Walking on Mars
The Bauxite Cave of Otranto | ita: Cava di Bauxite di Otranto|, located in the low Salento, is a neglected quarry used between 1940 and 1976. After that, the quarry was totally abandoned, and nature took its own place.
The intense emerald colour lake is for sure the peculiarity of this site. It is probably generated by the infiltrations from the aquifers nearby.
Into the Bauxite Cave of Otranto| ita: Cava di Bauxite di Otranto|, the characteristic dark red colour of the rocky walls is determined by the minerals contained in the Bauxite rock, which is the main element for aluminium composition.

The bright green of the vegetation and the little lake is pulled out thanks to the great contrast developed with the red rocks.
This fantastic site is one of the most natural and pristine attractions in the Salento area.
The Bauxite Cave of Otranto is a very distinctive hiking area, it is not a big area, but walking on the red dunes makes good feelings: it really seems to walk on Mars.
Quite close to the Bauxite Cave, the city of Otranto gives you the chance to rest for a while in a typical restaurant, before running towards the beach and enjoying the beautiful Salento sea.






Unfortunately, none is actually taking care of this site, which means either that the nature is lush and uncontaminated, but also that there’s not a real Authority to contact to arrange a guided tour in the Bauxite Cave of Otranto.
So, for more information, please, contact the Otranto Municipality and the Touristic Info Point by the contact area below.
In Puglia, there’s another stunning site like this one: Bauxite Cave of Spinazzola, located in the Land of Bari, accurately in the National Park of Alta Murgia. Visit the links to watch more about them.
Update > Some people said that from 2019 there’s a ticket you should pay for visiting the Bauxite Cave of Otranto, so we advise to contact the info Point before coming and the forecast too, it’s pretty hard to explore it while it’s raining.
- Campomarino di Maruggio
- Porto Miggiano
- Casamassima
- Punta Prosciutto beach
- The “Saline” of Margherita di Savoia
- Ostuni the White City
- Umbra Forest
- The Cummerse of Locorotondo
- Trabucchi in Gargano
- Bagnarole in Leuca
- Aeneas’ landing
- Santa Maria di Leuca
- Zinzulusa Caves
- M.A.R.T.A. Taranto
- Bovino’s Ducal Castle
- Castellana Caves
- Egnazia
- Doric Columns
- Taranto Castle
- Grottaglie, art in caves
- Tremiti Islands
- Alberobello Trulli
- Celle di San Vito
- Archaeological Park of Siponto
- Bari city
- Cala Monachile
- Two Sisters Beach
- Poetry Cave
- Castel del Monte
- Sea stacks of Sant'Andrea
- Rocca del Garagnone
- Torre Colimena
- Torre Guaceto
- Alta Murgia
- Bauxite Cave of Spinazzola
- Bauxite Cave of Otranto
What's the weather like there
Lecce weather
Otranto weather
Info Points nearby
Otranto
Info point Harbour
Harbour | Via del Porto
Tel. +39 0836 801436
info.otranto@viaggiareinpuglia.it
Info point Castle
Castle | Piazza Castello
+39 0836 210407
info.otranto@viaggiareinpuglia.it
Lecce
Info Point Sedile Palace
Sedile Palace | Piazza Sant’Oronzo
Tel. +39 0832 242099
info.lecce@viaggiareinpuglia.it
Info Point Castle
Castle Carlo V | Viale XXV Luglio
Tel. +39 0832 246517
info.lecce@viaggiareinpuglia.it