{"id":41839,"date":"2022-02-25T10:21:31","date_gmt":"2022-02-25T10:21:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/nardo-what-to-see-where-to-eat-beaches-sea-and-surroundings-guide-2023\/"},"modified":"2025-03-08T12:59:23","modified_gmt":"2025-03-08T12:59:23","slug":"nardo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/en\/nardo\/","title":{"rendered":"Nard\u00f2: what to see, where to eat, beaches, sea and surroundings [Guide]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nard\u00f2<\/strong> is a municipality in the province of Lecce, located in the north-west, almost facing the Ionian coast. Its historical centre is a treasure trove of beauty, rich in churches, architecture and Baroque art. It is the ideal place to stay during a holiday in Salento, not only because it allows you to explore its beauty, but also because of its proximity to the sea<\/strong>. A perfect compromise to be able to enjoy tranquillity without being too far from the coast, which in summer, for example, can be chaotic. But in reality, Nard\u00f2, thanks to its beauty, is a perfect destination at any time of year!<\/p>\n

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Santa Maria al Bagno – Pic by Ilaria Rizzo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The History of Nard\u00f2<\/h2>\n

The origins of Nard\u00f2<\/strong>, like those of the entire province, date back to prehistoric times, with evidence of human settlements as far back as the Palaeolithic era. It was in Nard\u00f2<\/strong>, precisely in the caves of the Bay of Uluzzo<\/strong>, that engravings and other very important archaeological elements were found, considered the first manifestations of figurative arts in Europe.<\/p>\n

The town of Nard\u00f2<\/strong>, on the other hand, is said to have originated around the 7th century B.C<\/strong>. with the settlement of the Messapi. In 269 B.C. it was conquered by the Romans, together with its port, and became municipium after the Social War. Following the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476) and after the battles between the Byzantines and the Goths (544), Nard\u00f2 was ruled by the Byzantine Empire (552-554) and, for a short period (662-690), by the Longobard Kingdom.<\/p>\n

Thanks to Byzantine rule, the presence of Basilian monks increased, who spread the Eastern rite and cult, and to whom we owe the spread of caves and crypts.<\/p>\n

Between 901 and 924, Nard\u00f2 was attacked by the Saracens coming from Sicily and in 1055 it was conquered by the Normans. Later, in the second half of the 13th century came the Angevins, who brought about the birth of feudalism. From 1480 to 1484 there were several Turkish and Venetian dominations, and in 1497 the feud of Nard\u00f2 was assigned to Andrea Matteo Acquaviva.<\/p>\n

From 1497 to 1806, Nard\u00f2 had a flourishing cultural period, becoming the seat of universities, academies and literary and philosophical studies.<\/p>\n

After the abolition of feudalism, the town was no longer dominated by the Acquaviva family, who continued, however, to have many properties. In 1810, Carboneria also spread in Nard\u00f2 with the sect of the Fenice Neretina. In the early post-war years, between 1943 and 1947, Nard\u00f2 welcomed, in the nearby Santa Maria al Bagno, over a hundred thousand Jews who had escaped the Nazi extermination camps. In fact, for this, in 2005 Nard\u00f2 received the Gold Medal of Civil Merit from the President of theRepublic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.<\/p>\n