Perched atop a cliff, Melendugno is a charming town south-east of Lecce in Italy’s Puglia region. It is a popular base for exploring the spectacular karst landscapes of the Adriatic coastline while it’s also a stone’s throw from a huge museum dedicated to the area’s natural history.
Things to do in Melendugno Lecce
On the edge of Melendugno is the Palazzo Baronale D'Amely, which was originally built as a small castle at the beginning of the 16th century. Designed by the famous military architect Gian Giacomo dell’Acaya, it was intended to serve as a watchtower during a period of Ottoman raids. Take note of the D’Amely family coat of arms on the facade of the palazzo before exploring its star-pointed plan.
For a day at the beach, head to Torre dell’Orso to find crystal clear waters and fine white sands backed by the remains of a 16th-century castle. To the south are the striking rock formations of the Torre Sant’Andrea, while to the north is the Cave of Poetry. Entrance to this clifftop swimming pool includes access to the adjacent Archaeological Area of Roca Vecchia.
In nearby Calimera is the Natural History Museum of Salento, which occupies the former Convent of San Pasquale of Babylon. It is one of the largest museums in southern Italy, with over 2,000 square metres of exhibition space that includes a large butterfly house filled with tropical insects. In addition to being a centre of research and education, the museum plays an important role in the rehabilitation of local wildlife.
Getting around Melendugno Lecce
Melendugno is around 20 minutes’ drive from Lecce and an hour from Brindisi Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular buses connect to Melendugno and the town centre is compact enough to explore on foot.