Also known as “the Italian Maldives”, Salento is the heel of the boot, at the very end of country.
It includes, approximately, Taranto, Lecce and Brindisi province.
If you want to take a break from the city frenzy to reach a calmer, authentic and traditional lifestyle, this is the perfect place.
Small hamlets with stone houses and castles – some of them built centuries ago – live together with the inhabitants in a calm, peaceful atmosphere, surrounded by nature and tranquillity.
Untouched beaches and traditional and historical cities will win your heart.
Warm: this will be Salento’s major gift, without asking for anything in return.
This is one of the fewest places left to enjoy the local lifestyle, without having to necessarily visit museums or official sites.
The easiest and closest airport is the Brindisi one, with regular flights from Rome and other cities.
Once there, the best choice to move around is to rent a car, to be independent and visit several places.
If you prefer a scheduled trip with several stops in the most interesting and relevant spots, you may want to choose an organised tour.
In summer, Salento is one of the most popular locations for tourists for its white sand beaches and its sun.
If you do not plan a sea holidays, it is advisable to visit this area in September, April or October.
June is a good time slot for the beach, while July and August tend to be very hot, even though the constant winds make it still acceptable.
A local way of saying proclaims: "Salentu, lu sule, lu mare, lu ientu" , literally "Salento, sun, sea and wind" .
The touristic popularity of the area has increased relevantly during the last couple of decades, as before it was only a remote part of the very south of Italy.
Tourism started developing with the discover of the taranta culture (the traditional dance style), the traditional and folkloric festivals, the uncontaminated beaches and the paradise dream, together with the cities full of history and legends and, last but not least, its food and the possibility to enjoy a low cost holiday.
Let’s find out the must-see in Salento.
Lecce is divided in two parts, the new one, full of beautiful modern building, shops and restaurants, and the old, charming downtown.
Both areas are gorgeous and include several must-sees, so be sure to take a walk in each of them.
Among the places you cannot miss, we have:
In this, as in all the other cities in Salento, every walk will give you unforgettable panoramas at each corner.
Otranto is very small and pretty, surrounded by the city walls, crossed by the typical tight streets reaching white houses and terraces with a view on the clear, blue sea.
Also here, there are some places you need to see:
Having a walk to the city streets, you will also find plenty of local shops selling traditional products.
Ostuni
Ostuni is a nice city known as “The white city”, as it was a costume to whiten with lime the houses in the downtown.
Take a walk through its alleys to admire the most charming spots:
With no doubt, you will fall in love with the city at first sight.
Gallipoli
The old city of Gallipoli is located in the south-west corner of Puglia region.
Its identity stays indissolubly tied to the ocean rhythms – fishermen set up their nets before going out in the sea in the morning, seafood is the core ingredient of most menus and the city flare is still perceptible from its ancient walls.
As the rest of the Apulian cities, the main attraction is the downtown beauty.
Take a moment to walk through the alleys, the corners and the street and admire:
Gallipoli has also a perfect position to take one-day tours and visit the beautiful beaches such as Punta della Suina, Samsara or Pescoluse – (the so called “Salento’s Maldives).
In conclusion, this small town still stays faithful to the Greek meaning of its name, “beautiful city”.
Interesting places in Salento
We just went through the most famous spots to visit in Salento, but there are many more which need to be included in the list for their beauty and touristic/historical relevance.
These are my 6 suggestions:
Loc.Poesia one of the most natural and amazing pool in Puglia region
View of Santa maria di Leuca
Salento hosts also some of the most beautiful hamlets in Italy, among which you should not miss Specchia, famous for its tradition of handmade works from iron, trod copper, olive wood, reed, straw and Lecce stone, and Presicce – city of Oil and Hypogeums, both located in the Lecce province.
Apulia is not only Salento: there are many more places to visit.
Cities and villages will have your heart at first sight!
Among these, Alberobello and its famous Trulli, the typical houses, and the gorgeous Polignano a Mare, full of alleys and with a majestic cliff. Both are in Bari province, less than one hour from Ostuni.
So, are you ready to book your Apulian trip?