TERRA D’ARNEO,
A VERY ANCIENT HISTORY
An enchanting scenery In the heart of Salento that, thanks to the establishment of parks and protected areas, has always retained its magic. The beauty of the landscape, its artistic wealth, its hospitality, and quality of life: this is a region, that of the Salento and Terra d’Arneo, with an intense ancient history, made up of encounters and a mix of different cultures, of arrivals and departures, of invasions and peasant struggles for land, labour, and the dignity of life. A history that has made it what it is today: a hospitable, unique land that is full of charm.
EXPERIENCES IN SALENTO:
FOOD AND WINE, NATURE, AND ART
The Salento is rich in countless treasures to discover.
Here are some tips on how to best experience unforgettable moments in the heart of this fine land.
PORTO SELVAGGIO
Along approximately 7 kilometers of coastline, and 1,122 acres into the territory of Nardò, extends the Regional Park of Porto Selvaggio. The area, rich in fauna and flora, includes three SIC (Sites of Community Interest) – Torre Uluzzo, Torre Inserraglio, and Palude del Capitano – three coastal towers, a vast pine forest, and sites of great archaeological and paleontological interest.
LAKES OF ALIMINI
The Lakes of Alimini, north of Otranto, are two basins connected between each other, from different sources. Alimini Grande communicates with the sea, with its brackish water and rocky shores. Alimini Piccola, sweet water and with muddy shores, is fed by spring pools. Together, they represent a very interesting ecosystem, currently subject of a great number of research activities.
CASTLES AND TOWERS
Worth visiting are the castles, manor farms, and coastal towers erected over time and used to preside over the hinterland and the coast of the Salento. Its unique geographical position has always made this area a land of conquests and impressive fortified structures, built to defend against attacks from land but especially from sea.
WINES
The Salento has a long tradition of winemaking, which survives thanks to those who continue to enhance the resources of this very rich land. Negroamaro, Primitivo, Malvasia, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, and Aleatico are among the varieties of grapes cultivated in the Puglia region and to which it owes its success, rightfully earning national and international recognition.
PASTICCIOTTO
First appearing in a local bakery in the 1700s, the “pasticciotto” is a simple but very tasty pastry. Despite the variations that bakers have had the satisfaction of creating, its recipe has remained almost unchanged over the centuries, and this pastry from Salento has become a veritable institution, the star of breakfasts, but also a sweet gift for all occasions.
BAUXITE QUARRY
Just south of Otranto, a bit hidden but worth a visit, you will find a former bauxite quarry. Discovered around 1940, used for thirty years, and then abandoned, it now offers its visitors a wonderful sight, where the red of the earth, the green of the spring waters, and the blue of the sky create extraordinary light effects.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
As always, a land of encounters between different cultures, the Salento shows its interlacements starting with its architecture and artistic productions: in the rock dwellings of the Basilian monks, in the Norman castles, in the typical baroque of this region, among superimpositions and fusions, the traces of a fascinating history is discovered.
BAROQUE LECCE
From Porta Napoli to Piazza Duomo, from the Church of St. Irene to that of St. Chiara, up to the amazing Basilica di Santa Croce: a walk through the historical centre of Lecce allows you to discover the baroque wonders of this city, rightly considered one of the most beautiful in the south of Italy.
STREET FOOD
You cannot leave the Salento without having tasted a “rustico”. The king of street food in this area, it is made up of a thin oven-baked dough filled with béchamel, mozzarella, tomatoes, and pepper. Enthusiasts are familiar with all the variations (the one with mushrooms is tasty) and they are not afraid to enjoy it any time of day, even for breakfast.
PORTO SELVAGGIO
Along approximately 7 kilometers of coastline, and 1,122 acres into the territory of Nardò, extends the Regional Park of Porto Selvaggio. The area, rich in fauna and flora, includes three SIC (Sites of Community Interest) – Torre Uluzzo, Torre Inserraglio, and Palude del Capitano – three coastal towers, a vast pine forest, and sites of great archaeological and paleontological interest.
BAUXITE QUARRY
Just south of Otranto, a bit hidden but worth a visit, you will find a former bauxite quarry. Discovered around 1940, used for thirty years, and then abandoned, it now offers its visitors a wonderful sight, where the red of the earth, the green of the spring waters, and the blue of the sky create extraordinary light effects.
LAKES OF ALIMINI
The Lakes of Alimini, north of Otranto, are two basins connected between each other, from different sources. Alimini Grande communicates with the sea, with its brackish water and rocky shores. Alimini Piccola, sweet water and with muddy shores, is fed by spring pools. Together, they represent a very interesting ecosystem, currently subject of a great number of research activities.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
As always, a land of encounters between different cultures, the Salento shows its interlacements starting with its architecture and artistic productions: in the rock dwellings of the Basilian monks, in the Norman castles, in the typical baroque of this region, among superimpositions and fusions, the traces of a fascinating history is discovered.
CASTLES AND TOWERS
Worth visiting are the castles, manor farms, and coastal towers erected over time and used to preside over the hinterland and the coast of the Salento. Its unique geographical position has always made this area a land of conquests and impressive fortified structures, built to defend against attacks from land but especially from sea.
BAROQUE LECCE
From Porta Napoli to Piazza Duomo, from the Church of St. Irene to that of St. Chiara, up to the amazing Basilica di Santa Croce: a walk through the historical centre of Lecce allows you to discover the baroque wonders of this city, rightly considered one of the most beautiful in the south of Italy.
WINES
The Salento has a long tradition of winemaking, which survives thanks to those who continue to enhance the resources of this very rich land. Negroamaro, Primitivo, Malvasia, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, and Aleatico are among the varieties of grapes cultivated in the Puglia region and to which it owes its success, rightfully earning national and international recognition.
STREET FOOD
You cannot leave the Salento without having tasted a “rustico”. The king of street food in this area, it is made up of a thin oven-baked dough filled with béchamel, mozzarella, tomatoes, and pepper. Enthusiasts are familiar with all the variations (the one with mushrooms is tasty) and they are not afraid to enjoy it any time of day, even for breakfast.
PASTICCIOTTO
First appearing in a local bakery in the 1700s, the “pasticciotto” is a simple but very tasty pastry. Despite the variations that bakers have had the satisfaction of creating, its recipe has remained almost unchanged over the centuries, and this pastry from Salento has become a veritable institution, the star of breakfasts, but also a sweet gift for all occasions.