The coastal towers of Salento trace a geographical map that tells a story of invasions, but their presence is also a symbol of resistance and pride. Today the walls of the towers are soaked in salt, they have lost all defensive tension and what remains is the ancient charm, even when they become ruins. Among these is Torre Uluzzo which has partially collapsed, but is an unmistakable presence on the Ionian coast of Salento.
Torre Uluzzo, about 12 km from Nardò, is one of the coastal towers of the Porto Selvaggio Natural Park and is smaller in size than Torre dell’Alto and Torre dell’Inserraglio. It was built after the mid-sixteenth century, now it no longer has a roof and only the walls built with irregular stone blocks remain standing. However, time has not affected its charm and from the rocky spur on which it was built, it dominates one of the most evocative and unspoiled inlets of Salento.
What does Uluzzo mean?
Uluzzo is the name of the tower and the bay but in turn is inspired by the flowers of the asphodel, in the Salento dialect u luzzu . Its flowers are similar to the lily and every spring, when the bloom explodes, they invade the sunny and rocky grounds.
The Torre di Uluzzo can be reached on foot, via a dirt path accessible from the coastal road between Santa Caterina and Sant'Isidoro, a path marked by prickly pears, red earth fields, dry stone walls and also a large straw . From a nearby private villa there is a passage not open to the public, a hidden tunnel that leads directly to the sea.
From the promontory of the tower the view of the sea is breathtaking and it is even more so at sunset, when you can breathe the feeling of peace in the air. It is also a fairly popular place even in winter, when the cold makes nature even more harsh.
The Grotta di Uluzzo
This stretch of coast is also characterized by the presence of several karst cavities and one of these is the Grotta di Uluzzo located immediately below the tower, overlooking the sea, therefore difficult to reach. Instead, looking south, you can see the entrance to the Grotta del Cavallo which seems very far away, but can be reached via a guided path in the park.
The Grotta di Uluzzo and the Grotta del Cavallo have returned archaeological evidence on the life of prehistoric man, in fact in this area are located the culture of the Uluzzo and the fossil evidence of the first Sapiens man in Europe.
The archaeological evidence has been studied by experts from all over the world and today they are kept and told by the Museum of Prehistory of Nardò.
