One of the most photographed landscape jewels of Salento radically changes its access model to defend an exceptionally fragile natural heritage. In the municipal area of ​​Melendugno, in the town of Roca Vecchia in the province of Lecce, access to the famous Caves of Poetry, the natural pools carved into the rock, will be regulated by an ordinary entry ticket worth 5 euros valid from 19 July 2026 until the end of September.
The measure was born from the ArcheoRoca project, a strategic partnership between the local municipal council and the ArtWork association. The main intent is to curb the impact of summer tourist overcrowding, channeling daily flows to directly finance ordinary maintenance interventions, video surveillance and archaeological protection activities.
@ArcheoRoca
Access rules, times and free admission for the local community
The new tariff regulation establishes precise distinctions to protect the citizens of the area. While tourists will pay the standard fee of 5 euros for entry (previously it was 3 euros), the residents of Melendugno retain the right to completely free access, while special rates have been set up for organized groups and families.
Tickets can be purchased through the dedicated digital platform or on site at the two ticket offices installed in the cavity area and near the Castle. The site remains accessible every day continuously: from 9:00 to 20:00 for the entire month of July, and from 9:00 to 19:00 in the following months of August and September.
An archaeological journey prohibited for swimming
Visiting the two famous rocky inlets of Poesia Grande and Poesia Piccola means immersing yourself in a thousand-year history. The organization underlines that diving and bathing are categorically prohibited, as is entry into the underground tunnels: the raised panoramic routes allow you to admire the cavities from above in complete safety.
The cost of the ticket includes an integrated guided itinerary in the entire archaeological park of Roca Vecchia, famous for its Messapian, Greek and Latin rock engravings. Visitors can also enrich their exploration by renting dedicated audio guides or experimenting with immersive routes based on virtual reality viewers, designed to show the ancient Bronze Age fortress and retrace the historical phases preceding the Turkish incursions.
