Roca is the most striking coastline of the Melendugno Marine, as well as home to one of the ten most beautiful natural pools in the world: la Grotta della Poesia (the Cave of Poetry).
According to an ancient legend, a beautiful princess used to bathe in the salutiferous waters of the cave. Her beauty was so astounding that soon the news of her presence spread throughout Apulia. As a consequence, a group of poets from all over the Southern Italy began to visit that place to compose poems inspired by its beauty: someone wrote of the enchanting nymphs, others of the beautiful Eastern princesses, others of the lovely queens of the north. The fame of these poems lasted for so long that still today this place is known as the Cave of Poetry.
The Cave of Poetry today is literally assaulted by the locals and tourists who enjoy the beauty of this natural pool. We recommend getting there early because then many people arrive, even with umbrellas, making everything more chaotic. If you are brave, you can dive directly into this amazing pool connected to the sea. Otherwise, you can reach the pool through a staircase dug into the rock. It is better to have water shoes!
There, history and legend are intertwined: in the cave, recently, a place of Messapic worship has been discovered. Also, on the path connecting the Bear Tower to San Foca, there are the old Moca’s fortresses that can be easily admired. Furthermore, in the area, hypogea, crypts and remains of various ages from the Bronze Age can be observed.
The Cave of Poetry is located in Roca Vecchia, Marina di Melendugno, on the coastal road that leads to Torre dell’Orso. You cannot park your car near the area, but there are some private car parks (1€ per hour or 4-5€ for the whole day) and a few places along the coast.
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