holiday apartment

Along the coast of the Santa Cesarea Terme area, Torre Miggiano is one of the watchtowers. The Itinerario delle Ergate runs from Porto Badisco to Santa Cesarea Terme and back. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home in Santa Cesarea Terme, you can therefore consider whether you want your days to focus more on thermal water, buildings, beaches and caves, or on this route. With children or in a mixed group, these interests can be weighted differently.

More destinations

More destinations for your travel planning: Collemeto, Surbo, Gallipoli, Collepasso, Aradeo, Giuggianello, Casalabate, Posto Rosso.

To the overarching travel overview: Lecce.