A Tour of the Salentine Peninsula.

Lecce.

Lecce has been called the Florence of the Baroque, although this may be misleading in terms of the quantity and variety, if not quality, of buildings on display .

Of the churches the main point of interest is Santa Croce, although others can be equally or
more interesting for their interiors.

The Piazza del Duomo, including the Duomo itself,

palazzos and a seminary, is spacious and impressive. A little away from the centre the older, Romanesque Norman church Santi Nicola e Cataldo is worth seeking out near the north-west "Naples" gate of the old city walls.

To the south of the centre is the Museo Provinciale, containing both archaeological and topographical collections and a picture gallery. Because of church and museum opening times (churches close at 12, museum at 1pm) an early start is advisable if you intend to cover the town in a morning. Santi Nicola e Cataldo closes at 11 and should perhaps be visited first.

Or plan for morning visits, a long lunch break and more late afternoon sightseeing.

To the Adriatic – San Cataldo

A short drive from Lecce is the bathing beach of San Cataldo, which was an important port for the area in Roman times. Nowadays it is busy in the summer with visitors from north Italy as well as weekenders from Lecce.

The coast road leads southwards towards Otranto, and passes pine woods and farmland.

There is a WWF Oasis at the Riserva Naturale Le Cesine just a few kilometers south of San
Cataldo, which has interesting dune and macchia walks. Inland from here is the old walled town of Acaia, with an early 16th century castle.

From San Foca there is a road 7km inland to Melendugno, also with a 15th/16th century castle, and in better state of repair. Around the town can be found prehistoric dolmens.

The coast road continues past the lakeland of Alimini, becoming popular as a resort area.

Otranto

The fishing port and holiday resort of Otranto is, like other coastal towns of the area, busy in
summer but quiet in winter. It is worth a visit for its interesting historical centre. The town was important as a port from Roman times until the 15th century. Today it still acts as a point of embarkation for Greece, as well as serving a small fishing fleet.

The most impressive building in the centre is the cathedral, Santa Maria Annunziata, which was founded by the Normans in the late 11th century. The front has a fine 14th century rose
window and a later Baroque gateway. The most unusual features are inside, which is finely decorated with pillars and frescoes. But the nave is dominated – if a floor can dominate – by a splendid and vast 12th century mosaic, the largest of its kind.

To the right of the altar is a chapel with a bizarre display of the remains of 800 people of Otranto who were executed by the Turks in 1480. These were the survivors of the Turkish sack of the city, but were put to death when they refused to renounce Christianity.

The small church of San Pietro, with vivid Byzantine frescoes, is said to be the first cathedral of the town.

The late 15th century castle was built after the retaking of the town in 1481 by Alfonso of Aragon., and rebuilt and fortified by the Spanish in the 16th century.

South of Otranto

The Cape of Otranto is the easternmost point of Italy, and it is said that on a clear day you can see across the Adriatic to Albania and to Corfu. South of the Cape the rocky coastline is dotted by caves, including some where prehistoric remains have been found, and others decorated with stalactites and stalagmites.

Santa Cesarea Terme is a bathing and spa resort, and slightly inland from the fishing village
and resort of Castro Marina is the town of Castro, with castle and a cathedral dating back to
the 10th century.

The coast road continues southwards past a relatively undeveloped coastline to Capo Santa
Maria di Leuca, with prominent limestone cliffs. Boat trips can be taken to visit the caves of the north-west side of the Cape, beyoond Punta Ristola, which is the southernmost point of Puglia.

Along the Ionian Coast

The road from Punta Ristola to Gallipoli passes many rocky and sandy bays, many with medieval watchtowers, and the countryside is for fifty kilometers mainly uninhabited.

Inland the town of Casarano contains a church with the only known early Christian mosaics in Puglia, also with 13th century frescoes.

Between Gallipoli and Lecce – Galatina, Nardo and Copertino

Inland from Gallipoli is the town of Galatina, with a Franciscan church, Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, reflecting the wealth of this town in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Romanesque façade conceals a rich gothic interior covered in frescoes. The nearby town of Soleto also has a church of similar age.

Nardo, with a population of about 30,000, is of similar size to Galatina. This attractive town has a medieval town centre with a castle and a cathedral founded by the Benedictines in the late 11th century. There is also an 18th century town square including an elaborate pillar Guglia dell’Immacolata, the Palazzo della Prefettura, and the church of San Domenico.

10 kilometers north, Copertino has an imposing castle, with Renaissance exterior, an earlier
Angevine keep, and an expansive Castello Vecchio.

Between Gallipoli and Porto Cesareo

The scenic coast road passes two protected areas, the Parco Naturale Porto Selvaggio, and
the Marine Reserve of Porto Cesareo.

A Tour West of Lecce in Taranto and Brindisi Provinces