Marina di Guardiola is one of the seaside areas of the Municipality of Corsano, located in the southern part of Salento. It features a rugged coastline where the beauty of the Adriatic Sea—with its salty scent—meets the wild plants of the Mediterranean scrub, shaded by holm oaks and maritime pines.
The many caves found here are archaeological treasures, with evidence dating
from the Paleolithic to the Messapian, Roman, and Medieval periods. Perched
on a rocky promontory—with steep terraces bordered by dry-stone walls and covered in shrubs, Mediterranean vegetation, and olive trees—stands Torre Specchia Grande, a defensive watchtower built in the 1500s to protect the territory.
Among the traditional dry-stone walls and old rural dwellings known as pajare, you’ll find ancient paths leading directly to the cliffs: “Le Vie del Sale” (The Salt Roads), recently restored and now open for tourism, cultural exploration, and trekking enthusiasts.
You can reach Marina di Guardiola by car via the A14 motorway, taking the Bari Nord exit and continuing along the Brindisi-Lecce highway, which leads to the city of Lecce. From there, follow the road signs towards Santa Maria di Leuca.
For those who prefer to travel by train, you can reach Lecce with Trenitalia, then take a local train to Tricase or Corsano-Alessano stations with the regional railway company FSE – Ferrovie del Sud Est.
Once in Lecce or in the Capo di Leuca area, you can also use the Stp – Terra d’Otranto bus service.
If you’re flying into Salento, the nearest airport is Brindisi Airport (Papola – Casale), where you can rent a car through Tinoleggio for convenient onward travel.