Nearby cities
CITY TO VISIT
What to see in Salento: the Maldives of Puglia are not just sea!
Lecce
First stop of your holidays: the city of Lecce. Small and quiet, but with a very unique historical center. There are numerous prestigious buildings, both sacred and civil. Do not miss the baroque churches of Sant'Irene and Santa Croce, characterized by facades rich in decorations and sculptures; to visit the wonderful living room of Piazza Duomo, inside which there are, in addition to the main church of the city, also the Seminary and the Archbishop's Palace.
Do not forget also a stop in Piazza Sant'Oronzo, which houses an important Roman amphitheater inside. And, after the tour, take a break with the fabulous street food of the city: rustics, pucce and pasticciotti will surprise you! Long live Puglia!
Otranto
After Lecce, let's head further south and arrive in the area
Otranto: in these parts there are many places to visit. Let's start with
Alimini lakes, two pools of water close to the sea and surrounded by greenery and a few steps from beautiful beaches of fine sand.
Afterwards, the characteristic deserves a stop Bauxite pond, a place out of this world that will surprise you with its surreal colors. Finally, do not miss the Punta Palascìa lighthouse, which is the easternmost place in Italy, perched on a very spectacular rocky and jagged coast.
And, after visiting the surroundings, get lost in the beautiful ancient village of Otranto: the port, the castle and above all the Cathedral, with its spectacular Byzantine floor mosaics, will leave an indelible impression on your mind.
Nardò
It was, for centuries, an important Byzantine center and, from 1497, under the ducal family of the Acquaviva, it became the main cultural center of Salento, seat of universities, academies and literary and philosophical studies: it was defined the Nuoua Atene litterarum.
The historic center of Nardò boasts an extraordinary wealth of palaces, churches, chapels and individual architectural details making it one of the cities of Lecce Baroque, on an equal footing with the centers of Lecce and Gallipoli.
Santa Maria di Leuca
Let's go even further south on our descent into Salento: after the rocks overlooking the sea of Santa Cesarea Terme, the wild nature of Castro and the port of Tricase, here we are in Santa Maria di Leuca.
Here, in the extreme southern edge of Puglia, between strong gusts of wind that ripple the Ionian and the Adriatic, creating spectacular opposing wave motions, there are wonderful sea caves to explore by boat. Also famous is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae, a stone's throw from the lighthouse, repeatedly raided by Saracen pirates over the centuries.
Mirror
It was, for centuries, an important Byzantine center and, from 1497, under the ducal family of the Acquaviva, it became the main cultural center of Salento, seat of universities, academies and literary and philosophical studies: it was defined the Nuoua Atene litterarum.
The historic center of Nardò boasts an extraordinary wealth of palaces, churches, chapels and individual architectural details making it one of the cities of Lecce Baroque, on an equal footing with the centers of Lecce and Gallipoli.
Gallipoli
We then begin the ascent, this time following the coast road on the Ionian side. After a swim stop in Pescoluse or in Torre San Giovanni, spectacular seaside resorts characterized by an extremely transparent sea and fine white sand, we reach Gallipoli.
The town is famous for its beaches, its ancient village built on an island connected to the mainland by a thin isthmus of land and its spectacular fortifications in the sea that leave room for characteristic city beaches. In summer Gallipoli is very popular especially by young people, as it offers a very intense nightlife and many places to spend a cheerful evening.
Porto Cesareo
Last stop of our tour to discover Salento and your holidays in Puglia: always going up the Ionian coast, the sea of Porto Cesareo and its Torre Lapillo fraction: we suggest you stay on the beach until sunset, to enjoy the show and the colors of the summer sun that sets in the placid waters of the Ionian Sea.
