The Serra of Cianci, 201 meters above sea level, is the largest high ground in the province of Lecce, part of the famous Serre Salentine, reliefs of modest height that go across Salento from Northwest to Southeast.   The name Serra of Cianci refers to that part of the greenhouse, in the territory of Alessano, that further north is called Serra dei Peccatori and then Serra Magnone, both in the territory of Specchia. It characterizes the territory of Specchia and Alessano and constitutes a continuous morphological sign in rural landscape with olive trees.   It is in fact organized with systems of terraces planted with olive trees, some of them centuries old, with trunks twisted and wrinkled, dominated by stone walls, pajare  and the evergreen vegetation of the ...

Padula Mancina is a swampy and marshy zone on the west of Montesano Salentino, in the direction of Ruffano, which is now a remnant of a larger and largely reclaimed wetland. It consists of a pond with a surface area of ​​2.5 hectares. The area is prone to periodic flooding due to the collection of rainwater that from here conveys through certain canals and results as a of particular natural interest. Recent surveys have allowed a census of the fauna and flora species existing in the area. The flora is mainly composed of marsh reeds (Arundo donax, Phragmites australis) along with the white morning glory (Calystegia sepium), the lisca lacustre (Schoenoplectus lacustris), the water iris and Typha (Typha latifolia). There are also the Mediterranean shrubs and a species of fern, Marsilea ...

The forest of Cardigliano is a SIC area of 54h located in the Municipality of Specchia at an altitude of about 165 meters above sea level. The forest is characterized by the presence of dense undergrowth consisting of arbutus and rare species of wild orchids. It presents impressive examples of thorny oak (Quercus spinosa), Kermes Oak (Quercus coccifera), Oleandro (Nerium oleander), Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), Myrtle (Myrtus), and Alaterna (Rhamnus alaternus) and common Ginestrella (Osyris alba). Among the Mediterranean species, you will recognize the Ruscolo pungitopo (Ruscus hypoglossum L.), the pungent Asparago (Asparagus acutifolius), the Robbia selvatica (Rubia peregrina), the Neapolitan Cyclamen and Mediterranean Carex (Cyperaceae).   ...

In the northeastern area of the town of Specchia, Serra Magnone denominates the section of greenhouse further on the south that takes the name of Serra dei Peccatori and Serra dei Cianci, respectively in the territory of Specchia and Alessano. The greenery, almost entirely planted with olive trees and organized in terracing on dry stone walls of containment, welcomes on the crest the Masseria del Monte, a rural settlement with a chapel dedicated to St. Anthony, dating back to the seventeenth century, as shown in the engraving: ‘HOC VILLA FUNDITUS CONSTRUCTA/ ET DOTATA FUIT TEMPORE GUARDIA/.ATUS ....BONAVENTURA .../ A.D. 1604’. The ruins of the oratory of St. Angelo, of which a cell with a small votive shrine is visible, are preserved in the highest part of the ...

The hill of Monte Orco is located on the northwest of Tricase, in the territory of Sant'Eufemia. It is a sloped hill that houses thorny oak trees which are up to 4 meters high. From the hill, which extends to the area of ​​ Santuario della Madonna di Fatima in Caprarica del Capo, anyone can enjoy a splendid view of the surrounding territory. For this reason, since 1976, the area has been chosen to represent the Presepe Vivente or Christ's Nativity. For twenty years now, the Presepe Vivente of Tricase attracts thousands of visitors every year.   In the representation of Christ's Nativity, local tradition-with men and women engaged in the most ancient Salentine crafts -is mixed with historical tradition, which involve a scrupulous representation of Roman sceneries like ...

The Bosco Macchia di Ponente is a protected wildlife characterized by the presence of monuments of rural civilization. The forest, which is  totally surrounded by a high wall, is inaccessible. It covers an area of ​​about 13 ha and is classified as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) since 1995. The forest is located in a flat and uniform landscape, characterized by forests and patches of Quercus Coccifera, and the substrate is characterized by red soil. ...

The Bosco Guarini is a forested area of ​​approximately 2.5 hectares of extension, located near the coast, about 50-80 m above sea level, which benefits from a particular type of hot and humid microclimate. It consists of lush holm oak (Quercus ilex), with exemplars of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), and an undergrowth formed by Laurus nobilis and Pistacia terebinthus. Numerous vallonia (Quercus macrolepis) are within the woods, including an exemplary secular trunk of 1 meter in diameter.   The Bosco Guarini expands from the hill down to Tricase Porto, in an area surrounded by stone walls. ...

The territory of Tricase is known for the presence of a particular kind of oak,from the Quercus macrolepis species, known as Vallonea. The area of ​​the Unico Biotopo represents the most conspicuous population of oaks, which for monolithic purity is defined as "forest".   It presents adult exemplars of notable dimension as well as young trees of "recent" planting. The forest can be reached bythe  local road "Finocchiaro” that from the church of the Vergine di Costantinopoli, leads to Borgo Pescatori.   In addition to its uniqueness and importance from an environmental perspective, the area of ​​ the Bosco has been set up with a children's playground and an equipped athletic course for adults, and is ...

The Bosco di Tricase is an integral part of the Parco Regionale Costa Otranto Santa Maria di Leuca - Bosco di Tricase, established in 2006 with the aim of protecting a remarkable natural heritage which includes Sites of Community Importance as the coast between Otranto and Leuca, the Bosco di Tricase and the Parco delle Querce of Castro.   The great fragmentation of forests in deciduous oak, due to human activities such as agriculture, grazing, urban settlements, has meant that the "Bosco delle Vallonee di Tricase" is the only forest of oak vallonea present in Italy with monolithic purity.   The proliferation of vallonea is due to the Mediterranean climate, but characterized by rainfall concentrated in the autumn. ...

The Quercia Vallonea of Tricase is an example of an exceptional dimension of Quercus macrolepis of more than 900 years old: the trunk, in fact, has a circumference of 4.25 m and the foliage covers an area of ​​approximately 700 m². The Quercia Vallonea rises in a narrow traffic island bordered by stone walls, along the Tricase -Tricase Porto road; other Vallonea oaks stand close to the centuries-old oak trees, within the same traffic island and in the surrounding area.   ...

The Bosco Le Chiuse, located in an area between the towns of Tricase and Tiggiano, is a small forest core, scenically captivating, because it is situated along the steep slopes downwards to the sea. It is primarily composed with Lecceta, which  in areas with higher altitude is replaced with a sparse tree lines of Vallonea oaks and shrubs of Elah. In the most steep parts, where outcroppings predominate,  species that are typically fluvial like Alyssum of Leuca, the Scrofularia Puglia (Scrophularia lucida) and Campanula Puglia can be found.   ...

The Cipolliane caves are of three divisions that open onto the cliff facing east, along the path between the Novaglie coast and on the area of the Ciolo canal. The caves, now about 30 meters above sea level, was once touched by the sea, as evidenced by the presence of shells, scallops and bivalve mollusks that cover the surface of the caves, caused by the erosive power of the ramming sea of Terziario. ...

Along the road that from Patù leads towards Marina di San Gregorio and to the remains of the Messapian-Roman port, following a path that follows the rural road conditions, characterized by red soil, dry stone walls, olive trees and distinct dry stone lodgings, a lush pine forest can be found, ideal for a short break before resuming the journey towards the sea. ...

The Bosco Boceto is located outside the town of Alessano and occupies a part of the escarpment that from the top of the Serra dei Cianci goes downwards the town of Crocifisso.   The forest is characterized by the typical vegetation of the area, made up mainly by the Mediterranean shrubs. We can distinguish the very dense coppice, the low undergrowth (suffruttici and shrubs), the high shrubbery with trees that can reach 4-5 meters in height, including oaks, kermes oak, olives, arbutus, laurel and many others.   ...

The Natural Park of Bosco Occhiazzi extends for about two hectares in the countryside of Ruffano, near the Serra leading to Casarano. The natural reserve is characterized by vegetation consisting mainly of Mediterranean shrubs and still conserves the typical flora and fauna of the zone in an ecosystem that survived an extensive type of cultivation and almost entirely preserved up to this day. Since 2008, it is possible to visit the park and enjoy nature using the specially designed trails, along natural tracks that cover the entire forest formed by the passage of humans and animals. The vegetation of the park includes numerous olive trees and many species typical of the Mediterranean shrubs, such as brooms, myrtle, rockrose and wild orchids. Many species of insects, amphibians, ...