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Lecce is a historic city of 93,300 inhabitants (2013) in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Lecce, the second province in the region by population, as well as one of the most important cities of Apulia. It is the main city of the Salentine Peninsula, a sub-peninsula at the heel of the Italian Peninsula and is over 2,000 years old.
Because of the rich Baroque architectural monuments found in the city, Lecce is commonly nicknamed "The Florence of the South". The city also has a long traditional affinity with Greek culture going back to its foundation; the Messapii who founded the city are said to have been Cretans in Greek records. To this day, in the Grecìa Salentina, a group of towns not far from Lecce, the griko language is still spoken.
Monopoli is a city born on the sea and also lives from the sea. Its old town is a strong attraction due to the presence of many restaurants and trattorias, where it is possible to taste dishes based on fish. There is no lack of bars and trendy clubs that attract young people. The historic center, this is the "old country" as the Monopolitans usually call it. Right here there is a high concentration of cultural heritage and churches. The latter almost all next to each other.
Between narrow alleys paved with chianche, between arches and chiassi, sea air creeps in: smells that mix with the perfumes of a freshly laundered laundry or with meatballs and ragout cooked for hours and that flee from the typical green shutters, almost always open. These houses were once inhabited by fishermen in particular, whose children and grandchildren you can meet, here and there, today still intent on patching fishing nets.
These are the fascinating atmospheres of a still lively seafaring culture that is revealed especially at nightfall when, at the port, the fishing fleet arrives. Among the shouts and excited movements, perfumes and various colors a microcosm comes alive that encompasses the authentic values of a Mediterranean and Levantine tradition.
Brindisi has been known as the Gateway to the East since ancient times, when it became an important port, first for the Roman troops, and later for the merchants of Venice. This port in Apulia even today provides important travel connections to and from a long list of sea and airports. . It might not be as famous as other Italian cities, but that is where part of its charm can be found in my opinion. It`s here that you still get that real Italian vibe: locals going to the market to buy their groceries, sitting on a bench catching up with friends or having their daily coffee. Visit the local farmer`s market where you can find fresh food. It`s not only a treat to the eyes with all the colors of the fresh fruit and vegetables but also the perfect place to by fresh ingredients. It takes place every day (except Sunday) from early to about noon.
The road into the city; If Puglia is the heel of the Italian boot then Leuca is the nail holding it on. Santa Maria di Leuca is the southernmost point in Salento, striking the visitor’s eye for its colors and unreal silence. At the center of it all is the Church, the original Santa Maria: first a sanctuary, today it is the Basilica of Santa Maria De finibus terrae (at the ends of the earth). Also standing on this promontory with Santa Maria di Leuca is the famous lighthouse (157 ft tall, standing at 335 ft above sea level), while Marina di Leuca is situated further below, made up of Punta Mèliso to the east (at the feet of the promontory) and Punta Ristola in the west.
Leuca, approximately 43.5 mi from Lecce, is within the zone known as Salento, which it exhibits fully via its perfumes, sounds and colors. The sounds of the Taranta, the smell of tomatoes, olive oil and oregano that top the typical frise (or friselle), and the blue hues of sky and water that, from the promontory, bleed into one. The summation is a singular experience for any visitor venturing to Leuca, that is, to “the ends of the earth.”
An once-thriving Roman port, it was a bridge between the east and west, an important merchant port. Otranto was founded by the Greeks, incorporated by the Romans, taken over by the Longobards, and occupied by the Byzantines and the Normans, who each left a mark on the seafront city. It was sacked by the Turks in 1480. The Cappella dei Martiri was dedicated to 800 residents were executed for not converting to Islam, and is located inside the cathedral. The interior is decked out in Lecce-style Baroque, with really lovely details.
The old historic center is on a low promontory overlooking the bay. It's still enclosed within its fortification walls, preserving its ancient atmosphere. There are sidewalk cafes on top of the ramparts overlooking the sea. The centro storico is an intricate web of alleyways and white-washed homes. It's anchored by the pentagonal-shaped castle that retains three watch towers. The views from the old center are sweeping and breathtaking. Don't miss the Romanesque cathedral, built in the 1100s. It has a sprawling mosaic floor that is one of the largest in Europe. It features The Tree of Life, along with an intricate and riotous depiction of Biblical, mythological and historical scenes. The small and charming church of San Pietro has well-preserved frescoes and is crowned by a dome.
Otranto is still an active port with a fishing fleet and regular ferry service to Greece. The main part of the population of 5500 residents live in the new city, but the historic center still retains its life and charm. Sprawling out north of the town is the Baia dei Turchi, with endless stretches of sandy beaches and crystalline water that is consistently considered among the cleanest in the country.
Trani Cathedral (Italian: Cattedrale di Trani; Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino) is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim in Trani, Apulia, Italy. Formerly the seat of the archbishop of Trani, it is now that of the archbishop of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie.
It is a great example of Apulian Romanesque architecture. Construction began in 1099, over the earlier church of Santa Maria della Scala, going back to the 4th century. The relics of Saint Leucius were kept here until the 8th century, when they were translated to Brindisi. The new church was intended to house the relics of Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim (who died in Trani in 1094). The cathedral was dedicated as soon as they were installed, without waiting for the building to be completed.
The decisive stage of construction probably took place between about 1159 and 1186 under the leadership of Bishop Bertrando II, and the building was complete by about 1200, except for the bell tower.
It was built using the local stone of Trani, a typical building stone of the region: a calcareous tuff, obtained from the caves of the city, characterised by its colour, an extremely light pink, almost white.
The cathedral is distinguished by its showy transept and by its use of the high pointed arch in the passage beneath the bell tower, which is unusual in Romanesque architecture.
Praia da Apúlia is a beach located in the northern Portuguese coast, known for its extensive sandy shore, clear waters, and picturesque windmills. It's part of the Litoral de Esposende Protected Landscape and a popular destination for sunbathing, swimming,
Portugal
Santa Cesarea Terme is a town and comune of 3,100 inhabitants in province of Lecce, in Apulia, southern Italy.
Situated on the coast at the beginning of the Otranto canal on a terrace of the coast which comes down to the sea, the town of Santa Cesarea is one of the most important centres of care of Salento. The exploitation of the waters, coming from four caves, dates back to 1500 and on these caves is based the economy of the whole town with the constitution of different thermal establishments equipped for the caring of the baths and the muds with the possibility of other therapies.
Cisternino is a comune in the province of Brindisi in Apulia, on the coast of south-eastern Italy, approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) north-west of the city of Brindisi. Its main economic activities are tourism, the growing of olives and grapes, and dairy farming.
Cisternino sits in a historic zone of Itria Valley (in Italian: Valle d'Itria), known for its prehistoric conical, dry stone roundhousess called trulli, which are preserved under UNESCO safeguards due to their cultural significance, dry stone walls (muretti a secco), and its fertile soil which makes it the home of the Salento wine region. In 2014, Cisternino was declared the cittaslow city of the year
The city of Turenum appears for the first time in the Tabula Peutingeriana, a 13th-century copy of an ancient Roman itinerary. The name, also spelled Tirenum, was that of the Greek hero Diomedes. The city was later occupied by the Lombards and the Byzantines. First certain news of an urban settlement in Trani, however, trace back only to the 9th century.
The most flourishing age of Trani was the 11th century, when it became an episcopal see in place of Canosa, destroyed by the Saracens. Its port, well placed for the Crusades, then developed greatly, becoming the most important on the Adriatic Sea.
Alberobello (literally "beautiful tree") is a small town of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. It has about 11,000 inhabitants and is famous for its unique trulli buildings. The Trulli of Alberobello have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.
Monopoli develops along 15 km of low and jagged coastline, with numerous coves with suggestive names and long sandy beaches that represent a safe landing place for vacationers and tourists for their holidays. The medieval center, characterized by churches and convents, rises today thanks to important restoration works, such as the complex of fortifications (walls and castle), the Romanesque church of Santa Maria Amalfitana, the sumptuous baroque cathedral.
The rural territory, consisting of 99 districts, covers an area of over 150 square kilometers with a great naturalistic, landscape and cultural interest. There are in fact many fortified farmhouses (centers of agricultural activity) also dating back to Roman times, rock churches, trulli , beautiful neoclassical villas and farmhouses.
Among the major tourist attractions of Monopoli are Roman testimonies ( Egnazia ), Byzantine (rupestrian frescoes), Longobarde, Normanne (hamlets, farms, fortresses) and Ispane (Castle of Charles V). Do not miss the Feast of the Madonna della Madia (December 16th and August 15th) that every year brings to life again to devoted residents and to the numerous tourists, the episode of the landing of the raft with an icon of the Virgin on board.
Lecce is a historic city of 93,300 inhabitants (2013) in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Lecce, the second province in the region by population, as well as one of the most important cities of Apulia. It is the main city of the Salentine Peninsula, a sub-peninsula at the heel of the Italian Peninsula and is over 2,000 years old.
Because of the rich Baroque architectural monuments found in the city, Lecce is commonly nicknamed "The Florence of the South". The city also has a long traditional affinity with Greek culture going back to its foundation; the Messapii who founded the city are said to have been Cretans in Greek records. To this day, in the Grecìa Salentina, a group of towns not far from Lecce, the griko language is still spoken.
The Zinzulusa cave is one of the most interesting examples of this karst phenomenon in Salento area. It is located along the coast from Santa Cesarea Terme to Castro Marina, a coastline, really evocative for its landscape.
The name Zinzulusa derives from the presence within it of numerous stalactites and stalagmites that in the dialect of Salento are called “Zinzuli” namely rags as if they remind those particular tissues.
One of the first historical references to the Zinzulusa cave is present in a letter written by the Bishop of Castro, Monsignor Del Duca, who in 1793 provides to Ferdinand IV a detailed description of the karst cavity. About the birth of the cave and its bizarre sculpture, the prelate wanted also to recognize the columns of a temple dedicated to Minerva, erected as a tribute to the support given to Hercules in the clash with the Giants.
Alberobello (Italian: [ˌalberoˈbɛllo]; literally "beautiful tree") is a small town and comune of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. It has about 11,000 inhabitants and is famous for its unique trulli buildings. The Trulli of Alberobello have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.
The outline of a castle and ancient walls announce the beautiful town of Monopoli, which overlooks the Adriatic Sea. The town’s 99 contrade (districts) stretch out flatly, allowing you to admire them entirely with a single glance from the splendid belvedere of Loggia del Pilato. This natural terrace, on the road to Selva di Fasano, overlooks a countryside characterized by masserie (farmsteads), churches, rupestrian settlements, and villas. The symbol of the town is the Castello Carlo V (Castle of Charles V), which stands on the promontory of Punta Penna, and today hosts exhibitions and conferences. You'll find well conserved and carefully restored masserie in the heart of the marina, as well as in the low-lying hills and flat interior.
Alberobello (Italian: [ˌalberoˈbɛllo]; literally "beautiful tree") is a small town and comune of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. It has about 11,000 inhabitants and is famous for its unique trulli buildings. The Trulli of Alberobello have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 199
Alberobello (literally "beautiful tree") is a small town and comune of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. It has about 11,000 inhabitants and is famous for its unique trulli buildings. The Trulli of Alberobello have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.
The city of Turenum appears for the first time in the Tabula Peutingeriana, a 13th-century copy of an ancient Roman itinerary. The name, also spelled Tirenum, was that of the Greek hero Diomedes. The city was later occupied by the Lombards and the Byzantines. First certain news of an urban settlement in Trani, however, trace back only to the 9th century.
The most flourishing age of Trani was the 11th century, when it became an episcopal see in place of Canosa, destroyed by the Saracens. Its port, well placed for the Crusades, then developed greatly, becoming the most important on the Adriatic Sea. In the year 1063 Trani issued the Ordinamenta et consuetudo maris, which is "the oldest surviving maritime law code of the Latin West". There was also Jewish community in Trani, which was under the protection of the king until it was given to the Archbishop Samarus during the reign of Henry VI at the end of the 12th century. In that period many great families from the main Italian Maritime Republics (Amalfi, Pisa, Ragusa and Venice) established themselves in Trani. Trani, in turn, maintained a consul in Venice from 12th century. The presence of other consulates in many northern Europe centres, even in England and Netherlands, shows Trani's trading and political importance in the Middle Ages. Emperor Frederick II built a massive castle in Trani. Under his rule, in the early 13th century, the city reached its highest point of wealth and prosperity.
2 shots stitched with the new pano function in Lightroom CC (Lightroom 6).
Alberobello is a small town and comune in the province of Bari, in Apulia, south-east Italy. It has about 11,000 inhabitants and is famous for its unique prehistoric trulli buildings. The Trulli of Alberobello have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.
Gallipoli (Greek: Kallipolis (Καλλίπολις), meaning "Beautiful City" is a town and comune of 20,969 inhabitants in the province of Lecce, in Apulia, southern Italy.
It is located by the Ionian Sea, on the west coast of the Salentina Peninsula. The town of Gallipoli is divided into two parts, the modern and the old city. The new town includes all the newest buildings including a skyscraper. The old town is located on a limestone island, linked to the mainland by a bridge built in the 16th century.
Alberobello (literally "beautiful tree") is a small town and comune of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. It has about 11,000 inhabitants and is famous for its unique trulli buildings. The Trulli of Alberobello have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.
Ostuni is one of the most beautiful and famous towns in Apulia. Its unique historic town, called "Città Bianca" (white town) for its white walls and its typically white-painted architecture
In the summertime Ostuni is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. The population rises from about 30,000 inhabitants in wintertime to about 100,000.
Ostuni is the fifth city in Italy for the percentage of British people residents. People from North Europe, in particular Great Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia and Germany went in Ostuni searching for good weather and good food. This particular phenomenon is called "salentoshire" and characterizes this area of Apulia since 2010.
Dating back centuries in some cases, trulli were generally constructed as temporary storehouses or permanent dwellings by small proprietors or agricultural laborers. While the first records of trulli being built in Puglia date from around the 14th century, their golden age was the 19th century, prompted by the development of vine growing. Most trullo houses have one room under each conical or domed roof, with additional living spaces in arched alcoves, while multi-roomed trullo houses combine several cones. Trulli were traditionally built from solid limestone blocks, which provided thick walls that helped keep the dwelling cool during the hot summers and warm during the cool, damp winters.
There are many theories, though none proven, about the origins of these unusual structures. One suggests that they were built as a tax-evasion tactic. The story goes that during the 17th century, the nobility imposed heavy taxes on any permanent structure so peasant families, unable to afford the tax burden, used a building method that meant their dwellings could be demolished at a moment’s notice. Because every other stone of the conical roof depended on the “key” stone to prevent the roof from caving in, the owner was able to demolish their house simply by pulling this one stone out.
Santa Cesarea Terme is a town and comune of 3,100 inhabitants in province of Lecce, in Apulia, southern Italy.
Situated on the coast at the beginning of the Otranto canal on a terrace of the coast which comes down to the sea, the town of Santa Cesarea is one of the most important centres of care of Salento. The exploration of the waters, coming from four caves, dates back to 1500 and on these caves is based the economy of the whole town with the constitution of different thermal establishments equipped for the caring of the baths and the muds with the possibility of other therapies.
Polignano a Mare is a town and comune in the province of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy, located on the Adriatic Sea. The local economy mostly depends on tourism, agriculture and fishing.
The area has been settled since prehistoric times, evidenced by archaeological excavations in the locality of Santa Barbara. It is believed to be the site of the ancient Greek city of Neapolis of Apulia, not mentioned by any extant records but attested by many coins. Remains of the Roman domination include the bridge on the Via Traiana.