Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Southern & Western Salento
The Penisola Salentina, better known simply as Salento, is hot, dry and remote, retaining a
flavour of its Greek past. It stretches across Italy's heel from Brindisi to Taranto and down
to Santa Maria di Leuca. Here the lush greenery of Valle d'Itria gives way to flat, ochre-
coloured fields hazy with wildflowers in spring, and endless olive groves.
Oria
POP 15,400
The multicoloured dome of Oria's cathedral can be seen for miles around, surrounded by
the narrow streets of this appealing medieval town. An intriguing, if ghoulish, sight is the
cathedral's
Cripta delle Mummie
(Crypt of the Mummies), where 11 mummified corpses of
former monks are still preserved. Surmounting the town, the
Frederick II castle
, built in a tri-
angular shape, has been carefully restored. It is privately owned.
Dating back to Frederick II's reign,
Il Torneo dei Rioni
is the annual battle between the
town's quarters. It takes the form of a spectacular
palio
(horse race) and is held every mid-
August.
Borgo di Oria
( 329 2307506;
www.borgodioria.it
; apt €50-100; )
is a delightful
albergo dif-
fuso
run by the charismatic and well-travelled Francesco Pipino. The self-catering apart-
ments are large, comfortable and tastefully furnished. Reception is at Bar Kenya in Piazza
Manfredi.
Waiters in medieval costume welcome you at
Alle Corte di Hyria
( 329 6624507; Via Milizia
146; meals €20-25; Thu-Tue)
, an atmospheric restaurant in a stone-walled cavern.
Oria is on the main Trenitalia line and there are frequent train services from both Brind-
isi and Taranto. You can also connect with Ostuni and change at Francavilla Fontana for
Alberobello and Martina Franca.
Galatina
POP 27,300
With a charming historic centre, Galatina - 18km south of Lecce - is at the core of the
Penisola Salentina's Greek past. It is almost the only place where the ritual
tarantismi
