One of Salento’s most recognisable scenes has changed pace. Entry to Grotta della Poesia and the archaeological area of Roca Vecchia now requires a ticket. Introduced for summer 2026, the change is intended to manage visitor numbers more carefully and protect a site of limestone cliffs, millennia-old inscriptions and medieval remains.
There is one important point that may catch some visitors out: paying for entry does not permit diving or swimming in the cave. The safety rules remain unchanged, and bathing is prohibited under orders that have been in force for years.
Mandatory ticket: cost and what it includes
Since 18 July 2026, access to the Roca Vecchia Archaeological Area, which includes both Grotta della Poesia Grande and Grotta della Poesia Piccola, has been regulated through a ticketing system. It was introduced for the summer season and will remain in place until the end of September.
The Municipality of Melendugno and the ArtWork co-operative have begun managing the site through the ArcheoRoca project, which aims to balance protection with public access.
The ticket is intended to support maintenance, services and guided visits. It does not change the safety or conservation rules. The area remains a place to observe and respect, not a natural swimming pool.
Ticket types and available options
It is useful to be aware of the main options before purchasing, both to avoid unnecessary queues and to select the most suitable visit.
- Standard ticket: €5 for visitors who are not residents of the Municipality of Melendugno.
- Residents: free entry.
- “Experience” ticket: €10, including a guided visit and a virtual-reality experience.
- Activity workshops: €10.
- Reduced tickets, family options and guided-visit packages: available, with conditions to be confirmed directly at the ticket office.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets can be purchased online or in person.
- Online through the ArcheoRoca portal.
- At the on-site ticket offices: Castello Area and Grotte della Poesia Area.
Summer 2026 opening hours and practical advice
The official opening hours published by ArcheoRoca provide extended daily opening during high season. The stated aim is to develop year-round management, though opening hours outside summer need to be checked individually.
- June and July: daily, 9:00 am–8:00 pm.
- August and September: daily, 9:00 am–7:00 pm.
Most of the paths are exposed to the sun and cross rocky, unpaved ground. The heat can be intense during the middle of the day, particularly for children and anyone not used to longer walks.
Swimming prohibited: the rules and why they apply
Paying for entry does not permit bathing, diving or using unauthorised routes down to the water. The restriction is not new for 2026. It refers to rules that have already been in force, including Port Authority Order No. 77 of 2014 and clarifications issued by the municipality in 2019 regarding swimming, access points cut into the rock and areas at risk of crumbling.
The main reason is safety. The limestone cliffs are exposed to the sea, wind and weather. Approaching the edges or diving can lead to falls, rock collapses and impact with submerged rocks.
There is also an archaeological conservation issue. Ancient inscriptions are concentrated mainly in Grotta della Poesia Piccola, which was a sanctuary during Messapian, Greek and Roman times.
The larger, much-photographed cave does not contain the same concentration of inscriptions.
Alternatives for swimming
Those hoping to get into the sea can head towards nearby Torre dell’Orso and San Foca. Beach flags, seasonal regulations and notices relating to cliff stability still need to be observed there.
What ArcheoRoca is and how management is changing
ArcheoRoca is a Special Public-Private Partnership between the Municipality of Melendugno and ArtWork. The programme covers management, conservation, public access and the development of the Roca Vecchia area and the Grotta della Poesia complex. It is set to run for 15 years, with the option of renewal for a further 15.
During the first four years, investment of €1.4 million has been announced, without costs for the municipality. The University of Salento and the ABAP Superintendency for Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto are involved in research, conservation and planning of the work.
What there is to visit: Roca Vecchia in brief
Stopping only to look over the large cave would mean missing the site’s most interesting side.
Roca Vecchia tells more than three thousand years of history, through layers spanning the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages and connections with the eastern Mediterranean.
The first fortified settlement dates back to the 17th century BC, with links to the Minoan and Mycenaean Aegean world. Excavations have uncovered walls, homes, places of worship and evidence of a siege during the 14th century BC.
During the Messapian period, between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, the site flourished again, enclosed by walls running for around 1,400 metres and containing streets, homes, wells and burial areas.
Grotta della Poesia Piccola was used as a sanctuary at the time. More than 3,000 inscriptions in Messapian, Greek and Latin have been recorded on its walls, forming an open-air archive of devotions and passages.
In the late Middle Ages, Roca was re-established by Gualtieri VI of Brienne, Count of Lecce. Sections of its walls, the castle and the citadel remain within the visitor route today.
Getting there and parking
Grotta della Poesia lies at Roca Vecchia, the coastal district of the Municipality of Melendugno, along the SP366 provincial road, also called the Litoranea Salentina, between San Foca and Torre dell’Orso. It is around 25 kilometres from Lecce and, in normal traffic, takes roughly half an hour by car via Melendugno and the coast.
During summer, temporary parking areas are opened in Melendugno’s coastal districts. Large car parks close to the entrances should not be assumed, as locations, charges and availability change according to the season and municipal measures.
Travelling without a car: Salento in Bus
For public-transport users, the Salento in Bus service operates in 2026 between 13 June and 13 September. The network connects Lecce with San Foca, Torre dell’Orso, Otranto and other coastal towns, including faster and evening services.
Article seen on The Wom Travel: La Grotta della Poesia cambia le regole: arriva il ticket d’ingresso
