Holiday apartment in Diso: discover churches, towers and Acquaviva

Diso combines impressive religious buildings, stone witnesses to the town’s history and a distinctive coastal landscape. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Diso, you will find various starting points here for planning your trip: artistic interiors, underground history, old towers and a beach used for swimming in summer.

Holiday apartment in Diso between churches and stone history

The parish church acquired its present form after several renovation phases at the beginning of the 20th century. Its interior is designed in the Neoclassical style, while the old façade displays an elegant Baroque style. Three naves and an elliptical central dome decorated with frescoes give the building a clear yet richly detailed appearance.

The sanctuary was built in 1610 in the Franciscan style and later expanded in the Baroque style. Notable details include a 1691 crucifix altar made of Lecce stone and a small organ with lead pipes from the 18th century, which has been preserved there.

The history continues beneath the historic town centre: the underground oil mill dates from the 17th century and is the only surviving facility from a former network beneath the entire historic town centre. The Menhir di Vardare stands out for its unusual T-shaped upper end and three carved crosses. It is considered an accessible site.

Towers and traces of coastal history

The Colonna Osanna was built in 1620 from worked Lecce stone and is topped with a cross. It was used during the procession on Ascension Day. The town towers of Diso were built by the Universitas or by private individuals as protection against attacks by Turkish pirates. The Torre di Alfonso is considered the largest, most important and artistically outstanding of Diso’s town towers.

With Torre Lupo, the historical perspective extends to the coast. The tower is one of the oldest coastal towers in Salento and dates from the late 15th or early 16th century. Torre Lupo can be reached via an old road from the historic centre of Marittima through a rocky rural area with dovecotes and dry-stone walls.

Insenatura Acquaviva: coast, swimming and practical information

The Insenatura Acquaviva has two steep coastal slopes, some of which drop almost vertically. Mediterranean maquis covers the bed and mouth of an old stream. At the same time, the Insenatura Acquaviva is a beach used for swimming in summer. There is a restaurant, a bar, parking, showers and toilets at this location.

When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore focus on different priorities: the churches, oil mill and towers are ideal for exploring cultural history, while the Insenatura Acquaviva offers a clear connection to the coast and summer swimming. This makes it possible to choose a holiday apartment in Diso according to whether you plan to spend your days mainly among religious buildings and historical details or on an excursion to the water.

More places for planning your trip

You can also explore Neviano, Cocumola, Otranto, Casalabate, Torre Lapillo, Cavallino, Serrano and Minervino Di Lecce.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lecce.