Santa Cesarea Terme
Encyclopedia
Santa Cesarea Terme is a town and comune
of 3,100 inhabitants in province
of Lecce
, in Apulia
, southern Italy.
Situated on the coast at the beginning of the Otranto
canal on a terrace of the coast which comes down to the sea, the town of Santa Cesarea is one of the most important centres of care of Salento
. The exploitation of the waters, coming from four caves, dates back to 1500 and on these caves is based the economy of the whole town with the constitution of different thermal establishments
equipped for the caring of the baths and the muds with the possibility of other therapies.
An ancient local legend claims that the area got its name because a young woman called Cisaria fled from her abusive father and hiding in one of the many grottos, lost her life when she slipped and fell into the hot waters below, an alternative version of the legend claims that it was the pursuing father who slipped and died.
A relatively new town, its development on a rocky coastline, riddled with underground caverns and fissured rock strata was encouraged by the presence of hot natural springs.
These hot mineral springs, with thermal waters rich in iodine, sulphurs and sodium chloride, rising up through the porous bedrock of the area from deep underground, have formed a network of aquifers that puncture the underlying rock strata before draining through cave systems into the cold salty waters of the Adriatic Sea.
The most significant of these sulphurous grottos are the four cisterns of Feidida, Solfurea, Gattula and Solfatura whose endless waters at different temperature ranges have encouraged the towns development into a renowned Spa, and today, its range of thermal baths support an important health centre bringing tourists and visitors from all over Italy and further beyond.
Known throughout early history, it was only in the 1700’s that upper class citizens and the local aristocracy started to build residences here for holidaying whilst indulging in the health giving waters of the mineral springs.
Over the years magnificent Villas, Palazzos and extravagant summer residences extended the town, and elegant avenues connected them whilst the towns heart developed with fashionable hotels and accommodations for visitors from further afield.
Some of the more indulgent residences were designed and constructed in extravagant styles such as Palazzo Sticchi, hanging from the cliff face and whose Moorish architecture
impresses all who see it, and Villa Raffaella now converted to luxurious apartments.
Today the town is a tourist destination, with the seafront promenades thronged with cafes and small shops, pizzerias and restaurants, where it is possible to sip coffee or dine al-fresco on the outside terraces with views to the sea just 100 metres away.
The thermal baths are open from May through till November, and nowadays the waters are regulated at a temperature of less than 40° Celsius as indicated for therapeutic usage. The various hot mud and mineral treatments combat arthritic
and rheumatoid
problems, as well as respiratory, dermatological, trauma and stress ailments. They are also recommended for general well being and beauty treatments.
Behind the town, the scenery comprises low rolling hill, interspersed with long rocky outcrops covered with low Mediterranean shrubland, comprising grassland and scrub, tangy with the smell of wild herbs whilst in springtime and early summer a riot of colour from the wild flowers carpets the area.
The landscape disintegrates into a rocky litoranea tumbling into the sea and stretching away to the north and south in a fractured coastline, with deep blue water foaming at the lands edge, whilst small sandy coves such as Porto Miggiano break up the rocky coastal ridges that are woven with half submerged caverns and grottoes.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of 3,100 inhabitants in province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
of Lecce
Lecce
Lecce is a historic city of 95,200 inhabitants in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Lecce, the second province in the region by population, as well as one of the most important cities of Puglia...
, in Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
, southern Italy.
Situated on the coast at the beginning of the Otranto
Otranto
Otranto is a town and comune in the province of Lecce , in a fertile region once famous for its breed of horses.It is located on the east coast of the Salento peninsula. The Strait of Otranto, to which the city gives its name, connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and Italy with Albania...
canal on a terrace of the coast which comes down to the sea, the town of Santa Cesarea is one of the most important centres of care of Salento
Salento
Salento is the south-eastern extremity of the Apulia region of Italy. It is a sub-peninsula of the main Italian Peninsula, sometimes described as the "heel" of the Italian "boot"...
. The exploitation of the waters, coming from four caves, dates back to 1500 and on these caves is based the economy of the whole town with the constitution of different thermal establishments
Thermal bath
A thermal bath is a warm body of water. It is often referred to as a spa, which is traditionally used to mean a place where the water is believed to have special health-giving properties, though note that many spas offer cold water or mineral water treatments.A thermal bath may be part of a...
equipped for the caring of the baths and the muds with the possibility of other therapies.
An ancient local legend claims that the area got its name because a young woman called Cisaria fled from her abusive father and hiding in one of the many grottos, lost her life when she slipped and fell into the hot waters below, an alternative version of the legend claims that it was the pursuing father who slipped and died.
A relatively new town, its development on a rocky coastline, riddled with underground caverns and fissured rock strata was encouraged by the presence of hot natural springs.
These hot mineral springs, with thermal waters rich in iodine, sulphurs and sodium chloride, rising up through the porous bedrock of the area from deep underground, have formed a network of aquifers that puncture the underlying rock strata before draining through cave systems into the cold salty waters of the Adriatic Sea.
The most significant of these sulphurous grottos are the four cisterns of Feidida, Solfurea, Gattula and Solfatura whose endless waters at different temperature ranges have encouraged the towns development into a renowned Spa, and today, its range of thermal baths support an important health centre bringing tourists and visitors from all over Italy and further beyond.
Known throughout early history, it was only in the 1700’s that upper class citizens and the local aristocracy started to build residences here for holidaying whilst indulging in the health giving waters of the mineral springs.
Over the years magnificent Villas, Palazzos and extravagant summer residences extended the town, and elegant avenues connected them whilst the towns heart developed with fashionable hotels and accommodations for visitors from further afield.
Some of the more indulgent residences were designed and constructed in extravagant styles such as Palazzo Sticchi, hanging from the cliff face and whose Moorish architecture
Moorish architecture
Moorish architecture is the western term used to describe the articulated Berber-Islamic architecture of North Africa and Al-Andalus.-Characteristic elements:...
impresses all who see it, and Villa Raffaella now converted to luxurious apartments.
Today the town is a tourist destination, with the seafront promenades thronged with cafes and small shops, pizzerias and restaurants, where it is possible to sip coffee or dine al-fresco on the outside terraces with views to the sea just 100 metres away.
The thermal baths are open from May through till November, and nowadays the waters are regulated at a temperature of less than 40° Celsius as indicated for therapeutic usage. The various hot mud and mineral treatments combat arthritic
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
and rheumatoid
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
problems, as well as respiratory, dermatological, trauma and stress ailments. They are also recommended for general well being and beauty treatments.
Behind the town, the scenery comprises low rolling hill, interspersed with long rocky outcrops covered with low Mediterranean shrubland, comprising grassland and scrub, tangy with the smell of wild herbs whilst in springtime and early summer a riot of colour from the wild flowers carpets the area.
The landscape disintegrates into a rocky litoranea tumbling into the sea and stretching away to the north and south in a fractured coastline, with deep blue water foaming at the lands edge, whilst small sandy coves such as Porto Miggiano break up the rocky coastal ridges that are woven with half submerged caverns and grottoes.