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Le Cesine Nature Reserve stretches over some 860 acres, including the wonderful oasis managed by the WWF; this reserve was established in the municipality of Vernole, in the province of Lecce.

It once used to be just a swamp, from Brindisi to Otranto, and thus a very unhealthy place, cursed by mosquitoes. The reclamation work took place at the end of the XIX century mainly for agricultural need and the land reform act of the early 1950s entrusted 865 acres to the Puglia Region, while some other 741 were granted to several local owners and to Le Cesine project.

Today, this is a very popular area for tourists and birdwatchers: it is, in fact, set along one of the main migratory routes crossing the whole Italian peninsula.

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Masseria Le Cesine (“Le Cesine Farm”) is one of the most interesting places within this reserve; it is actually made of several buildings dating back to different historical periods. The oldest part is the tower, built at the end of the XVI century as a military outpost: from its top, visitors can actually see the other watchtowers of San Cataldo and Torre Specchia in the distance.
At the end of the XVII century, the first part of the farm was built, to be annexed to the farmer’s residence at the end of the following century.

The new restoration and expansion works have added a visitor centre equipped with a guesthouse, an auditorium, and a refreshment kiosk: it’s the perfect “base camp” school trips, groups of tourists, families and nature lovers.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)