Salento

Salento extends itself to South-East from the early undulations of Murge until the cape of Santa Maria di Leuca,the point where waters of Ionian Sea meet and mix up with Adriatic Sea ones. The landscape with its solar and windy climate, includes a treasure of culture, art, nature, gastronomy and handicraft. Studies and searches revealed it was inhabited during the Paleolitic and the Neolitic as revealed by graffito designes,pictures,tools and human and animals rests found in some caves of the peninsula. Other testymonies are represented by dolmens, menhirs and specchie. Famous is the baroque art of Lecce and of the Cathedral of Otranto which go back up to the period of Norman domination.

The sea and coastlines of Salento are the great wealth of this peninsula; an harmony of colours mixes with the perfume of the Mediterranean bush. Low and sandy beaches alternate to the high and indented coastlines which hide Karstic caves while the stacks rise up from a cobalt blu or emerald green sea.

Salento gastronomic tradition is based on a genuine, simple and rustic kitchen which use products of local agricolture, of fishing and of pastoral zootechnic, a marriage between land and sea flavoured by the perfume of spices of Mediterranean bush. Typical are products of olive trees and of viticulture which keep company with vegetables, pulses, craftmanlike bread and pasta and shellfishes.

Salento is for years destination of tourists and travellers who find in this land genuineness, nature, colours, music, tradition and welcome, all elements which mark a territory unique in its kind.