Puglia Map 363

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Language: While Italian is the official language across Italy, many towns in the Salento Peninsula speak distinct dialects even from each other—some of which are more closely related to Greek than Italian. In fact, the most commonly spoken language in the region is the Salentino dialect of the Sicilian language. Since international tourism is not as prevalent in the region, you may be hard-pressed to find English speakers, even in touristy areas. Despite the various dialects, everyone understands standard Italian, and learning a few key phrases may come in handy. Salento is on the Salentine Peninsula (Penisola Salentina) in the southern Italian region of Puglia (also known as Apulia). It’s the tip of the heel of Italy’s boot.

Life is lived on the streets here. Doors are open, elders sit outside, kids play on the street, washing dangles from lines. You can hear families arguing and cooking and laughing. Washing billowing in the lanes adds to the charm in Bari Vecchia We rented an Airbnb, but there are lots of gorgeous hotels in historic buildings. At Dimora Storica Torre Del Parco 1419 you can even stay in a castle. The family-friendly resort vibe begins to the south at Spiaggia di San Vito and Lido Bruno. There are several camping villages and plenty of budget B&Bs around here.

One of our favourite things to do was walk around the edge of the town for stunning sea views—start near the Norman castle then follow the seaside path to the church at Punta San Francesco where you can find one of the traditional wooden fishing platforms called trabucco. Brindisi (BDS) is the nearest airport, just 30 minutes from Lecce. It has some international flights including from budget airlines like Ryanair.

The climate is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry and sunny summers and mild and rainy winters. Snowfall, especially on the coast is rare but has occurred as recently as January 2019 (following on from snow in March 2018 and January 2017). Apulia is among the hottest and driest regions of Italy in summer, with temperatures sometimes reaching and exceeding 40 °C/104 °F in Lecce and Foggia.

Puglia airports and travel

There are some smart places to stay around here, including the spacious Approdo Boutique Hotel which has a pool and central location, and the relaxed and rural Montiro Hotel. You could easily spend a week on a beach holiday in Gargano, or if you like to explore at a relaxed pace. Most visitors will be able to see the Gargano highlights in three days.

And for facilities, consider the rural 4-star Masseria Mongio dell’Elefante which also has a pathway leading directly to the impeccable Baia di Turchi beach. Despite the confusing routes, it was a peaceful walk in the shade of the towering trees with only the sound of birdsong and rustling leaves. We didn’t see anyone else until we returned to the lake. If you don’t want to buy a map (or visit the small museum), stop about 800 metres before at Trattoria Foresta Umbra.Consider adding a topic to this template: there are already 2,983 articles in the main category, and specifying |topic= will aid in categorization.