The beach and coastline
The free beach nearest the tower ruins occupies a small cove. The shore combines sand, small pebbles and low rocks, with Mediterranean scrub and dune areas behind it.
Along the coast there are broader sandy stretches, partly occupied by beach clubs and partly free beach. The shape of the small coves and the amount of sand can change after wind and storms.
The spunnulate and nature reserve
The Palude del Conte e Duna Costiera Reserve lies entirely within the Municipality of Porto Cesareo and covers almost 900 hectares. It protects dunes, wetlands, Mediterranean scrub and coastal habitats connected with the Marine Protected Area.
The Torre Castiglione area is known for its spunnulate: groundwater outcrops created by karst erosion, surrounded by vegetation adapted to brackish environments. They are delicate landscape features, not simply pools of water.
The ruins of Torre Castiglione
The Puglia Region dates construction of the tower to around 1568. It formed part of the 16th-century network of coastal watchtowers built to defend the shore from threats arriving by sea.
The building stood between Torre Lapillo and Torre Colimena. Only ruins remain today, but they still identify the resort and overlook the rocky coastline.
