Notes on Salento: the Salento peninsula is a rock of limestone dividing the Adriatic Sea from the Ionian Sea. A geo-morphologic point of view it encompasses the land borders between Ionian sea and the Adriatic sea to the “messapic threshold”, a depression that runs along the Ostuni line and separates it from the Murge. Its borders are:Taranto, Pilone site in the territory of Ostuni and Santa Maria di Leuca (Lecce).
Culture: the Salento, from a cultural and linguistic point of view, does not include the city of Taranto. Beside these borders, the language can be defined generally as “pugliese”, pertaining to “the southern” tipology. To the south and east, the Griko and Salentin dialect are spoken, pertaining to the “extreme” southern tipology and more similar to the Sicilian or Calabrian languages.
Tourism: a number of places, the coasts above all, are remarkable landscapes and environments, among them the Alimini Lakes, on the Adriatic coast, and Porto Selvaggio, on the Ionic coast. The soil is very fertile, some of the finest olive trees and grapes grow here, and their products are exported worldwide. Its coasts are varied, and can be sandy or rocky, but all boast pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. Some of the most renowned locations in Salento for summer holidays (from May/June to September) are: Ostuni, Oria, Ugento, Manduria, Porto Cesareo, Gallipoli, Torre dell'Orso, Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca, Lizzano, Pulsano,Santa Cesarea Terme.Salento is a peaceful land full of history and traditions whose strong points are its natural and architectural beauties, hospitality, atmosphere, and of course sea and its coast.
Transportation: the nearest international airports are those of Brindisi and Bari (the latter is out of Salento but not far). A good 2-lanes 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.
