Many people all over the world choose Italy as one of their favorite vacation destinations, because of the amazing mix of art, cultural heritage, beautiful cities, natural resources, weather, sea resorts, good food, this country can offer. The most visited places are the picturesque and beautiful Tuscany (Florence, Siena, Pisa, Versilia, to mention the most famous locations), Rome, Venice, the “Cinque Terre” in Liguria, Sardinia. Many among those who have visited Italy, even though they really love this country, still have never seen, or know little or even nothing about Apulia and the splendid lands of Salento, in the South East.

What’s the reason of that? Maybe this land is not fully marketed through the traditional information and tourist networks, not even very well promoted – especially abroad – by local people. Maybe what happened is that this land, due to the typical attitude of its local people, intentionally wanted to maintain through years an aura of ‘quiet’ and ‘secluded place’ and stay away from the best known, popular and crowded Italian tourist routes.

What counts is that Salento is picturesque and unique; its art, history, uncontaminated wilderness twine together to create such an unexpected surprise for travelers venturing into this land, making it worth a return for a deeper exploration of the soul of this land. 

Geographically speaking, Salento is the peninsular south-eastern part of Apulia, one of the biggest regions, the spur and heel of the boot shaped Italy, sticking out into the Mediterranean sea as a natural bridge stretching out toward Greece. Except for the two major italian islands, Sicily and Sardinia, Apulia is the first Italian region as for miles of coastline, almost 600.

Salento encompasses the provinces of Lecce and part of those of Brindisi and Taranto. Due to its very peculiar traditions, culture, language – different from the rest of Apulia, it is a sort of "region inside a region". The beauty of this part of Italy is not less than that of jet-setters’ best known Sardinia. All along its 200 miles of coastline, shores are simply stunning and it’s hard to believe this is not the Caribbean or some other exotic place. Salento is an unspoiled stretch of land between the western Ionian and the southern Adriatic indented coastlines, with a mix of rocky and sandy shores, high cliffs, lovely fjords, secluded little coves, marine caves, long sandy beaches and eventually crystal and clear water, that everyone misses after enjoying the first time!

          

Salento is not only delightful shores and sea. Its capital, Lecce, is reckoned as one of the most beautiful Italian cities of art, often called the Florence of South Italy, very unique with its baroque architecture, buildings, churches and monuments.

Archaeology, arts, culture, monuments, natural resources, can be found all over its territory and only need be discovered and enjoyed.