Mulino d'Acqua bay
A bay set between cliffs north of Otranto, named after an old water mill that once stood here and is long gone — only the name remains. The beach has largely disappeared, and the bay is best seen from the sea.
At a glance
- Old water mill (long gone)
- Grotta Sfondata and Grotta delle Conchiglie
- Shelter from maestrale and tramontana
- Swim stop
Hard to make out from land; from a boat the point is clear: water shifting from green to turquoise within metres, sandy seabed, sheer walls.
From the sea you see Grotta Sfondata and Grotta delle Conchiglie along the same cliff face.
Sheltered from the maestrale and tramontana, it remains one of the most popular swim stops on the North tour. The skipper decides each trip based on wind and crowding in the bay.
Location on the route
This stop appears on multiple tours: here you can choose which route to draw on the map.
Route on map
Approximate offshore route
More stops on the NORTH tour
A few stops on the NORTH tour — swipe for more or open the full list.
NORTHNORTH EXTENDEDFaro Bianco
We leave the harbour and right at the mouth stands Faro Bianco at Punta Craulo: a real lighthouse, built in 1930 by the Italian Navy. First stop on the North tour.
NORTHNORTH EXTENDEDGrotta Monaca
A narrow inlet between limestone cliffs north of Otranto, in the San Pietro channel: this is where Grotta Monaca opens, nearly 85 metres deep. Legend has it the name comes from the Mediterranean monk seal, once found in these waters.
NORTHNORTH EXTENDEDGrotta Sfondata
In Mulino d’Acqua bay there is a cave with a collapsed roof: from the water you see the hole to the sky and the light pouring in from above.
