Porto Cesareo Submerged Archaeological Park Opens to Public

The submerged and coastal archaeological park of Porto Cesareo was officially inaugurated on 24 July 2026 at Scalo di Furno. The ceremony was attended by local and regional officials, including Mayor Francesco Schito, Puglia President Antonio Decaro, Prefect Natalino Manno and representatives from cultural and environmental agencies.

The park showcases a Bronze‑Age settlement that emerges from the sea and a Roman necropolis lying on the seabed near Torre Chianca. Visitors can explore the sites on foot along the shoreline or by snorkeling and diving from floating platforms. On 25 July the park opened to the public with free, reservation‑based activities: guided “archaeowalking” tours, archeosnorkeling, a solar‑powered boat tour, canoe and SUP excursions, and electric‑bike rentals. The day concluded with a Candle Harmony Concert.

The project is part of the regional Smart‑In Archaeology program and aims to make previously invisible underwater heritage accessible for education and tourism.