Are you on holiday in Apulia and would like to know what are the most beautiful villages in Salento?
Read this article and we will find out together…
The land of Salento is one of the ideal destinations for those who love a holiday of relaxation, tranquillity and good food. Salento is full of small villages stretching between the hills and the sea, and there are many towns to visit!
The Most Beautiful Villages of Salento and Apulia
Apulia is famous for its crystal-clear waters, but it is also right to dwell on the beauty of some small villages that offer a magical atmosphere and preserve a great historical and cultural wealth.
Salento villages by the sea
Castrignano del Capo
Castrignano del Capo is one of the most southerly towns in Salento. The most frequented area in the summer is Santa Maria di Leuca, a hamlet of Castrignano del Capo, an enchanted place where the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea meet.
Castrignano del Capo has numerous caves scattered along the coast and of particular importance is the “Porcinara” cave, famous for the discovery of Greek and Latin epigraphs inside it.
Gallipoli
Gallipoli is another uniquely beautiful town, characterised by a historical centre full of narrow, winding alleys. Gallipoli is a small town surrounded by the sea, shaped like an islet and connected by a bridge to the mainland. One of its most famous monuments is the Aragonese Castle.
Otranto
Otranto is another splendid village in Lecce overlooking the sea, also known as the Gateway to the East. Evidence of the Turkish invasions of Otranto, which attempted to take it over on several occasions, can be found in the two watchtowers and the wonderful “Baia dei Turchi” beach.
You enter the town through the imposing Porta Alfonsina and from here, crossing the walls, you enter the historic centre where the Aragonese Castle, now the site of numerous art exhibitions, is located.
Castro
Castro is one of the most visually appealing villages and fascinates tourists especially with its small, white houses set one on top of the other. The town is divided into two areas: Castro Marina near the sea and the harbour, and Castro Superiore, the older area.
Castro Marina has no beaches, but typical rocky inlets and caves. One of the most famous caves is the Grotta di Zinzulusa, very scenic due to its large opening to the sea that can be reached via a footbridge that runs along the coast.
The name of the cave derives from the dialect term “zinzuli” referring to the enormous stalactites that can be admired inside it.
Places to visit in Salento: Characteristic villages rich in history
Calimera
Calimera is another spectacular village in the Salento, located a few kilometres from Lecce, belonging to the Grecia Salentina, i.e. a group of towns, which should absolutely be visited in Salento, that were influenced by the Greeks.
Still surviving today in Calimera, which from the Greek Kalimera means “good morning”, is a dialect now recognised as a real language, “griko”.
Specchia
Specchia, another village in Salento that is part of the list of the most beautiful villages in Italy, in my opinion one of the most beautiful villages in the Salento, has a historical centre full of narrow streets with dry stone walls and flights of steps. The numerous churches, monuments characterised by Baroque inlays and ancient Catalan gates give this town a unique atmosphere.
Specchia, located in lower Salento, is famous for the presence in the area of underground oil mills dug directly into the rock, where an excellent olive oil was produced.
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