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Lecce and Salento

Sun, sea, wind. Nature strikes in the first place, when one gets to this land stretch in balance between two seas. Salento has its core in the province of Lecce, - a Baroque Florence in Southern Italy – and reaches the provinces of Brindisi over the Adriatic Sea, and Taranto on the Ionian Sea side. The cities and inland towns expressions of the unique Lecce Baroque with Messapi and Salento Grecìa can still be seen. Its language, songs and feasts still show the culture of Graecia Magna. Surf, kite-surf and windsurf lovers never miss the beaches facing the Alimini lakes, while scuba diving fans just have to choose among the several equipped centers and charming sea beds of the Ionian coast as well as of the area between Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca.
Baroque style affirmed in Apulia during Counter-Reformation upon the will of Roman Church. A way of exalting Catholic symbols, Lecce and Nardò Baroque has its own characteristics that make it different from the same artistic style in other regions. Its peculiarities derive from the use of amber-colored Lecce stone as well as decorations used to mask the structures on which they are mounted.
Salento coast is characterized by a high variety in landscapes: the clear, fine sand beaches of Santa Cesarea seafront; famous caves such as Castro cave with its Grotta Romanelli, one of the most important Italian prehistoric settlements, and Grotta Zinzulusa, 'the pearl of caves', owing its name to the dialect word 'zinzuli', ('rags'), used by fishermen to indicate its beautiful stalactites and stalagmites
In Southern Apulia, at the heart of Salento, nine municipalities united to save what is still left of the ancient Grika culture. In this area of Salento there can still be found traces of Graecia Magna Grika language spoken in the Basilian convents dismantled after the council of Trent ↑top


Lecce (fonte:   Visual Puglia )

The origins of this city, capital of its province, are very ancient and often mixed with legend: Sybar the Messapico town on which Lecce was built seems to be older than the Trojan war. After the advent of the Japigi and with the 3rd century BC Roman conquest, Lecce obtained the status of municipium, took the name of Lupiae and witnessed a period of splendour under the guidance of the emperor Marcus Aurelius. After a short Greek domination, it was sacked by the Ostrogoths and was annexed in 549 to the Eastern Roman Empire where it remained for 5 centuries. It was under the Norman domination that Lecce became an important trading centre and assumed the role of capital of the Salento. In 1493 Lecce became part of the Kingdom of Naples and became the liveliest cultural centre of the Mediterranean giving life to its own architectural style, which later became known as Lecce Baroque. In later centuries, to protect against possible Turkish invasions, under the reign of Charles V, walls and a castle were built around the city. Next churches and aristocratic dwelling were constructed turning the city into an open air construction site. In 1656 Lecce was hit with a plague epidemic which ended thanks to the miraculous intercession of St. Horace, who later became the patron saint of the city. The expansion of the city beyond its walls took place in the first years of the 1900’s.
Lecce is marked by its own Baroque style called Leccese in Italian, which can be found in all the monumental buildings of the city. The style is characterized by a particular richness and exuberance in its decorations which seem to want to hide the buildings rather than decorate them. The practical flair and conceptual creativity of Lecce’s master sculptors found an easy application thanks to the use of a particular material, pietra leccese, or poor man’s marble, a tuffaceous stone, particularly soft and easy to work but which hardens over time. According to tradition to protect the worked stones for atmospheric agents they were soaked in cow milk before being applied to buildings.
Lecce has an enormous architectural and artistic heritage, so much so that the city was also called the “Florence of the South” or “Pearl of the Salento”, visiting it means being surrounded by an open air museum, where pietra leccese is the common denominator of buildings, churches and fortifications. Of the city’s many churches, all very beautiful and of great artistic interest, the Basilica of Santa Croce is worth seeing. Its construction began in 1353 but was almost immediately stopped due to the death of its financer. It took more than two centuries resume the work which was finally completed in 1699. The Duomo stands in the older part of the city which together with the Bishop’s residence, Seminary and Bell Tower sit on the centrally located charming Piazza Duomo.↑top

Otranto (source:  Visual Puglia )
Otranto appears enclosed within a labyrinth and powerful city-fortress perched on the crystal clear sea in the most eastern area of Italy. The beaches around Otranto can be quickly and easily reached by car or, even better, by boat. A few kilometres north of the city you arrive to Alimini Lakes, a freshwater lagoon connected to the sea and in front of which the beaches of the same name extend. These beaches are among the most beautiful of all in Puglia. Mulino ad Acqua Bay is located between the Alimini Lakes and Otranto. This bay offers a truly spectacular game of lights caused by a collapsed cave. Turchi Bay offers small, sandy bay areas which were used in ancient times as docking platforms. The coast south of Otranto is rocky and rugged, however the roughness of the rocks is balanced by its clear water. Other famous locations included Badisco Port and Orte Bay. From here you can walk to Cape Palàscia and Sant’Emiliano, little inlets among the clearest water. We would like to highlight numerous scuba-dives in participation with the Diving Centres in Otranto that offer you the chance to explore the seabed, walls and caves among the most beautiful around Cape Otranto, such as Grotta Palombara where you can admire bream, lobster, moral eels and grouper fish, and Grotta Taglio dell’Orte located between Cape Otranto and Falci Point.↑top




Santa Maria di Leuca (source:  Visual Puglia )
At Marina di Leuca, from the Greek word leuk, which means white, the little port is protected by the ancient Iapigium promontory with its little houses and sumptuous villas lining the seafront "delle Ville", alternating different styles ranging from Moorish to Pompeii, from Gothic to Art Nouveau. Each home corresponds to a characteristics “bagnarola”, a small sort of construction on the foreshore to allow swimming far from indiscreet glances. Near the lighthouse stands the Basilica or the Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae, where the Mele Artistic Museum is also located. ↑top

Gallipoli (source:  Visual Puglia)
Gallipoli, in the province of Lecce, is located on the west coast of the Salento peninsula. It is divided into two parts: the Borgo, which is the new part of the city, and the Historic Centre built on an island of limestone and connected to the mainland via an arched bridge. Gallipoli was once a Messapian centre called Anxa. It was subsequently occupied by the Romans and immediately became a highly important trading town in the sale of purple dyestuff, which was produced in the region. For a long time Gallipoli remained loyal to its Greek culture by preserving its habits, rites and dialect: the Latin Rite, which had already been established in Salento from medieval times, only replaced the Greek Rite in the XVI century. After the fall of the Roman empire, Gallipoli was sacked by the Barbarians, the Vandals and even the Goths, who were defeated and driven out by the Byzantines. The Byzantines were followed by the Suevians and Angionians, traces of whom are found in the restoration of the old Byzantine castle transformed into a fortress. The castle was further fortified by the Spanish during their occupation. The old part of present day Gallipoli, fortified by walls, towers and embankments, was subjected to numerous sieges. We recall the Venetian siege of 1484 and the French siege of 1528.
Even though there are churches, castles and monuments, the entire historic centre of Gallipoli perched on the island provides the main reason to visit the area. The small island is a kilometre and a half wide and is characterised by a mix of converging alleys and little streets. The walls, the embankments and the towers that have defended the city for centuries from invaders, today protect against heavy seas and give the city a unique charm, leading visitors to far off places.
Gallipoli Cathedral, in pure Baroque style, contains paintings and internal friezes of particular interest. You can admire a Hellenistic Fountain located near the bridge in Gallopoli, which was once mistakenly known as the oldest fountain in Italy. It is full of bas-reliefs inspired by Greek mythology. You can visit the Sanctuary of Madonna del Canneto, which is located in front of the fountain, and which presents an interesting ceiling dating from the XVIII century.
GallIpoli is also the destination of sea-loving tourists: suitable for families thanks to the fine sand beaches, such as Lido San Giovanni, and recommended to diving and under-water fishing enthusiasts.
In the surrounding area, visit the Torre del Pizzo with its adjacent park. This is a coastal tower in Punta Pizzo, constructed by order of Carlo V as part of the defence tower plan of the Salento peninsula, which was completed in 1569.
Made with regular cone shapes, its base is a trunkish-conical shape and, following the kerb, with a cylindrical form. Access to the inside is guaranteed by an exterior stairway that leads to a small door on the first floor.
Gallipoli is very famous for its clean sea and sandy beaches. The windy sea makes it possible to practice water sports so much so that the sea in front of Gallipoli is the site of international sailing races. Beach lovers can enjoy the fine sand of Lido San Giovanni, two kilometres south of the town, characterised by a gently sloping sea floor, and thus particularly suited for families and children. At Le Conchiglie beach to the north it is possible to go spear fishing and water-skiing. ↑top

Gagliano del Capo, Ciolo Bay (source:  Visual Puglia )
The name of Gagliano has Latin origins and probably means that this land belonged to the roman soldier Gallo. However, another more realistic reconstruction dates the first settlement back to the II century b.C., after the destruction of some adjacent hamlets. From 553 b.C. to the XI century, Gagliano passed from under Byzantium’s rule to that of the Normans. The combination of Greek and Latin rites that had established here ceased in 1600, with the death of the last Greek protopopes. It was a feud of Isolada da Nocera under the Angevins and then it was ruled by Guglielmo Brunella and by , Teodorico di Santo Blasio until, in 1485, Ferdinand of Aragon granted it to the Scanderberg’s from Castro. A member of this family, Giovanni, excelled in the battle of Lepanto in 1571 and his descendants lived in the castle of Gagliano. In XVII century, the feud passed to Laura Guarini, who held it until 1806. The Mother Church, of unmistakable Late Renaissance style, dates back to the XVII century, even though the statue of Saint Nicholas on front portal recalls Byzantine art. The bell and watch tower was built more recently, in the XIX century, and its interior is characterised by the presence of as much as 9 altars. Walking along the old town centre, one will meet the column of San Rocco, erected to pay homage to the saint who protected the Gaglianese population from the plague. The church of the Immaculate Conception also has a column in the front and deserves some attention for the ancient sepulchral area that extends all around it. Inside, the church is interesting for its mosaic floor. A little bit further out of the town centre there is the church of San Francesco di Paola, whose construction was ordered by Giovanni Castrista and whose high altar has fine marble inlay work by the sculptor Stampede.    
Grotta Grande del Ciolo is located just a few hundred metres from the famous bay with the same name, a little pebbled cove between the banks of the ravine that drops towards the sea. Wedged into a stretch of coastline marked by deep Pleistocene remodelling, the cave is characterised by a spectacular access by sea and impressive evidence of collapse. The majestic entrance is more than 30 metres high and opens onto a navigable hall that leads to another hall occupied by fallen rock: by climbing beyond this hall visitors can reach a small lake generated by a fresh water spring and other higher, dry halls where the cave ends. Of notable paleontological interest are the Middle and Upper Pleistocene deposits found here. ↑top

Salento Coast (fonte Visual Puglia )
Salento coast is characterized by a high variety in landscapes: the clear, fine sand beaches of Santa Cesarea seafront; famous caves such as Castro cave with its Grotta Romanelli, one of the most important Italian prehistoric settlements, and Grotta Zinzulusa, 'the pearl of caves', owing its name to the dialect word 'zinzuli', ('rags'), used by fishermen to indicate its beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.  ↑top

Castro Grotta di Zinzulusa (fonte Visual Puglia)
A dramatic opening on a wall that towers over the sea leads to the Grotta Zinzulusa, one of the largest karstic phenomena of Salento, just south of the town of Castro. The numerous concretions, (stalactites and stalagmites) found inside this cave reminded the local population of what they referred to as "zinzuli"  - old, threadbare clothes, hence its name. Beyond the entry lies a karstic tunnel that penetrates inland for about one hundred metres, gradually narrowing until it reaches the Duomo, the final hall of the above ground stretch open to tourist. In fact, from this point on a drop in the level leads to the underwater part of the cave, the Cocito. Unique living fossils (hypegeum sponges Higghinsia ciccaresi)  were found here, as well as large stalagmites on the ground to witness a long period of emersion of these environments. ↑top

Otranto - Laghi Alimini (source: Visual Puglia )
The ancient Hydruntum rises on the most easterly point in Italy, about 30 km from Lecce. It was firstly a colony of the Magna Graecia and then a Roman municipium. For a long time it was the political, cultural and trading centre of Salento, known as the “Terra d’Otranto”. Before its destruction at the hands of the Turks in 1480, the city held a position of great importance during Byzantine and Norman domination, leaving behind them much artistic evidence. Otranto, the meeting point of different cultures and the crossroads between the Mediterranean and the East, developed on a rocky spur right on the sea.Otranto is full of ideas which, other than satisfying bathing tourists’ requirements (Blue Flag 2006), offer lots of interesting things to do for a holiday based on scenery, history and culture. Walking around the old part of the town, you will be fascinated by the old district enclosed within the Aragon walls, with white houses and little streets paved with bare stone that converge on the beautiful cathedral. This church is the largest in Puglia and is characterised by its Romanesque-Pugliese style façade dominated by the impressive Renaissance rose window with Gothic-Arabic influences. As a testimony to the tragic battle of 1480, the cathedral hosts the skulls of some of its decapitated citizens. There is also a beautiful castle which was extended by the Aragons to increase the town’s existing defence. Lastly, those of you who love discovering the origins of areas can’t miss Cervi Grotto in Porto Badisco, with its rock paintings confirming the existence of human civilization here during the Neolithic Age. The history of Otranto castle is mainly linked to the sad event of the Turkish siege in 1480 and following which the Aragons decided to extend the existing fortress with large towers equipped with canons. Tourists can admire the towers named Alfonsina, Duchessa and Ippolita and the embankment known as the “Fortino”. When you finish your visit to the castle you can walk the streets of one of the most beautiful medieval districts in Italy, which has always been a meeting point between eastern and western culture. Otranto appears enclosed within a labyrinth and powerful city-fortress perched on the crystal clear sea in the most eastern area of Italy. The beaches around Otranto can be quickly and easily reached by car or, even better, by boat. A few kilometres north of the city you arrive to Alimini Lakes, a freshwater lagoon connected to the sea and in front of which the beaches of the same name extend. These beaches are among the most beautiful of all in Puglia. Mulino ad Acqua Bay is located between the Alimini Lakes and Otranto. This bay offers a truly spectacular game of lights caused by a collapsed cave. Turchi Bay offers small, sandy bay areas which were used in ancient times as docking platforms. The coast south of Otranto is rocky and rugged, however the roughness of the rocks is balanced by its clear water. Other famous locations included Badisco Port and Orte Bay. From here you can walk to Cape Palàscia and Sant’Emiliano, little inlets among the clearest water. We would like to highlight numerous scuba-dives in participation with the Diving Centres in Otranto that offer you the chance to explore the seabed, walls and caves among the most beautiful around Cape Otranto, such as Grotta Palombara where you can admire bream, lobster, moral eels and grouper fish, and Grotta Taglio dell’Orte located between Cape Otranto and Falci Point. ↑top


Melendugno, The karst caves of Roca Vecchia (source:  Visual Puglia )
Medelungo Marine: Torre Specchia- Villaggio Nettuno, San Foca, Roca, Torre dell'orso, Sant Andrea.          San Foca is a tempting bathing resort.  The coastline is divided into two beaches on either side of the port: ‘dei Brigantini’ and ‘degli Aranci’ where warm sunshine reflects off a limpid sea. It is adjacent to the coastal tower of the same name. Just next to the tower is a tiny 18th century chapel with altars to Saints Peter and Andrea Foca.
Roca Vecchia is an enchanting stretch of coastline where naturalistic beauty meets the allure of history. The most fascinating place is the “Grotta della Poesia”, where, according to legend, a beautiful princess went to bath in the health-giving waters of the cave; the news of her beauty soon spread across all of Puglia.
Torre dell'Orso is a village just behind the beach and surrounded by a densly lush pine wood.  This area features wide inlets and a 16th century trunk-conical tower. Many small caves that once sheltered fishermen and hermits open out from the limestone cliffs. In contrast with the man-made tower, two splendid stacks near the sea are called “Le due Sorelle” because of their closeness and resemblance to two sisters who once lived in a local village; they were so busy working that they never looked at the sea.
A unique karstic system joins the two cavities of the Poesia Piccola and the Poesia Grande in a partially underwater complex consisting of three elliptical halls and numerous tunnels. The caves follow a circular patten and have two entries: one by sea at the base of the cliff and one by land in where the vault of the main hall collapsed.
The cave of the Poesia Grande is joined by a brief siphon to a cavern with a sandy beach: from here, another brief siphoned passage leads to the cave of the Poesia Piccola. The latter, in particular, plays an important role due to the numerous votive inscriptions, signs and symbols that date between the second millennium B.C. and the era of the Roman Republic.
The name of these caves comes from the medieval Greek work 'posià', indicating a place where it was possible to drink fresh water thanks to the presence of a spring. ↑top