Salento, Peninsula in Apulia, Italy
Salento stretches between the Adriatic and Ionian seas forming the southernmost part of the Apulia region with flat coastal stretches and gentle hills inland. Stone walls cross the landscape separating olive groves from wheat fields.
In ancient times Greeks and later Romans settled here leaving traces in language and architecture. During the Middle Ages Normans and Byzantines shaped the area before it came under the rule of several southern Italian kingdoms.
Residents speak a local dialect called Griko that preserves Greek roots and can still be heard in some villages today. Along the coast white houses with flat roofs recall Mediterranean places farther south.
Travelers can explore the peninsula using minor roads connecting coastal villages and passing through stretches of countryside with olive trees. In summer the coast is busy and in spring or autumn conditions are quieter.
Below ground old oil mills carved directly into the limestone served for pressing olive oil over centuries. Some of these chambers remain accessible today and show working conditions from the past.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
