Here is the complete guide on what to see in Salento in winter, with the main attractions to visit and experiences to make in one or more days.
Salento is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, especially during the summer season. However, few people know that the Salento area offers many places of interest even in winter, thanks to its ancient villages and fascinating towns like Lecce, rich in culture and history.
What to see in Salento in Winter
Not everyone knows that on November 16th and 17th on the Adriatic side, you can admire a meteor shower, the Leonids, a unique show. The spot where they can be fully admired is the Ciolo bridge, provided that the sky is clear. Every 33 years it has the highest visibility, the next one will be in 2034!
Here are the 5 cities to visit in Salento in winter:
1. Lecce
Lecce is the capital city of Salento and the most important city in terms of history and art.Known as the “Lady of the Baroque”, the city offers its best when walking through the small streets of the beautiful historic centre, which can be accessed once you have passed through Porta Napoli.
The most significant example of Lecce Baroque is to be found in the beautiful façade of the Basilica di Santa Croce, in the construction of which Zimbalo, Penna and Riccardi participated. Lecce also preserves important remains from Roman times, including the Roman Amphitheatre dating back to the 2nd century A.D. and the Theatre.
2. Specchia
If the sea and the coast of Salento are known all over Italy and, in recent years, also abroad, the villages of Salento are still to be discovered.
Among the most beautiful ones to visit in winter is Specchia, which is on the list of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Halfway between the sea and the hills, Specchia is loved for its narrow streets and spectacular stairways of the historic centre. Piazza del Popolo and the Church of the Black Franciscans are also worth a visit.
3. Ugento
Recognised as the City of Art by the Apulia Region itself, Ugento represents one of the most brilliant cultural centres in the entire province of Lecce.
Ugento‘s artistic and historical heritage consists of many attractions, above all the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. Not to be missed is also a visit to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Luce and the Palazzo Colosso, close to the Castle.
Finally, we recommend a visit to the Archaeology Museum to admire the copy of the statue of Zeus found in Ugento in the early 1960s.
4. Gallipoli Carnival
Another experience not to be missed in Salento in winter is the Gallipoli Carnival, one of the most famous in Apulia. The highlight is between the last Sunday of Carnival and “Martedì Grasso“, when allegorical floats and masked parades pour into the streets.
5. Otranto – Alba dei Popoli
The Alba Dei Popoli is another cultural event organised by the municipality and consists of events aimed at promoting the beauty of the city.
The most important one is on New Year’s Eve, at Punta Palascia (Cape Palascia), which is the easternmost point of Italy, where the two seas, the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea, meet. The first ray of sunshine from the East actually illuminates Otranto, being the first to witness the dawn of the new year.
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