Gallipoli
Salento to Experience
Barone Liberty is located in Gallipoli, a few steps from the sea and Corso Roma, an important shopping street that connects directly to the historic center of the city.
Gallipoli
The city of Gallipoli is located on the western coast of Salento, overlooking the Ionian Sea. It is clearly divided into two parts known as the Old Town and the Historic Center, connected by a bridge. The ancient part of Gallipoli is surrounded by walls and fortifications that stretch for about a mile and a half, built to defend the city from attacks by sea. Leggi di più
Salento to Experience
Salento, also known as the ‘Heel of Italy,’ encompasses the provinces of Lecce, Brindisi, and parts of Taranto. Salento is renowned worldwide for its stunning coastline, olive trees, and olive oil production, as well as the architectural beauties of its cities, which were once largely overlooked but have now become the focus of annual tourism.
Salento, as its residents often describe it, is a land of sun, sea, and wind. The sun shines for many days each year, the wind is ever-present, and the sea is a constant presence, equally beautiful in winter as it is in summer. Salento is a land imbued with the characteristic scents of Mediterranean vegetation that thrives amidst the earth and rocks.
This region, blessed by nature, also boasts a rich fauna, particularly during migration seasons, offering the chance to admire a variety of bird species. One of the main cities in Salento is Lecce, celebrated for its architectural beauty, particularly its churches, most of which were masterfully crafted by various artists, taking advantage of the unique malleability of the local stone known as “pietra leccese.”
Heading south, you’ll encounter a city that is now well-known to many: Otranto. Continuing along the Adriatic coast, you’ll come across the “lighthouses,” once the sentinels of a bygone era that provided essential guidance to seafarers. One particularly characteristic lighthouse is “Punta Palascia,” located beyond Otranto to the south, and just looking at a photo of it conveys its enduring allure. At the extreme tip, you’ll find Santa Maria di Leuca, situated where the land was once thought to end.
The landscape seems to change dramatically as you approach the coasts. The vast expanses of olive groves and, in some stretches, vineyards that run through the province of Lecce from north to south almost disappear as you approach the coastline. Here, you’ll find numerous pine forests and stretches of beautiful Mediterranean scrubland.
Moving in the direction of Otranto, still along the coast, you’ll come across two lakes seemingly appearing out of nowhere: the “Laghi Alimini.” Further on, near Otranto, there is a lake occupying an old bauxite quarry, which is exceptionally beautiful. Dry stone walls seem to almost hold the earth in place, creating stunning coves accessible mainly by sea.
This marvelous scenery continues all the way to Santa Maria di Leuca, passing through picturesque places and villages along the coast, rich in history, such as Porto Badisco, the famous “Grotte della Zinzulusa,” Castro Marina, Santa Cesarea Terme, Tricase, and many others. It’s almost an injustice to the beauty of these places not to mention them all. Leggi di più