Gallipoli (3)
The beautiful city on the Ionian Sea
Gallipoli is worth a visit at any time of day. It is always fascinating, by day and by night. The beautiful city, Kalé Polis as the Greeks called it, is divided into two areas: the village and the historic center built on an island of limestone origin, connected to the mainland by a seventeenth-century arched bridge. Witnesses of the past are the ancient fountain, according to some Greek, the Angevin-Aragonese Castle with the Rivellino, the cathedral with 700 square meters of canvases, the Churches, the Palazzi and the Case a corte, the Frantoio Ipogeo, with original structures from the 15th to the 18th century, the Purità beach, known as the Gallipolini beach.
Celebrations for Santa Cristina
Santa Cristina (St. Christine) has been the patron saint of Gallipoli since she liberated the city in 1867 from the cholera that had been raging for months. The Gallipoli people have a great devotion to the saint and celebrate her for three days, July 23, 24 and 25. On those days, Corso Roma, the main artery of the new city, dresses up for the festivities with wooden decorations full of multicolored bulbs and markets of typical food products, such as the famous "scapece," once a dish of the people, made from small fish fried and arranged inside wooden barrels alternating with layers of breadcrumbs soaked in white vinegar and saffron.
Observing the fishermen in the heart of the Canneto
It is hard not to notice the strong connection between Gallipoli and the sea, not only because of the city's location but also because fishing is the predominant source of wealth. You will meet fishermen intent on repairing their nets or fixing their boats before departure and upon their return. In the off season, fishermen prepare "creels," special cages woven of reed and twine in a conical shape inside which the bait is placed. There are various ones depending on the type of fishing. A traditional souvenir of Gallipoli is the Gallipoli sun, the base of the creels, made by artisans near the fish market or around the walls of the historic center.
Sunset by the sea
The sunset on the Ionian side of Salento just cannot be missed! It is a spectacle of nature that thrills to the point that, often, spectators greet the sun with thunderous applause. One can choose a wonderful terrace by the sea or any stretch of coastline. The important thing is to sip something or enjoy a big slice of fresh watermelon, as per local custom!
Trekking in the park of Punta Pizzo
Imagine being immersed in the silence of nature, surrounded by centuries-old olive trees, vineyards and endless expanses of fragrant Mediterranean scrub. Try holding wild thyme or rosemary in your hands. Their scent will remain on your hands for a long time. On foot, by bicycle or on horseback, a peaceful walk in the countryside will give you a moment of deep relaxation. You will walk along beautiful paths, relying on the guides of Legambiente Gallipoli.
Getting lost in the middle of the sea
To fully savor the true pleasure of a day at the sea, follow our advice: with a small outboard boat for hire, set out to discover the Island of Sant'Andrea or the wonderful Torre del Pizzo appreciating the sea fully from a different perspective: simply from the sea. Equip yourself with everything you need to spend the day on the boat: for the lunch break, the essentials are fruit, "friselle" to be soaked in seawater and simply dressed with fresh tomatoes and water to your heart's content. To face the long sunny day, remember both protective creams and a hat. Don't forget mask and flippers for snorkeling and discovering the seabed. Enjoy the sound of the sea and seagulls and don't return before sunset. It would be a shame to miss the spectacle of the sun disappearing over the horizon.
To the sea following the wind
Salento is an area strongly influenced by winds. If the wind blows it can happen that, on the same day and a few kilometers apart, there is a storm on one beach and lovely sea at another seaside resort. Gallipoli, in particular, offers the possibility of always finding, whatever wind blows, calm sea both with the sirocco, as in Gallipoli south-from the hotel area to Torre del Pizzo, and with the tramontana northward. Do as the true Salento people do: before going to the beach find out what wind is blowing and choose where to go to the beach.
A tour of the fish market in Gallipoli
The fish here is very fresh and the fishermen do not hesitate to offer, to those who pass by their stalls, the opened shellfish with a knife so that they can experience its deliciousness and freshness. Don't miss the experience of buying directly from the fishing boat that has just returned to port, every afternoon in the merchant port at 5:30p.m./ 6:00 p.m., and, immediately afterwards, the fish auction in the Seno del Canneto marina.
Going to Wineries
Experience a multisensory experience at the Cantina Coppola 1489: a tour of the vineyards and production sites, a visit to the impressive cooperage and the winery museum, and concluding with a tasting of wine and local products in the Wine room.
