Carovigno and the Torre Guaceto reserve
Carovigno is a small town on a hill among olive groves, in the province of Brindisi. The town itself is not inside the reserve. The reserve runs along the coast between the municipalities of Carovigno and Brindisi. Most people who search for Carovigno want two answers: what to see in town and how to get to the sea.
This page covers the castle, the hamlet of Serranova with its visitor center, local products and the routes to the reserve entrances. If you want to explore the reserve itself, see the Torre Guaceto walks and e-bike tours.
What to see in Carovigno
Start with the castle. The rest is a slow walk through a quiet Puglian town.
Castello Dentice di Frasso
The castle stands on the edge of the old town. It has a triangular plan and an almond-shaped tower, which makes it easy to recognize. It looks different again in the evening, when it is lit.
Access and opening times
The entrance is step-free for wheelchairs and there is a toilet. That does not mean every historic room can be visited. Opening days and ticket prices change with the season, so check before you go.
Not the castle in San Vito dei Normanni
San Vito dei Normanni has a castle with the same name. The one on this page is in Carovigno, at Via Sant'Anna 2.
Carovigno works well as a half-day stop and pairs easily with a morning in the reserve. If time is short, give the town the afternoon and go to the water early, when the heat is easier to take. For the coast, read the guide to the beaches of Torre Guaceto.
Our pick: wine near Carovigno
We found no bookable guided tour of Carovigno itself, so this winery visit with a local winemaker in the nearby Ostuni countryside is the closest fit for a food and wine afternoon.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours around Carovigno and Torre Guaceto
Guided walks, bike rides and day trips in Puglia, with live prices and availability.
Serranova and the Al Gawsit visitor center
Serranova is a hamlet of Carovigno and home to the Al Gawsit visitor center. The center was renewed and reopened in April 2016. Its exhibition covers the reserve, the archaeology of the area and the Bronze Age, with interactive elements. The center is accessible.
Serranova is not the beach parking lot and should not be used as another name for the north entrance. The center lies a few kilometers from the reserve. To reach it, leave the SS379 at the Serranova exit.
Olive oil, tomatoes and food from Carovigno
The landscape around the town is olive groves, and it shows on the table.
Local products include Ogliarola Salentina and Cellina di Nardò olives, organic olive oil from the Collina di Brindisi DOP zone and the Fiaschetto tomato of Torre Guaceto.
Do not count on tastings at fixed hours or a weekly farmers' market. Ask the producer or a masseria directly. One masseria sits in Serranova, in the municipality of Carovigno.
From the town to the sea
Torre Guaceto has several entrances. Pick the right one first.
By car
Leave the SS379 at the Torre Guaceto and Punta Penna Grossa exit, then follow the road that runs parallel to the sea. Further south is the exit for Apani. Motor vehicles are not allowed inside the reserve, so do not plan to drive to the tower.
Parking and shuttle
The 2026 summer season started on 6 June, with parking at the reserve gate open daily from 8:00 to 19:30. Parking costs €8 per car, €4 per motorcycle, €8 per camper and €32 per coach, per day. The service is seasonal, so check the current status before you leave.
By train
Carovigno station is about 8 km from the reserve. Plan the last stretch around the entrance you choose. Entrances and hours are explained in the guide to Brindisi Airport, parking and getting to Torre Guaceto.
Specchiolla
Specchiolla is a coastal village in the municipality of Carovigno, a few kilometers from Torre Guaceto. It has sandy beaches, a low rocky coast, free stretches and beach clubs, plus hotels and campsites. That is not permission to camp inside the reserve. For places to sleep, see where to stay near Torre Guaceto.
If you arrive by public transport, Carovigno station is the closest starting point. For the airport and station in Brindisi, read the Brindisi guide.
Carovigno: frequently asked questions
Is Carovigno inside the Torre Guaceto reserve?
No. Carovigno is a separate town on a hill. The reserve is on the coast and stretches between the municipalities of Carovigno and Brindisi.
What can I see in Carovigno in a short time?
The Castello Dentice di Frasso, with its triangular plan and almond-shaped tower, and the old town around it. Add Serranova if you want the Al Gawsit visitor center.
Where is the Castello Dentice di Frasso?
At Via Sant'Anna 2, on the edge of the old town of Carovigno. Do not confuse it with the castle of the same name in San Vito dei Normanni.
How much is the visitor center in Serranova?
The price is €3.50 for adults, and children under 6 enter free. The visit lasts about an hour and must be booked. Check the price and days before you go.
Is this the official site of Carovigno or the reserve?
No. This is an independent guide with no link to the municipality of Carovigno, the reserve's management consortium or any tour operator.