Overlooking the Gulf of Taranto, Santa Maria al Bagno is a charming fishing village on Puglia’s Ionian coast. It lies partway between Gallipoli and Port Cesareo and is surrounded by beautiful beaches, plus a national park that serves as a green lung for the region.
You can learn about Santa Maria al Bagno’s World War II history at the Museum of Memory and Welcome, which details the thousands who travelled through the village en route to Israel. Kids will love a visit to the Aquarium of Salento, where they can get up close to marine species native to the area.
Santa Maria al Bagno makes an excellent base for visiting Parco Naturale Regionale Porto Selvaggio, which protects a native tract of pine forest and pebbly beaches. On the other side of the village is Spiaggia Padula Bianca, where you’ll find several lidos with beach umbrellas and sun loungers for rent.
Getting there
Santa Maria al Bagno is around 30 minutes’ drive from Lecce and 45 minutes from Salento Airport, which has seasonal flights to destinations across Europe. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Santa Maria al Bagno and the village is small enough to explore on foot.