Salento

Salento is a pensinsula that includes the province of Lecce, almost the entire province of Brindisi and part of Taranto. Crystal-clear sea (compared to the sea of the Maldives), exquisite food and a lot of fun are the main ingredients of a unique holiday in Salento. Especially during summer, Salento is one of the trendiest tourist destinations thanks to its heavenly landscapes. It also has a rich history, as the baroque city of Lecce testifies, ancient traditions that are still alive today, like the paper-mache handicraft, a rich gastronomic tradition and many historical centres.

Gallipoli is an unmissable beach locality on the eastern coast of Salento. Its historical centre is an island connected to the dry land by a bridge. It is characterized by a labyrinth of alleys that lead to the baroque cathedral dedicated to Sant'Agata, a tourist harbour and a beach with deep-blue waters. Otranto is the most greek city in Salento with white houses, alleys and the old city surrounded by medieval walls, dominated by a castle. At sunset, the sun paints the entire Salento red. The sea will not disappoint the tourists' expectations. In fact, here are some of the most beautiful beaches of Italy: Santa Cesarea, a popular beach with natural thermal-water springs; Porto Selvaggio, part of a natural reserve; Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Ionian sea meets the Adriatic sea. The seafront is full of villas and fancy clubs. In many of Salento's hamlets (like Zollino and Corigliano d'Otranto) the ancient greek language is still in use.

Salento means fun, music and tradition. Every summer, in Melpignano, there is the "Notte della Taranta", a concert with traditional music and dances like the "pizzica".