{"id":23103,"date":"2026-07-28T09:44:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T07:44:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.callistos-hotel.it\/?p=23103"},"modified":"2026-07-28T09:44:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T07:44:28","slug":"the-vallonea-oak-the-park-and-salentos-centuries-old-trees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.callistos-hotel.it\/en\/experiences\/the-vallonea-oak-the-park-and-salentos-centuries-old-trees\/","title":{"rendered":"The Vallonea Oak, the Park and Salento\u2019s Centuries-Old Trees"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just a few kilometres from our hotel, you can visit the famous Vallonea Oak, a natural monument which, at 900 years old<\/strong>, is one of the oldest trees in Italy<\/strong>. It stands 20 metres tall<\/strong>, while its trunk circumference<\/strong> measures 4.5 metres<\/strong> and its canopy covers an area of 700 square metres<\/strong>. It is also known as the Oak of the Hundred Knights<\/strong>. According to legend, Frederick II<\/strong>, while travelling through the area during one of his many military campaigns, took shelter beneath the tree<\/strong> with his one hundred knights during a storm.<\/p>\n

The Vallonea Oak stands within the Costa Otranto \u2013 Santa Maria di Leuca and Bosco di Tricase Regional Natural Park<\/strong>, established in 2006. The park includes several Sites of Community Importance: Costa Otranto \u2013 Santa Maria di Leuca, Boschetto di Tricase and the Castro Oak Park. Covering an area of 3,227 hectares, it extends for approximately 57 kilometres along Salento\u2019s eastern coastline and is the largest regional park in the province of Lecce.<\/p>\n

The park is home to several important and rare botanical species, including the Leuca cornflower (Centaurea leucadea<\/em>), Leuca alyssum (Aurinia leucadea<\/em>) and the Apulian bellflower (Campanula versicolor<\/em>). A variety of orchids belonging to the genera Serapias spp., Ophrys spp., Orchis spp., Spiranthes spp.<\/em> and Anacamptis spp.<\/em> further enrich the park\u2019s flora.<\/p>\n

Among the tree species, the Vallonea Oak (Quercus ithaburensis<\/em>) deserves special mention, as the Tricase area represents its westernmost outpost in Europe. This area was also the last place in the region where the Mediterranean monk seal, Europe\u2019s rarest mammal, was recorded. These habitats are home to several rare species of invertebrates, small crustaceans and other marine organisms, which find shelter and suitable conditions for survival in submerged and semi-submerged caves. One example is a sponge known exclusively from the waters of the Zinzulusa Cave. Bird species include the peregrine falcon, kestrel and barn owl. Among the mammals, particular importance is given to colonies of several bat species living inside some of the caves.<\/p>\n

Thousands of years of human presence are documented by Palaeolithic and Neolithic remains discovered in the Zinzulusa Cave and the Grotta dei Cervi. More recent traces of the past include the traditional \u201cpajare\u201d, fortified masserie and towers that dominate the landscape.<\/p>\n

Info: https:\/\/luoghi.italianbotanicalheritage.com\/parco-naturale-costa-otranto-santa-maria-di-leuca-e-bosco-di-tricase\/ <\/a><\/p>\n