57 Towers
57 Towers is a coastal itinerary that connects the ancient watchtowers of Salento, following the natural line of the Ionian, Adriatic, and Tyrrhenian coasts.
The project is developed through collaboration with the municipalities where the towers are located, with the aim of creating a structured, accessible route that can be progressively consolidated. It is a system designed to enhance the coastal heritage and make it accessible through a sporting and nature-based experience.
It is not conceived as a single, fixed route, but as a network that can be explored in different ways. It can be undertaken on foot or by bicycle, either continuously or in stages over time. The entire itinerary can be completed, or individual sections and towers can be chosen according to one’s own pace and possibilities.
Structure of the itinerary
The route follows a sequence of 57 coastal towers, which together form a continuous line of observation across the landscape, bearing witness to the defensive history of the territory.
It extends for approximately 200 kilometers across the historic and coastal area of Salento, from Santa Maria di Leuca to Punta Prosciutto on the Ionian side and Casalabate on the Adriatic side.
This is a compact yet highly diverse territory, where the sea constantly changes in character and the coastline alternates in form, color, and depth. The towers become reference points along this natural line, marking distances and perspectives.
The meaning of the route
The itinerary lends itself to different modes of use. It can be approached from a sporting perspective, including competitive or training purposes, or at a slower pace as a hiking experience, also suitable for families.
The experience functions as a tool for enhancing and showcasing the territory, bringing together a broad and varied landscape that ranges from more untouched natural environments to more developed coastal areas.
It can also be experienced in a flexible way, by covering individual sections or using it as a reference for visiting the coastal towers.
Travel times
Travel time is indicative and varies depending on the chosen mode.
The full route takes on average between 8 and 12 days on foot and between 2 and 4 days by bicycle.
The journey
A structure that can be experienced according to different preferences and timeframes, either continuously or in fragments, without losing its coherence.
57 Towers connects a complex territory, shaping a unified reading through the relationship between landscapes, landmarks, and identities.
It is a dimension that can only be fully understood by experiencing it: a journey that gives back what cannot be conveyed in words and that, within the Apulian context, has no real equivalent today.