Grotta della Poesia: what to know before visiting today
The change from the past is fundamental here: it is no longer a place to plan for swimming or jumping. Today you need to think in terms of a visit, ticket, archaeological route, parking and nearby services.
Not a beach: a natural cavity within an archaeological site
Poesia Grande is a large open-air karst cavity connected to the sea, beside Poesia Piccola. The latter preserves hundreds of inscriptions and ancient marks that testify to the sacred use of the place in Messapian, Greek and Roman times.
The right way to experience it
Come mainly for the landscape, photography and the history of Roca Vecchia. Do not plan the visit as if it were a beach day.
What changed in 2026
From 2026 management entered the new ArcheoRoca phase, created through a partnership between the Municipality of Melendugno and ArtWork. The area reopened with visitor reception, ticketing, a visitor route, audio guide and multimedia experiences.
The difference from old photos
Historic images of people swimming and jumping show the place in the past, not the way Grotta della Poesia is visited today.
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Tickets and summer 2026 opening hours
The standard ticket listed on the official ArcheoRoca website costs €5. Published opening hours are 09:00–20:00 in July and 09:00–19:00 in August and September. Reductions are available and admission is free for residents of the Municipality of Melendugno.
Before you go
Always check the official ArcheoRoca website on the day of your visit: opening hours, exceptional closures and events can change.
Swimming and jumping: both are now prohibited
Grotta della Poesia was also famous for jumps from different heights. Today swimming and jumping in the cavity are not allowed: the site is fragile from both geomorphological and archaeological perspectives, and visits take place from the designated routes.
Do not be misled by old videos
If you find videos online showing people in the water, treat them as historical material or behaviour that does not comply with current rules. Do not climb down into the cavity or cross the barriers.
Parking: arrive via the SP366 and leave the car near the site
The entrance is reached from the SP366 coastal road at Roca Vecchia. Parking areas are available close to the archaeological site; during the summer season the Municipality of Melendugno manages paid parking and temporary parking areas in its seaside resorts.
We do not invent a price
We do not publish a parking tariff because we did not find an official 2026 document giving the specific price for parking in front of the Grotta. Always read the parking meter and signs on the day.
Accessibility: a walking visit, not sea access
ISPRA describes access to the site on foot, and ArcheoRoca has organised a visitor route through the area. The setting remains a rocky coast and archaeological site: we did not find an official certification allowing the whole route to be described as fully accessible to wheelchairs.
For specific needs
If you have reduced mobility, contact ArcheoRoca before travelling and ask which sections are actually accessible. The 2026 project includes further work to improve paths and accessibility.
Bars and refreshments nearby
Roca Vecchia is a tourist destination and there are refreshment businesses close to the archaeological area. We do not publish a specific link, however, until the business website is reachable and verified.
Practical tip
If you visit during the hottest hours, bring water with you anyway and check on site which businesses are open that day.
Water and “seabed”: the idea is different here
Poesia is a natural cavity connected to the sea, not a beach with a shoreline and gradually deepening seabed. The water can look turquoise and very deep from above, but today it should not be treated as a bathing area because entry into the water is prohibited.
What to look at
Look at the shape of the cavity, its connection with the sea and the colours of the water: these are the features that make the visit special.
Poesia Piccola explains why the place is protected
Poesia Piccola preserves hundreds of engravings and votive inscriptions. It is one of the reasons Grotta della Poesia should be understood together with the Roca Vecchia archaeological site, not only as a photogenic natural pool.
It is worth understanding what you are looking at
If you have time, use the audio guide or visit the Castello area too: the landscape becomes much more interesting when the cave is connected with the history of the settlement.
What to bring
Comfortable shoes, water, a hat and sun protection are more useful than swimwear and a mask: the visit is on foot, outdoors and does not include swimming in the Grotta.
In midsummer
If you can, avoid the hottest middle hours of the day. The visit makes more sense with good light for photographs and enough time to see Roca Vecchia as well.
