Salento

Salento is a peninsula at the southern end of Italy, which includes the three southernmost provinces of Puglia: the south-eastern one of Taranto, on the Ionian coast, the southern one of Brindisi, on the Adriatic coast, and the entire province of Lecce, which touches both seas but whose capital is the only one in the interior.

Salento (Salentino: Salentu, Salentino Griko: Σαλέντο), is also known as the "heel" of the peninsula. It is also a cultural region which had influence from turkish and greek civilizations.

Salento is also known as Terra d'Otranto. In ancient times it was called Messapia.

Salento Life

The Mediterranean

Salento is also known as the land of the Sun, the Sea and the Wind (Sule, Mare e Ientu); the climatic elements that characterize this land

Salento is bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, the northern part overlooks the Adriatic Sea, which is warmer and more temperate, the southern part overlooks the Ionian Sea, more open and with colder currents.

The climate of Salento is typically Mediterranean, with mild winters, hot springs, hot summers and hot autumns. Spring and summer are extremely hot and sunny, the average temperature in summer is around 40°C, perfect for spending long days at the beach. Typically you can go to the beach from the end of April to the end of October, almost six months during the year.

Salento was strongly affected by the cultural influence of the Byzantines and the Greeks. It is possible to find buildings in the Greek style and buildings with strong influences of Turkish architecture, the siege and conquest of the castle of Otranto by the Turks in 1480 is famous. It is not unusual among the older generations to find people who speak the Greek language as a second language.

The Food

A vacation is not really a vacation without good food. The food of Salento is colorful and fresh, rich in vegetables. Some typical dishes, to be absolutely tried are the following:

Pasta and Chickpeas (Ciceri e tria)

It is an ancient recipe, even the poet Horace mentions its existence as early as 35 BC; a very substantial first course based on fresh egg-free pasta, with flour, re-milled semolina, water and olive oil that is spread thinly, transformed into short noodles handled to give a spiral shape. The "tria", a word that derives from the Arabic "ittrya" or fried (or dry) pasta, is seasoned with "ciceri", chickpeas.

Octopus cooked in pignatta (Purpu alla Pignata)

Lu Purpu alla Pignata is one of the typical Salento specialties, as the octopus is one of the most fished fish species in the area. The piñata is a well-known terracotta container that has always been used for excellent cooking of foods such as meat and fish.

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