racetrack
Nardò Ring
A perfectly circular 12.6 km high-speed test track in Puglia, so large it is visible from space. Owned by Porsche, it is where manufacturers chase top-speed records at over 400 km/h.
10 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeItalyApulia
Porto Cesareo
Apulia, Italy · Europe
About Porto Cesareo
Porto Cesareo is worth a stop: 15 minutes from Leverano, 45km from Grotta della Poesia.
Porto Cesareo is in Apulia, Italy, with about 4,300 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Leverano, about 9 km away.
Porto Cesareo (Italian pronunciation: [ˈpɔrto tʃeˈzaːreo]; Salentino: Cisaria) is a town and comune in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
The area around the sea of Porto Cesareo is an examplar of Maquis shrubland. Beyond the natural beauty, the sea of Porto Cesareo is useful forRead more
tourism thanks to the presence of a sandy bottom that remains low for tens of meters and more transparent waters recalling Caribbean atmospheres, as well as due to the large and very long beaches.
The coast is characterized by numerous capes, islets and reefs. Particularly important among these are: the large island, also known as the Isola dei Conigli ("Rabbits island"), Isola della Malva, Isola della Testa and Lo Scoglio.
The great natural and economic consequence of Porto Cesareo wealth is still represented by the totality of its sea, so valuable that a National Marine Park was established for its protection.
In 1971, professor P. Parenzan (from the Museum of Marine Biology) collected Iris revoluta (a rare species of Iris) on the islet of Mojuso near Porto Cesareo in the gulf of Taranto.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Porto Cesareo?
Within an hour or so of Porto Cesareo: Nardò Ring (10 km), Gallipoli (24 km), Lecce (25 km), Grotta della Poesia (45 km).
Are there any good drives near Porto Cesareo?
The nearest famous roads are Otranto to Leuca Coastal Road and Albanian Riviera Coastal Road.
Where is Porto Cesareo?
Porto Cesareo is in Apulia, Italy, about 9 km from Leverano.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 4,258
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Apulia
- Timezone
- Europe/Rome
- Coordinates
- 40.2623, 17.8990
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Italy
ACI roadside assistance: 803 116. ZTL (limited traffic zones) in city centres are camera-enforced.
Full driving guide for ItalyTags
Worth the detour from Porto Cesareo
7 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Gallipoli
A beautiful Puglian old town built on a limestone island connected to the mainland, surrounded by crystal-clear Ionian waters.
24 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Lecce
The Florence of the South, a Puglian city overflowing with extravagant Baroque architecture carved from warm golden limestone.
25 km · about 30 min drive
natural wonder
Grotta della Poesia
Near-circular limestone sinkhole pool at Roca Vecchia where the Adriatic filters through under the cliff: a natural swimming hole ringed by a Bronze Age and Messapian archaeological site. Best early morning before the crowds arrive.
45 km · about 50 min drive
natural wonder
Grotta Zinzulusa
A dramatic sea cave near Castro on the Salento coast, hung with stalactites above clear Adriatic water.
53 km · about 60 min drive
coastal drive
Otranto to Leuca Coastal Road
Salento's finest drive: the litoranea from Otranto to Santa Maria di Leuca hugs Adriatic cliffs past Porto Badisco, Castro and the Ciolo gorge bridge at Italy's heel.
53 km · about 60 min drive
landmark
Ostuni
The dazzling White City of Puglia, a hilltop labyrinth of whitewashed houses and narrow alleys overlooking ancient olive groves.
59 km · about 70 min drive
Driving roads near Porto Cesareo
- 53 kmOtranto to Leuca Coastal RoadSalento's finest drive: the litoranea from Otranto to Santa Maria di Leuca hugs Adriatic cliffs past Porto Badisco, Castro and the Ciolo gorge bridge at Italy's heel.
- 65 kmSanta Maria di LeucaThe dramatic tip of Italy's heel where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet beneath a lighthouse and sanctuary.
Driving in Italy
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€8.50/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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