What to visit

Discover this extraordinary region, with breathtaking landscapes, ancient traditions and historical treasures: ruins of ancient civilizations, medieval castles, churches and Romanesque and Baroque cathedrals, art villages and typical farms called “masseria”.

Ceglie Messapica will enchant you with his historic center, a medieval village that winds through narrow streets and ancient squares. Ceglie is also famous for its gastronomic tradition. You will find many welcoming restaurants and “trattoria” where you can taste local specialties and delicious typical dishes such as “orecchiette con le cime di rapa” (homemade pasta with a kind of broccoli), broad bean purée, “panzerotti” (folded pizza), “bombette” (grilled meat balls), accompanied by the best Apulian wines such as Negroamaro and Primitivo. Don’t miss the famous “biscotto cegliese”, a biscuit made with almond paste and cherry jam.

Lecce, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture, is a triumph of art and historical and religious buildings; an authentic jewel that will leave you enchanted.

Otranto, overlooking a crystal-clear sea, the perfect starting point for boat excursions, will welcome you among narrow streets full of local craft shops and restaurants.

Matera, in nearby Basilicata, very famous for the ancient houses carved into the rock, dating back to prehistoric times, the so-called “Sassi di Matera”, declared a UNESCO heritage site. The place is so evocative that it will leave you breathless; it is no coincidence that it has been chosen several times as a film set by internationally renowned directors.