The Geological Heritage of Otranto-Leuca Coast (Salento, Italy)

The eastern coast of Salento (Lecce province, southern Apulia, Italy) is a remarkable geological area stretching from Otranto to Leuca villages. It retains a valuable geological heritage produced by the main geological events occurred in the Mediterranean area since Cretaceous. The stratigraphic sequence is extended from the Upper Cretaceous to the Quaternary; the stratigraphic architecture is very peculiar since it is made of several mostly carbonate systems laterally disposed and grafted one upon the other. Numerous sites of stratigraphic, palaeontological, and geomorphological relevance can be recognized. The Otranto-Leuca coastal area is included into a sustainable territorial development strategy supported by Regione Puglia program through the institution of the Regional Natural Otranto-Santa Maria di Leuca Coast and Tricase Woodland Park (n.30 Puglia Regional law of 26/10/2006), including some SIC (Habitat 92/43/CE) and having a consortium for the management. This paper stresses the importance of the geological heritage retained by Otranto-Leuca coastal area supporting the idea to start the procedure to become a Global Geopark Network member.