Le Cesine Nature Reserve – Puglia: secret ponds, sand dunes and silence of water between sea and wild land. The Le Cesine Nature Reserve extends along the Adriatic coast between San Cataldo and Otranto, a few kilometers from Lecce. It is one of the last coastal wetlands to survive the ancient coastal forest that once covered Salento. Today it is a WWF oasis of international importance, where lagoons, reeds, woods and dunes create a delicate ecosystem, populated by migratory birds and rare species. 🪶 A freshwater refuge between dunes and sky: The reserve is dominated by two large ponds behind the dunes, Salapi and Pantano Grande, connected by a network of canals, marshes and brackish basins. Dozens of species of water birds winter and nest here: herons, marsh harriers, black-winged stilts and cormorants. Water, wind and sand shape a landscape that is always moving, fragile and beautiful. 👉 Tip: Bring binoculars and walk the birdwatching trails between November and March: you can observe spectacular migrations in absolute silence. 🏞️ Dunes, coastal forests and historic pine forests: The territory is a natural mosaic: fossil dunes covered with mastic and juniper, Mediterranean scrub scented with myrtle and rosemary, Aleppo pine forests that offer shade and shelter to wildlife. The walk between the sand and the woods reveals the ancient link between sea and land that characterizes this stretch of eastern Puglia. 👉 Tip: Walk from the visitor center to the beach at dawn: the grazing light lights up the vegetation and the sea opens up in front of you like a liquid horizon. 🚶 Paths, observatories and educational paths: The reserve can be visited on foot through equipped paths and wooden walkways that lead to wildlife observatories, camouflaged huts and viewpoints. Guided tours offer immersive experiences on local biodiversity, the balance of coastal ecosystems and the history of agricultural reclamation in the twentieth century. 👉 Tip: Book a WWF guided tour: ideal for adults and children, to really understand what it means to care for such a precious ecosystem. 🌿 Environmental education and responsible tourism: Le Cesine is a model of sustainable management: slow tourism, controlled access, educational activities and constant attention to landscape protection. Schools, families and walkers find here a place where nature and knowledge meet in harmony. The reserve changes its face every season, but always remains true to its mission: to protect, explain and inspire. 👉 Tip: Visit the reserve in spring to discover the flowering of the Mediterranean scrub: colors and scents invade every path. Le Cesine is a precious fragment of primordial Puglia, where water meets the wind and silence becomes the guardian of biodiversity.