The ancient Castrum Minervae, a Roman military outpost, corresponds to the current city of Castro, a municipality of 2,426 inhabitants in the Province of Lecce (Puglia, Italy).
The municipal territory, located along the eastern coast of the Salento peninsula, is divided between the main town (Castro Alta), of which the charming medieval village survives, perched on a promontory 98 meters above sea level, and the lower town (Castro Marina), which developed around the marina.

A seaside resort with a strong maritime vocation, linked to fishing traditions, it boasts ancient origins as the heir of the Roman Castrum Minervae. The city’s territory is enriched by unique cave sites from a biological and karst perspective, such as Grotta Zinzulusa and Grotta Romanelli, which have yielded extraordinary archaeological evidence from prehistoric times. The city’s promontory (Punta Mucurune) was fortified as early as the 2nd millennium BC. BC and has been permanently populated, albeit with varying fortunes, to this day.

The ancient site experienced moments of splendor under the Messapians, playing an important role as an emporium with a port. A Roman colony, after the war against Taranto, it retained its full mercantile and strategic importance for the control of the Strait of Otranto (Ionos Poros to the Greeks), even in the Byzantine era.
In the Middle Ages, it was the seat of a diocese and a county, governing a large territory with numerous hamlets. The diocese and county were abolished in the early 19th century.

The municipality, autonomous since 1978, has recovered its historical, architectural, and monumental heritage and is currently undertaking numerous archaeological excavation campaigns in collaboration with the University of Salento.
A renowned tourist and seaside resort for decades, it has boasted the coveted European Blue Flag for eight years and the Legambiente 5 and 4 Sails for the last two years. It was elevated to the status of “City” by a decree of President Mattarella on June 20, 2017, for “memories, historical monuments, and current importance,” following a report from the Minister of the Interior.
It boasts a twinning relationship with the city of Edremit in Turkey, by virtue of Castro’s recognition as the landing place of the legendary Homeric hero Aeneas, in Book III of the Aeneid.

BY CAR
Bari Nord motorway exit
Adriatic State Road 16 Bari-Lecce 150 km
Lecce – Castro 48 km

BY TRAIN
Lecce State Railway Station
To continue by train: Ferrovia Sud-Est Lecce – Poggiardo
To continue by bus: Autolinee S.T.P. di Terra d’Otranto

BY PLANE
Salento Airport in Brindisi
Shuttle to Lecce