About Salento.

Salento & Puglia.

Puglia (sometimes referred to as Apulia in English) is one of Italy’s 20 regions. If you imagine Italy as the famed stiletto boot, then Puglia is the entire stiletto heel and a little bit of the ankle support. Puglia is the name of the region, which is then divided into six provinces: (from north to south) Foggia, BAT (Barletta-Andria-Trani), Bari, Taranto, Brindisi & Lecce. The last three (well about half of Taranto and then Brindisi & Lecce) make up the peninsula, the stiletto heel that sticks out, and it’s this peninsula that is referred to as ‘Salento’. Sometimes people confuse Salento with Sorrento. Sorrento is another place! It’s on the west coast of Italy, close to Napoli.

In the north of Puglia, you’ll find the city of Foggia at the top. Foggia is on the border of Molise and is much closer to the rest of Italy (just under 4 hours to Rome). A bit further down, you get to Bari, the region’s capital, and Puglia’s biggest city. Bari is a large port with a rich history and is easily worth a holiday in itself. It’s in this area (or just slightly south) that you’ll find the iconic Trulli houses that are legendary and attract visitors from around the world (especially from the UK). Even further south from there, as you cross into Salento, you reach the cities of Taranto (on the southern coast, where the heel joins the boot) and finally Lecce (right in the middle of the heel).

Despite its beautiful architecture and many grand houses, Puglia is a historically poor agricultural region. Famed for producing vast quantities of the food, wine and olive oil that has kept Italy fed and watered over the centuries, today it is evolving. Though still an important agricultural region, its olive oil production has been decimated since the arrival on its shores of Xylella. Huge swathes of olive groves require replanting, leaving much of the inland area a baron landscape which, combined with cheap food imports, has led to many of Puglia’s producers focusing on better quality artisanal products. Beyond agriculture, modern Puglia is diversifying its economy and working hard on infrastructure. Regional public transport still has a long way to go but the road and cycle network is much improved (and getting better all the time). The combination of consistent summer sunshine, rugged rocky coasts, and beautiful sandy beaches, means tourism has become an important part of Puglia’s story. Millions of people visit the region each year to enjoy the climate, history, culture and of course … the food.

Salento itself is far away. Much like Cornwall in the UK or Florida in the US, people generally underestimate just how far down it is. For example, Milan to Lecce by car (about 1000km) is further than Milan to Paris (about 850km). That’s how far away Lecce is.

Unlike the hilly and dramatic northern part of Puglia, Salento is pretty much completely flat. Its sun-scorched landscape can be quite brutal, especially the large areas of dead olive trees. But with the Adriatic on one side, and the Ionian (Mediterranean) on the other, there’s a reason so many celebrities own homes here; the pride and joy of Salento is its coastline, which is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular in the world.

There are rich traditions in Salento and culturally you’re spoilt for choice. Its ancient rhythmic folk music, and accompanying dance the pizzica (a form of tarantella) can be enjoyed every year at the wonderful Notte della Taranta. For food… there’s more food than can be covered here, but from pasticciotto, to rustico, to cozze, to orecchiette con cime di rapa, to pezzi di cavallo, and many other things… there are more delicious traditional plates than you’ll be able to eat your way through on one holiday.

This sun-soaked peaceful paradise, for centuries hidden away, is now gaining a global reputation. For better or for worse, modern Salento is growing and evolving, though, like many places in the south of Italy, some things are virtually impossible to change.