Salento

Salento (

or Messapia.

History

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Messapia (from

Late Bronze Age settlements were complex and comparatively rich, They lost their wealth at the beginning of the Iron Age and degraded into dispersed huts.^[2] Farmers cultivated cereals and used meadows for stock grazing. In the subsequent archaic time stone built houses were erected accompanied by funerary plots. Trade with the Greeks was established. Surplus production and the intensification of wine and olive oil production enabled the culture of the Hellenistic period. The Romans conquered the Salento in the third century BC leading to a consolidation process of farms.

Geography

The Salento peninsula is composed of

The climate is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters which provides suitable conditions for the cultivation of olives, citrus fruits and palm trees. The generally flat topography and surrounding seas can make Salento prone to windy weather year round.

Winters are mild and rainy with temperatures generally hovering in the teens °C during the day. Occasional bora winds from the northeast can bring colder temperatures to the east of the Italian Peninsula. Snowfall has been recorded as recently as 2017 but is generally very rare in coastal Salento. In contrast, southerly sirocco winds can bring warm temperatures of 20°C+ even during the midwinter months.

Alongside much of southern Italy, summers are hot, dry and sunny. While the seas which surround Salento moderate it from the extreme heat seen in Foggia and Basilicata, summer temperatures are still high with temperatures occasionally reaching 40°C or higher during heatwaves. Sirocco winds from the south occasionally deposit dust and sand from the Sahara in the coastal towns of Salento during such heatwaves. Humidity levels can be high and summer thunderstorms are not unknown.

Its borders are:

• Taranto, in the Province of Taranto
• Pilone, in the territory of Ostuni, in the Province of Brindisi
• Santa Maria di Leuca, in the Province of Lecce.

Cities and towns in Salento

Province of Lecce

Province of Brindisi

Province of Taranto

Language

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In Salentino, the

Transportation

The nearest international airports are those of Brindisi and Bari (the latter is out of Salento but not far).

A 2-lane freeway connects Salento to Bari. The main railway line ends at Lecce. Other locations are served by regional railroads.

Leisure ports are those of: Taranto, Brindisi, Campomarino di Maruggio's tourist and leisure Marina, Gallipoli, Santa Maria di Leuca, Otranto.

Coastal towers

The

• Orecchiette, 'ear-shaped' pasta, often cooked with tomato sauce and a strong creamy cheese called ricotta schianta, or with rapini
• Parmigiana di melanzane, made with aubergines, tomato sauce and cheese like mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
• Pitta di patate, a savoury pie made with mashed potatoes.
• Turcinieddhri, also known as Gnummareddi,^[4] grilled lamb offal.
• Purciaddruzzi, fried hand-made small cookies with honey, eaten during Christmas time.

Tourism

In the province of Lecce, the

Festivals

Salento's sagre food festivals show off local cuisine, cooking traditions and local culture. These communal feasts are vibrant, welcoming occasions that provide an introduction to Salento’s cuisine.^[5]

Salento is a major holiday destination for the Italian gay population, developing around the southern town of Gallipoli, the lidos at Baia Verde and nearby naturist beaches.^[6] Salento Pride is celebrated annually.

Gallery

See also

Media related to Salento at Wikimedia Commons Salento (Italy) travel guide from Wikivoyage

References

40°20′00″N 18°00′00″E / 40.33333°N 18.00000°E / 40.33333; 18.00000