The Ponte del Ciolo is one of the most spectacular places in the Salento: a road bridge thrown across two cliffs above a narrow, deep inlet of the Adriatic. People come for the view, to swim in very clear water and to dive — and a flight of steps takes you down to a tiny beach. Here is where it is, how to swim there and what to know.
Where the Ponte del Ciolo is
The Ponte del Ciolo is at Gagliano del Capo, a little north of Santa Maria di Leuca. It is a quarter of an hour’s drive along the coast road from Leuca towards Otranto. The bridge spans a stretch of Adriatic coast made of towering cliffs and a deep, crystal-clear sea.
It is especially loved by people who do water sports: snorkelling, diving, freediving. Nature has the upper hand here, the colours are intense, and you will rarely find crowds. But you do need to be able to swim: the water is deep.
The bridge and the Ciolo cave
The bridge was built in the 1960s to join the two sides of the inlet. It is about 40 metres high and 60 long, over a deep cove held between two sheer cliffs. Some people jump from it, but diving off the bridge is forbidden and dangerous, from that height and into sea 20 to 30 metres deep.
Under the bridge is the Ciolo cave, carved out by the sea. It is not the only one around: swim along the coast or take a boat trip and you will find others. The Grotta Grande, which locals also call the cave of the Sparrows, of the Spirits or of the Little Lake, holds a freshwater spring that turns it into a small lake. In the Grotta delle Prazziche archaeologists and cavers have found prehistoric remains. The Grotta Piccola, around 100 metres deep, is where a monk seal was sighted some years ago.
Things to do around the Ciolo
Besides swimming, you can go canoeing, walk the cliffs around the inlet, climb, and watch the birds.
Down to the sea: the steps and the little beach
You do not have to jump to swim in the sea below. Take the steps on the south side of the bridge — a hundred or so — down to sea level. At the bottom there is a thin strip of sand, a tiny beach from which you get into the water. Careful: it does not shelve gently, and after a few metres you are already in deep water. There is also a small concrete landing that local fishermen use for their boats.
The hundred steps, in practice. The way down from the road to the sea is about a hundred steps: ten to fifteen minutes, not trivial but manageable for anyone in normal shape. Wear shoes with a proper sole, both for the steps and for getting into the water over a rocky bottom. The climb back up, still wet, is cooler but takes the same effort as the way down.
Practical information: parking and wind
At the Ponte del Ciolo there is a small car park south of the bridge, with a few spaces and a bar, next to the top of the steps. Otherwise you can park in Gagliano del Capo and walk.
The sea under the bridge is usually calm, sheltered by the rocks. Some days swimming is not advisable, above all when the scirocco is blowing and whips up the sea. Westerly winds, the ponente, are ideal; the tramontana or a north-easterly can be a little annoying. To choose a coast by the day’s wind, see our page on the beaches of the Salento.
