Diana Petterson 60 Days of Italy, European Continent, Italy

60 Days in Italy – Salento towns of Galatina, Gallipoli, Santa Maria di Leuca and Otranto

The Port of Gallipoli in the Salento area of the Puglia region in Italy. (June 6, 2023)

Italy Day 51: Day trip from Lecce to the Salento towns of Galatina, Gallipoli, Santa Maria di Leuca and Otranto

The beaches are the main reason many people visit the Salento area towns of the Puglia region because of the Ionian Coast and the Adriatic.  I am not much of a beacher goer, but I do admire and respect its vastness. Plus, I’m not much of a swimmer.

We took a quick peek tour, with a driver, to the Salento four towns of Galatina, Gallipoli, Santa Maria di Leuca and Otranto. Each town providing us with a distinct view.

Let’s take a look.

Although we began our four town adventure of the Salento area in Galatina, we, Alice, me and John, had a fresh seafood lunch in Gallipoli. (June 7, 2023)
The unassuming church of the fresco masterpieces, Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Galatina. The cathedral of Galatina was built between 1369 and 1391 by Raimondello Orsini del Balzo, who went at the top of the Sinai mountain to pay homage to the body of Saint Caterina. According to the legend, when he kissed her hand, he bit away her finger, and took it with him in Italy. Nowadays, it is kept as part of the treasure of the Church, in a silver reliquary. (June 7, 2023)
The carved exterior doorway of the Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Galatina. (June 7, 2023)
The beautiful frescoes inside the Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Galatina. The Basilica is second only to the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi for the presence of many frescoes inside, which were created by Giotto’s disciples. (June 7, 2023)
The main altar, with its beautiful frescoes, inside the Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Galatina.
The beautiful frescoes inside the Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Galatina. (June 7, 2023)
The beautiful frescoes inside the Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Galatina. (June 7, 2023)
The beautiful frescoes inside the Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Galatina. (June 7, 2023)
The ceiling frescos inside the Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Galatina. (June 7, 2023)
The beautiful frescoes inside the Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Galatina. (June 7, 2023)
The beautiful frescoes inside the Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Galatina. (June 7, 2023)
Views of Galatina. (June 7, 2023)
Views of Galatina. (June 7, 2023)
Views of Galatina. (June 7, 2023)
Our second stop of our four Salento towns was Gallipoli where we ate our fresh seafood lunch at the Port of Gallipoli. (June 7, 2023)
Our plate of fresh seafood at our second stop, of our four Salento towns, in Gallipoli where we ate our fresh seafood lunch at the Port of Gallipoli. (June 7, 2023)
The Port of Gallipoli in the Salento area of the Puglia region in Italy. (June 6, 2023)
Walking through the town of Gallipoli. (June 6, 2023)
Walking through the town of Gallipoli. (June 6, 2023)
Walking through the town of Gallipoli. (June 6, 2023)
Walking through the town of Gallipoli. (June 6, 2023)
Walking through the town of Gallipoli. (June 6, 2023)
The beach of Gallipoli. (June 6, 2023)
Getting in a group selfie by the Gallipoli Castle on the bridge separating the old town from the new town. The old part of the city is located on a limestone island connected to the mainland by a 17th century bridge. (June 7, 2023)
The Gallipoli Castle in Gallipoli. (June 7, 2023)
The Gallipoli Castle in Gallipoli. (June 7, 2023)
The Piazza Fontana Greta, the Greek fountain is located in Gallipoli near the 17th century bridge that connects the old village to the new city. (June 7, 2023)
The dead olive trees in Gallipoli along our tour car ride to Santa Maria di Leuca, one of the four Salento town visited on this trip. “With its 60 million olive trees, Puglia used to produce up to 50% of Italy’s olive oil, but in just a few years, Xylella infected and killed 21 million trees, many of which were several centuries old,” from BBC.com. (June 6, 2023)
The dead olive trees in Gallipoli along our tour car ride to Santa Maria di Leuca, one of the four Salento town visited on this trip. “With its 60 million olive trees, Puglia used to produce up to 50% of Italy’s olive oil, but in just a few years, Xylella infected and killed 21 million trees, many of which were several centuries old,” from BBC.com. (June 6, 2023)
Here we are, me, Alice and John, at our 3rd stop in Santa Maria di Leuca, commonly known as Leuca, the southernmost tip of the Salentine peninsula where the Ionian Sea, to the west, and the Adriatic Sea, to the east, meet. (June 6, 2023)
A view of the southernmost tip of the Salentine peninsula where the Ionian Sea, to the west, and the Adriatic Sea, to the east, meet. (June 6, 2023)
A view of the 300 steps stairway from the Square of the Basilica Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae above with the old port and the lower part of Leuca. (June 7, 2023)
A view of the 300 steps stairway from the Square of the Basilica Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae above with the old port and the lower part of Leuca. (June 7, 2023)
The Basilica Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae in Santa Maria di Leuca or Leuca for short. The current appearance of the sanctuary dates back to 1720 to commemorate the passage of St. Peter in Leuca during his travel to Italy. It is devoted to Saint Mary (from whom the town gets the name Santa Maria di Leuca). It lies on the former site of a Greek temple dedicated to Athena. (June 7, 2023)
On the square in front of the Basilica Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae in Leuca stands the Mariane column from 1694 and the imposing lighthouse of Leuca. The lighthouse, built in 1866, could be seen by any vessel heading to or coming from the East. (June 7, 2023)
The Marianne column from 1694 on the square in front of the Basilica Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae in Leuca. (June 7, 2023)
The Basilica Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae in Leuca stands where the temple of the goddess Minerva once stood and was transformed into a place of Christian worship by St. Peter who stayed here on his journey to Rome. (June 7, 2023)
The double entry to the Basilica Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae in Leuca. (June 7, 2023)
Inside the Basilica Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae in Leuca. (June 7, 2023)
The main altar inside the Basilica Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae in Leuca. (June 7, 2023)
A side view inside the Basilica Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae in Leuca. (June 7, 2023)
Our last town in the Salento area was Otranto. The entrance to the historic seaside town and port of Otranto on the Adriatic coast of southern Italy. Once a thriving Roman port, founded by the Greeks, incorporated by the Romans, taken over by the Longobards, and occupied by the Byzantines and Normans, who each left a mark on the seafront city. And, then, it was sacked by the Turks in 1480. (June 7, 2023)
The entrance to the historic seaside town and port of Otranto on the Adriatic coast of southern Italy. (June 7, 2023)
Entrance into the historic town of Otranto. (June 7, 2023)
Entrance into the historic town of Otranto. (June 7, 2023)
Entrance into the historic town of Otranto. (June 7, 2023)
Walking through the historic seaside town of Otranto. (June 7, 2023)
The Aragonese Castle of Otranto, the defensive castle was built at the end of the 15th century by Alfonso II of Naples on the site of an earlier fortress. (June 7, 2023)
The Aragonese Castle of Otranto. (June 7, 2023)
The Aragonese Castle of Otranto. (June 7, 2023)
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata in Otranto. (June 7, 2023)
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata in Otranto. (June 7, 2023)
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata in Otranto. (June 7, 2023)
Inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata in Otranto, with its most famous feature, the mosaic covering the entire floor of the nave, the sanctuary and the apse placed between 1163 and 1165 by a group of artists. (June 7, 2023)
Inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata in Otranto, with its most famous feature, the mosaic covering the entire floor of the nave, the sanctuary and the apse placed between 1163 and 1165 by a group of artists. (June 7, 2023)
Inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata in Otranto, with its most famous feature, the mosaic covering the entire floor of the nave, the sanctuary and the apse placed between 1163 and 1165 by a group of artists. (June 7, 2023)
Inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata in Otranto, with its most famous feature, the mosaic covering the entire floor of the nave, the sanctuary and the apse placed between 1163 and 1165 by a group of artists. (June 7, 2023)
Inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata in Otranto, with its most famous feature, the mosaic covering the entire floor of the nave, the sanctuary and the apse placed between 1163 and 1165 by a group of artists. (June 7, 2023)
Inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata in Otranto, with its most famous feature, the mosaic covering the entire floor of the nave, the sanctuary and the apse placed between 1163 and 1165 by a group of artists. (June 7, 2023)
Inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata in Otranto, with its most famous feature, the mosaic covering the entire floor of the nave, the sanctuary and the apse placed between 1163 and 1165 by a group of artists. (June 7, 2023)
Inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata in Otranto, with its most famous feature, the mosaic covering the entire floor of the nave, the sanctuary and the apse placed between 1163 and 1165 by a group of artists. (June 7, 2023)