Turquoise water
Visible bottom.
FrDr — CC BY-SA 4.0 · FrDr — CC BY-SA 4.0 · FrDr — CC BY-SA 4.0 · FrDr — CC BY-SA 4.0 · FrDr — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Grotta della Poesia is a natural pool at the Roca Vecchia archaeological site on the Salento coast of Apulia, southern Italy, in the municipality of Melendugno, about 23 km east of Lecce in a straight line. It is one of the best-known rock formations at the site. The site is really two karst caves whose roofs collapsed, about 60 metres apart, each reached by seawater through a channel that can be swum. The larger is roughly oval, about 30 by 18 metres, and lies about 30 metres from the open sea. One explanation traces its name to a Greek word for a freshwater spring. In 1983 an archaeologist found inscriptions in three ancient languages on the walls of the smaller cave. Walls of white-gold limestone ring the pool, which is filled with clear turquoise water showing the rocky bottom. The water connects to the open blue sea through a channel beneath the rock, and flat rocks spread around it above the sea. Visitors come in summer to admire the clear water, and some swim in the pool. The rock is sharp and slippery, so watch your step. It is a busy tourist spot in summer, so mornings are quieter.
Visible bottom.
White-gold.
Beneath the rock.
Roca Vecchia, Melendugno, Lecce, Apulia, Italy
A natural pool linked to the sea.
Sharp and slippery, so take care.