Salento, Puglia land
One of the most particular area of Puglia is surely Salento, a real subregion of Italy, that extends along the Southern side of Puglia, between the Ionic sea at the West and the Adriatic sea at the East.
Salento is a mild and full of energy land, with the sunlight always protagonist, where the quality of the life is one of the best, thanks to splendid vineyards with cellars, secular olive groves very similar to natural sculptures, marine and inland oasis and an uncontaminated nature.
Nature and Territory
The Puglian region is mainly characterized by its big level extension and for the more than 800 km of coast. The mountainous area are scarce and referable to the Dauno Appenino and to Gargano, while the Tavoliere, the Murge and the Salento represent the level and hilly areas.
The underground hydrography is consistent: the numerous stratum, both along the coasts and towards the inland, more than being exploited for the irrigations, have generated a really unique tangle of caves and caverns.
The rocks
We can often find the rocks in the Puglia landscapes: in the numerous fortified masserias, in the antiques sighting coast towers, in the typical trullos of Alberobello or in the pajaras built “at dry”, that is with stones extracted from the surrounding lands and with no the help of any mortar or support.
The beaches
Worth to be visited the beaches of Alimini with its high dunes, the low coast of Galipoli, the 12 km of beaches of Uggento, the rocky walls of Porto Selvaggio, the white beaches of Porto Cesareo, and for the most courageous, the high cliffs of Polignano a Mare. Also wonderful the Tremiti isles at the North of Gargano and the other small islands.
The nature
The almond and olive tree are the characteristic plants that adorn the long field expanses but during the summer time is the blood red color of the ground that becomes protagonist with the green of the Mediterranean spot. The vegetation of this region is special in every season and worth being visited in all periods of the year.
The Salento particularity
The habitants of the area comprising the whole province of Lecce, almost all the population of Brindisi and part of the one of Taranto, distingue themselves by the glottological and cultural characteristics very different from the ones of the rest of Puglia.
Within the Salento territory there actually are peculiar ethnological-linguistic enclaves , in which it is spoken a neo-greek dialect known as grecanico or griko, that probably draws its roots from medieval migrations as Salento has always been a door to the Orient.
History, Art, Culture
Puglia is one of the richest in prehistoric finds regions of Italy. The Puglia history is very particular, because on this territory have alternate in the centuries and in the millenniums various denominations, from Magna Grecia to Impero Romano, from Impero Bizantino to Svevi, always occupying a primary position in the wheat and oil production.
Puglia is a region that has also crossed dark and poor historical moments, that presently reflect on the humbleness and simplicity of the Puglia life. The Bourbon domination, that has brought a little peace on the region, was soon substituted by Regno d’Italia, which has divided the region in the current provinces.
The architecture
The architectonical landscape of Puglia, but especial of Salento, recalls the Greece cities for the absolute prevalence of the white houses “a calce”, without roof, especially in the countryside and on the coast, while the historical centers are characterized by the leccese baroque.
It s about a Spanish inheritance of Plateresco, that comparing to the Baroque of the rest of Italy undresses itself of the pictorial excess of insides and transforms the outside façades of the churches and palaces in true sculptured tapestries.
Museums and Monuments
Lecce
The smart drawing-room of Lecce is Piazza Sant'Oronzo, partially occupied by the roman Amphitheatre from the I-II century a.C. brought to light at the beginning of Nine hundred.
Also in Lecce there is Teatro Romano, discovered in 1929, datable at Augustan Age as the Anfiteatro Ignorato for centuries as amphitheatre, has given back some statues preserved within the Sigismondo Castromediano.
Other museums in Lecce: Cinese Missionary Museum and of Natural History, Province Museum of the Popular Traditions "Abbazia di Cerrate", Arts Picture-gallery Francescana, Musa – Historical-Archaeological Museum of the Università del Salento.
Brindisi
A certainly worthly to note monument of the city of Brindisi is Castello Svevo, also known as “Big Castle” or “The earth Castle”, desired by Federico II, whose plan is trapezoidal and presents strong square towers. The Castle was the naval base during the two world wars, and furthermore was here that in 1943 was sheltered king Vittorio Emmanuele III that transformed Brindisi in the capital of Italy (10/9/43 - 11/2/44).
Museums to visit in Brindisi: Province Archaeological Museum "F. Ribezzo", Ethnical Museum of Salento Civility "Agrilandia Museum".
Taranto
Taranto presents on its territory architectures witnessing itr historical and cultural importance. It is not by chance that right in this city has its premises the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto, also known as “MARTA”. It is an important archaeological museum where is exhibited, among other things, one of the biggest collections of handiwork from the age of Magna Grecia, among these the famous Ori of Taranto.
Other interesting places to be visited in Taranto: The Maritime Foundation "Alessandro Michelagnoli", L'Isola dei Delfini, a multizonal garrison of wholesomeness and welfare of the protected marine fauna, L'Oasi Palude "La Vela" is a protected natural area.
Sport and Free Time
Golf Courses
Barialto Golf Club - Casamassima (Bari) – Tel:+39.080.6977105
Masseria San Domenico Golf - Fasano (Brindisi) – Tel: +39 080 4829200
Campo da Golf Club Riva dei Tessali - Castellaneta (Taranto) – Tel:+39.099.8431844
ACAYA Golf Club - Vernole (Lecce) - Tel:+39.0832 861378
Salento Gastronomy
Both form the linguistic and architectonic, folkloristic and enogastronomic point of view, the Salento peninsula is characterized by common traits which distinguish it from the rest of the region. The Salento cuisine is characterized by numerous typical courses, especially based on vegetables and fish. The meat has also its place, particularly the horsemeat and the lamb in the most typical preparations. The Salento cuisine is humble and poor, but very nutrient and rich in flavours, mirror of many dominations that have alternate in these lands leaving uncancellable traces in the culinary art. The Salento cuisine is the typical Mediterranean one which enriches itself with sea and land perfumes and flavours.
Typical products
La Burrata: a very thin cover of vaccine milk spun pasta filled with frayed mozzarella, also form vaccine milk, and fresh cream.
Il Fungo Cardoncello (mushroom): its pleasant and delicate flavour consents the maximum versatility in cooking it and gastronomic combinations really interesting.
The extra virgin olive oil: is dense, golden yellow, of a persistent perfume in which one can clearly recognize the olive with moss, herbs and green fruit, almond touches.
I lampascioni: reaped in the summer-autumn period, are characterized by the lightly bitterish taste. Excellent dressed with oil and salt, and as side dish for roasted lamb or rabbit.
The Salento wines
The wine production has undergone in the last twenty years a big commercial boom, since when the Salento wines, in the past used exclusively as a blending wine for increasing the Northern wines alcoholic content, has begun to have a growing notoriety , as a full bodied but elegant and refined table wine. The most known wines of the area are: Primitivo di Manduria, Negroamaro and Rosato del Salento. Only during the last years Salento has started investing in the quality wines, with extraordinary results and recognitions in the most important wine reviews. Lomazzi&Sarli: for better knowing the Salento Wines.
Salento's Partners
www.salentorealcasa.it