Salento (
Salentino
Salentino () is a dialect of the Extreme Southern Italian ( in Italian) spoken in the Salento peninsula, which is the southern part of the region of Apulia at the southern "heel" of the Italian peninsula.
Overview
Salentino is a dialect of the ...
: ''Salentu'',
Salentino Griko: ''Σαλέντο'') is a cultural, historical and geographic region at the southern end of the administrative region of
Apulia
it, Pugliese
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in Southern Italy. It is a sub-
peninsula
A peninsula (; ) is a landform that extends from a mainland and is surrounded by water on most, but not all of its borders. A peninsula is also sometimes defined as a piece of land bordered by water on three of its sides. Peninsulas exist on a ...
of the
Italian Peninsula, sometimes described as the "heel" of the Italian "boot".
It encompasses the entire
administrative area of the
province of Lecce
The Province of Lecce ( it, Provincia di Lecce; Salentino: ) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy whose capital is the city of Lecce. The province is called the "Heel of Italy". Located on the Salento peninsula, it is the second most-p ...
, a large part of the
province of Brindisi and part of that of
Taranto
Taranto (, also ; ; nap, label=Tarantino, Tarde; Latin: Tarentum; Old Italian: ''Tarento''; Ancient Greek: Τάρᾱς) is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto, serving as an important comme ...
.
The peninsula is also known as
Terra d'Otranto, and in the past Sallentina. In ancient times it was called variously
Calabria
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or Messapia.
History
Messapia (from
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
''Μεσσαπία'') was the ancient name of a region of Italy largely corresponding to modern Salento. It was inhabited chiefly by the
Messapii in classical times.
Pokorny derives the
toponym
Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of ''toponyms'' ( proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage and types. Toponym is the general term for a proper name of ...
from the reconstructed
PIE
A pie is a baked dish which is usually made of a pastry dough casing that contains a filling of various sweet or savoury ingredients. Sweet pies may be filled with fruit (as in an apple pie), nuts (pecan pie), brown sugar ( sugar pie), sweete ...
''*medhyo-'', "middle" and PIE ''*ap-'', "
water
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as ...
" (''Mess-apia'', "amid waters"). Pokorny compares the toponym ''Messapia'' to another ancient Italic toponym, ''Salapia'', "salt water", a city in
Apulia
it, Pugliese
, population_note =
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.
Late
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second pri ...
settlements were complex and comparatively rich, They lost their wealth at the beginning of the
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age ( Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age ( Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostly ...
and degraded into dispersed huts. Farmers cultivated cereals and used meadows for stock grazing. In the subsequent
archaic time stone built houses were erected accompanied by funerary plots. Trade with the Greek was established. Surplus production and the intensification of wine and
olive oil
Olive oil is a liquid fat obtained from olives (the fruit of ''Olea europaea''; family Oleaceae), a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin, produced by pressing whole olives and extracting the oil. It is commonly used in cooking: ...
production enabled the culture of the
Hellenistic period
In Classical antiquity, the Hellenistic period covers the time in Mediterranean history after Classical Greece, between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the emergence of the Roman Empire, as signified by the Battle of Actium in ...
. The
Romans conquered the Salento in the third century BC leading to a consolidation process of farms.
Geography
The Salento peninsula is composed of
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms w ...
, dividing the
Gulf of Taranto
The Gulf of Taranto ( it, Golfo di Taranto; Tarantino: ; la, Sinus Tarentinus) is a gulf of the Ionian Sea, in Southern Italy.
The Gulf of Taranto is almost square, long and wide, making it the largest gulf in Italy, and it is delimited by the ...
to the west from the
Strait of Otranto
The Strait of Otranto ( sq, Ngushtica e Otrantos; it, Canale d'Otranto; hr, Otrantska Vrata) connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and separates Italy from Albania. Its width at Punta Palascìa, east of Salento is less than . The s ...
on the east, with the
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to th ...
to the north and the
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea ( el, Ιόνιο Πέλαγος, ''Iónio Pélagos'' ; it, Mar Ionio ; al, Deti Jon ) is an elongated bay of the Mediterranean Sea. It is connected to the Adriatic Sea to the north, and is bounded by Southern Italy, including ...
to the south. Known also as "peninsula salentina", from a geo-morphologic point of view it encompasses the land borders between Ionian and the Adriatic Seas, to the “Messapic threshold”, a depression that runs along the
Taranto
Taranto (, also ; ; nap, label=Tarantino, Tarde; Latin: Tarentum; Old Italian: ''Tarento''; Ancient Greek: Τάρᾱς) is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto, serving as an important comme ...
-
Ostuni
Ostuni ( nap, label= Barese, Ostune; scn, label=Salentino, Stune) is a city and '' comune'', located about 8 km from the coast, in the province of Brindisi, region of Apulia, Italy. The town has a population of about 32,000 during the win ...
line and separates it from the
Murge
The Altopiano delle Murge (Italian for "Murge plateau") is a karst topographic plateau of rectangular shape in southern Italy. Most of it lies within Apulia and corresponds with the sub-region known as Murgia or Le Murge. The plateau lies mainl ...
.
The climate is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters which provides suitable conditions for the cultivation of olives, citrus fruits and palm trees. The generally flat topography and surrounding seas can make Salento prone to windy weather year round.
Winters are mild and rainy with temperatures generally hovering in the teens °C during the day. Occasional
bora winds from the northeast can bring colder temperatures to the east of the Italian Peninsula. Snowfall has been recorded as recently as 2017 but is generally very rare in coastal Salento. In contrast, southerly
sirocco winds can bring warm temperatures of 20°C+ even during the midwinter months.
Alongside much of southern Italy, summers are hot, dry and sunny. While the seas which surround Salento moderate it from the extreme heat seen in
Foggia
Foggia (, , ; nap, label= Foggiano, Fògge ) is a city and former ''comune'' of Apulia, in Southern Italy, capital of the province of Foggia. In 2013, its population was 153,143. Foggia is the main city of a plain called Tavoliere, also known ...
and
Basilicata
it, Lucano (man) it, Lucana (woman)
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, summer temperatures are still high with temperatures occasionally reaching 40°C or higher during heatwaves. Sirocco winds from the south occasionally deposit dust and sand from the
Sahara
, photo = Sahara real color.jpg
, photo_caption = The Sahara taken by Apollo 17 astronauts, 1972
, map =
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in the coastal towns of Salento during such heatwaves. Humidity levels can be high and summer thunderstorms are not unknown.
Its borders are:
*
Taranto
Taranto (, also ; ; nap, label=Tarantino, Tarde; Latin: Tarentum; Old Italian: ''Tarento''; Ancient Greek: Τάρᾱς) is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto, serving as an important comme ...
, in the
Province of Taranto
The province of Taranto ( it, provincia di Taranto; Tarantino: ; Salentino: ), previously known as the province of the Ionian, is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Taranto. It has an area of , and a total popul ...
*
Pilone, in the territory of
Ostuni
Ostuni ( nap, label= Barese, Ostune; scn, label=Salentino, Stune) is a city and '' comune'', located about 8 km from the coast, in the province of Brindisi, region of Apulia, Italy. The town has a population of about 32,000 during the win ...
, in the
Province of Brindisi
*
Santa Maria di Leuca
Santa Maria di Leuca, often spelled simply Leuca (, from ''Leukos'', "white"), is a '' frazione'' of the '' comune'' of Castrignano del Capo, in the Salento peninsula ( Apulia), southern Italy.
A part of the town once belonged to the ''comune'' o ...
, in the
Province of Lecce
The Province of Lecce ( it, Provincia di Lecce; Salentino: ) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy whose capital is the city of Lecce. The province is called the "Heel of Italy". Located on the Salento peninsula, it is the second most-p ...
.
Cities and towns in Salento
Province of Lecce
The Province of Lecce ( it, Provincia di Lecce; Salentino: ) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy whose capital is the city of Lecce. The province is called the "Heel of Italy". Located on the Salento peninsula, it is the second most-p ...
Acquarica del Capo,
Alessano
Alessano ( grc, Ἀλεξιανόν, Alexianón) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce
The Province of Lecce ( it, Provincia di Lecce; Salentino: ) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy whose capital is the city of Lecce ...
,
Alezio,
Alliste,
Andrano,
Aradeo,
Arnesano,
Bagnolo del Salento
Bagnolo del Salento (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce
The Province of Lecce ( it, Provincia di Lecce; Salentino: ) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy whose capital is the city of Lecce. The province is ...
,
Botrugno,
Calimera,
Campi Salentina
Campi Salentina is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
People
*Carmelo Bene, an Italian author and actor
*Salvatore Calabrese, an Italian physician who founded a hospital in the town
*Alberto R ...
,
Cannole,
Caprarica di Lecce
Caprarica di Lecce (Salentino: ; Griko: , ''Krapàreka'') is a town and '' comune'' in the Italian province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', ...
,
Carmiano
Carmiano (Salentino: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy. Carmiano is in the heart of the province of Lecce and Salento. It is located east of the Ionian Sea ( Porto Cesareo) and west ...
,
Carpignano Salentino,
Casarano,
Castri di Lecce
Castri di Lecce (Salentino: ; Griko: translit. ), is a town and '' comune'' in the Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of t ...
,
Castrignano de' Greci
Castrignano de' Greci (Griko: , ''Kascignàna''; Salentino: ) is a small town and '' comune'' of 4,107 inhabitants in the province of Lecce in Apulia, southern Italy. It is one of the nine towns of Grecìa Salentina.
The inhabitants of Castrigna ...
,
Castrignano del Capo Castrignano del Capo (Salentino: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy. It has three ''Villages'': Santa Maria di Leuca, Giuliano, Salignano.
See also
*Angelo Buccarello
References
...
,
Castro,
Cavallino
Cavallino (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
Main sights
*Mother church (''Chiesa madre''), built from 1630. It has a Baroque-style exterior and a Latin cross plan.
* Dom ...
,
Collepasso,
Copertino,
Corigliano d'Otranto,
Corsano,
Cursi
Cursi (Griko: translit. ; Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the Italian province of Lecce
Lecce ( ); el, label=Griko, Luppìu, script=Latn; la, Lupiae; grc, Λουπίαι, translit=Loupíai), group=pron is a historic city of ...
,
Cutrofiano,
Diso
Diso (Salentino: ; ) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce
The Province of Lecce ( it, Provincia di Lecce; Salentino: ) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy whose capital is the city of Lecce. The province is called the ...
,
Gagliano del Capo,
Galatina,
Galatone
Galatone (Griko: translit. ) is a town and '' comune'' located in Salento, in the province of Lecce ( Apulia, southern Italy), the former seat of the Marquess of Galatone. It is one of the most populous towns of the province where the Greek di ...
,
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles s ...
,
Giuggianello,
Giurdignano
Giurdignano is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
History
The human presence in the area of Giurdignano dates to as early as the Bronze Age, as testified by the presence of numerous menhirs an ...
,
Guagnano
Guagnano (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce, Apulia, south-eastern Italy. Situated in northern Salento, it also includes the fraction of Villa Baldassarri.
History
Guagnano was originally part of a group of villa ...
,
Lecce
Lecce ( ); el, label= Griko, Luppìu, script=Latn; la, Lupiae; grc, Λουπίαι, translit=Loupíai), group=pron is a historic city of 95,766 inhabitants (2015) in southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Lecce, the provi ...
,
Lequile,
Leverano
Leverano (Salentino: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce in the southeastern part of the Apulia region of south-east Italy. It is bounded by the ''comuni'' of Arnesano, Carmiano, Copertino, Nardò and Veglie.
History
Leverano ...
,
Lizzanello
Lizzanello (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
Lizzanello is located in the southeastern suburb of Lecce (6 km far), next to Cavallino, and is part of Salento. The ...
,
Maglie,
Martano,
Martignano,
Matino,
Melendugno
240px, D'Amely baronial Palace.
Melendugno (Salentino: or ) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
It is known for its ''marine'', which are bathing beaches on the Adriatic Sea: Roca Vecc ...
,
Melissano
Melissano (Salentino: ; ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce, part of the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
References
Cities and towns in Apulia
Localities of Salento
{{Puglia-geo-stub ...
,
Melpignano,
Miggiano,
Minervino di Lecce
Minervino di Lecce is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce, Apulia, south-eastern Italy. It is situated in the eastern part of the Salento peninsula about from Lecce, not far from Otranto.
Main sights
*Mother church (mid-16th centu ...
,
Monteroni di Lecce,
Montesano Salentino
Montesano Salentino (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
Twin towns
* San Donato di Ninea, Italy
* Gallikos
Gallikos ( el, Γαλλικός) is a village and a former muni ...
,
Morciano di Leuca,
Muro Leccese,
Nardò
Nardò ( la, Neritum or ; cms, Nareton) is a town and '' comune'' in the southern Italian region of Apulia, in the Province of Lecce.
Lies on a lowland area placed at south-west of its Province, its border includes part of the Ionian coast of ...
,
Neviano
Neviano (Salentino: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
Twin towns
* Langenthal (Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament ...
,
Nociglia
Nociglia (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italia ...
,
Novoli
Novoli ( Salentino: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
Bounding communes
* Arnesano
*Campi Salentina
* Carmiano
*Lecce
*Trepuzzi
*Veglie
Population History
The population gre ...
,
Ortelle
Ortelle (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian ...
,
Otranto
Otranto (, , ; scn, label=Salentino, Oṭṛàntu; el, label= Griko, Δερεντό, Derentò; grc, Ὑδροῦς, translit=Hudroûs; la, Hydruntum) is a coastal town, port and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce (Apulia, Italy), in a ferti ...
,
Palmariggi,
Parabita,
Patù,
Poggiardo
Poggiardo (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Itali ...
,
Porto Cesareo,
Presicce,
Racale,
Ruffano,
Salice Salentino
Salice Salentino is a small town and '' comune'' in the southern part of Apulia, Italy, in the Salento area. It is bounded with the province of Taranto to the northwest and the province of Brindisi to the north.
Main sights include the ''Chies ...
,
Salve,
San Cassiano,
San Cesario di Lecce,
San Donato di Lecce
San Donato di Lecce is a town and '' comune'' of 5,837 inhabitants in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy. It includes the ''frazione
A ''frazione'' (plural: ) is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' (munic ...
,
San Pietro in Lama
San Pietro in Lama (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce
The Province of Lecce ( it, Provincia di Lecce; Salentino: ) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy whose capital is the city of Lecce. The province is ...
,
Sanarica
Sanarica is a town and comune in the Italian province of Lecce
The Province of Lecce ( it, Provincia di Lecce; Salentino: ) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy whose capital is the city of Lecce. The province is called the "Heel of I ...
,
Sannicola,
Santa Cesarea Terme
Santa Cesarea Terme (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce, Apulia, southern Italy.
Situated on the coast at the entrance of the Strait of Otranto, on a part of the coast which comes down to the sea, the town of Santa ...
,
Scorrano
Scorrano (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
Italian singer Dolcenera
Emanuela Trane (born 16 May 1977), stage name "Dolcenera" , is an Italian singer, songwriter a ...
,
Seclì,
Sogliano Cavour,
Soleto,
Specchia,
Spongano
Spongano (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce
The Province of Lecce ( it, Provincia di Lecce; Salentino: ) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy whose capital is the city of Lecce. The province is called the ...
,
Squinzano
Squinzano (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce
The Province of Lecce ( it, Provincia di Lecce; Salentino: ) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy whose capital is the city of Lecce. The province is called t ...
,
Sternatia,
Supersano,
Surano
Surano is a town and '' comune'' in the Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Ita ...
,
Surbo,
Taurisano,
Taviano,
Tiggiano,
Trepuzzi
Trepuzzi (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce
The Province of Lecce ( it, Provincia di Lecce; Salentino: ) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy whose capital is the city of Lecce. The province is called the ...
,
Tricase,
Tuglie
Tuglie is a town and '' comune'' in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
People
* Giuseppe Miggiano, Belgian artist, was born here
Twin towns
Tuglie is twinned with:
* Villaverla
Villaverla is a town in ...
,
Ugento,
Uggiano la Chiesa
Uggiano la Chiesa (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
Main sights
*Mother Church, finished in 1775.
*Tower of the Angel
*Crypt of St. Helena, a Byzantine church with remains ...
,
Veglie
Veglie ( Salentino: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy. Veglie is west of Lecce and east of the sea, the Gulf of Taranto. It is bounded by the ''comuni'' of Campi Salentina, Ca ...
,
Vernole
Vernole (Salentino: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italia ...
,
Zollino.
Province of Brindisi
Brindisi
Brindisi ( , ) ; la, Brundisium; grc, Βρεντέσιον, translit=Brentésion; cms, Brunda), group=pron is a city in the region of Apulia in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
Histo ...
,
Carovigno
Carovigno ( Carovignese: ; la, Carbina) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Brindisi and region of Apulia, in southern Italy. The town of Carovigno has a population of 17,000 residents. Though it is small, it provides a wide array of si ...
,
Cellino San Marco,
Erchie,
Francavilla Fontana,
Latiano,
Mesagne
Mesagne ( Mesagnese: ) is a '' comune'' in the province of Brindisi and region of Apulia, on the south-east Italy coast. Its main economic activities are tourism and the growing of olives and grapes. It is the fifth most-populous town of the prov ...
,
Oria,
Ostuni
Ostuni ( nap, label= Barese, Ostune; scn, label=Salentino, Stune) is a city and '' comune'', located about 8 km from the coast, in the province of Brindisi, region of Apulia, Italy. The town has a population of about 32,000 during the win ...
,
San Donaci
San Donaci is a '' comune'' in the province of Brindisi
The Province of Brindisi ( it, Provincia di Brindisi) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Brindisi. It has an area of and a total population of 401,652 ...
,
San Michele Salentino,
San Pancrazio Salentino
San Pancrazio Salentino ( Brindisino: ) is a '' comune'' in the province of Brindisi in Apulia, on the south-east Italy coast. Its main economic activities are tourism and the growing of olives and grapes.
Twin towns — sister cities
San Pancra ...
,
San Pietro Vernotico,
San Vito dei Normanni,
Torchiarolo,
Torre Santa Susanna,
Villa Castelli.
Province of Taranto
The province of Taranto ( it, provincia di Taranto; Tarantino: ; Salentino: ), previously known as the province of the Ionian, is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Taranto. It has an area of , and a total popul ...
Avetrana
Avetrana ( Salentino: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Taranto, part of the Apulia region of southeast Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. I ...
,
Carosino
Carosino is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Taranto, in the northern Salento, part of the Apulia region of southeast Italy. Carosino was historically an Arbëreshë settlement.
Economy is based on the production of wine, olive oil a ...
,
Faggiano,
Fragagnano,
Grottaglie
Grottaglie (; scn, label=Salentino, li Vurtàgghie; la, Criptalium) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Taranto, Apulia, in southern Italy.
Geography
Grottaglie is located in the Salento peninsula, dividing the Adriatic sea from Ioni ...
,
Leporano,
Lizzano,
Manduria,
Maruggio,
Monteiasi,
Monteparano,
Pulsano,
Roccaforzata
Roccaforzata is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Taranto, Apulia, southeastern Italy. Roccaforzata was historically an Arbëreshë Arbën/Arbër, from which derived Arbënesh/Arbëresh originally meant all Albanians, until the 18th cen ...
,
San Giorgio Ionico
San Giorgio Ionico is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Taranto, in the northern Salento, part of the Apulia region of southeast Italy. San Giorgio Ionico was historically an Arbëreshë settlement. After the inhabitants abandoned the ...
,
San Marzano di San Giuseppe,
Sava
The Sava (; , ; sr-cyr, Сава, hu, Száva) is a river in Central and Southeast Europe, a right-bank and the longest tributary of the Danube. It flows through Slovenia, Croatia and along its border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and finally t ...
,
Taranto
Taranto (, also ; ; nap, label=Tarantino, Tarde; Latin: Tarentum; Old Italian: ''Tarento''; Ancient Greek: Τάρᾱς) is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto, serving as an important comme ...
,
Torricella.
Language
In Salentino, the
Salentino dialect of the
Sicilian language
Sicilian ( scn, sicilianu, link=no, ; it, siciliano) is a Romance language that is spoken on the island of Sicily and its satellite islands. A variant, ''Calabro-Sicilian'', is spoken in southern Calabria, where it is called Southern Calabr ...
is predominantly spoken, although an old
Hellenic dialect (known as
Griko
Griko, sometimes spelled Grico, is the dialect of Italiot Greek spoken by Griko people in Salento (province of Lecce) and (also called Grecanic) in Calabria. Some Greek linguists consider it to be a Modern Greek dialect and often call it ( el, ...
) is also spoken in a few inland towns.
Transportation
The nearest international airports are those of
Brindisi
Brindisi ( , ) ; la, Brundisium; grc, Βρεντέσιον, translit=Brentésion; cms, Brunda), group=pron is a city in the region of Apulia in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
Histo ...
and
Bari
Bari ( , ; nap, label= Barese, Bare ; lat, Barium) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Ital ...
(the latter is out of Salento but not far).
A 2-lane freeway connects Salento to Bari. The main railway line ends at
Lecce
Lecce ( ); el, label= Griko, Luppìu, script=Latn; la, Lupiae; grc, Λουπίαι, translit=Loupíai), group=pron is a historic city of 95,766 inhabitants (2015) in southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Lecce, the provi ...
. Other locations are served by regional railroads.
Leisure ports are those of:
Taranto
Taranto (, also ; ; nap, label=Tarantino, Tarde; Latin: Tarentum; Old Italian: ''Tarento''; Ancient Greek: Τάρᾱς) is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto, serving as an important comme ...
,
Brindisi
Brindisi ( , ) ; la, Brundisium; grc, Βρεντέσιον, translit=Brentésion; cms, Brunda), group=pron is a city in the region of Apulia in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
Histo ...
, Campomarino di Maruggio's tourist and leisure Marina,
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles s ...
,
Santa Maria di Leuca
Santa Maria di Leuca, often spelled simply Leuca (, from ''Leukos'', "white"), is a '' frazione'' of the '' comune'' of Castrignano del Capo, in the Salento peninsula ( Apulia), southern Italy.
A part of the town once belonged to the ''comune'' o ...
,
Otranto
Otranto (, , ; scn, label=Salentino, Oṭṛàntu; el, label= Griko, Δερεντό, Derentò; grc, Ὑδροῦς, translit=Hudroûs; la, Hydruntum) is a coastal town, port and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce (Apulia, Italy), in a ferti ...
.
Coastal towers
The
coastal towers in Salento are coastal
watchtowers, as the peninsula's coast was long subject to maritime attacks by the
Saracens
upright 1.5, Late 15th-century German woodcut depicting Saracens
Saracen ( ) was a term used in the early centuries, both in Greek and Latin writings, to refer to the people who lived in and near what was designated by the Romans as Arabia ...
. The first towers may have been built by
Normans
The Normans ( Norman: ''Normaunds''; french: Normands; la, Nortmanni/Normanni) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norse Viking settlers and indigenous West Franks and Gallo-Romans. ...
. The remaining historic towers are mostly from the 15th and 16th centuries. Many are now in ruins.
Food and gastronomy
Some of the popular dishes from the Salento area include:
* ''
Orecchiette'', 'ear-shaped' pasta, often cooked with tomato sauce and a strong creamy cheese called ''ricotta schianta'', or with ''
rapini
Rapini or broccoli rabe () is a green cruciferous vegetable, with the leaves, buds, and stems all being edible; the buds somewhat resemble broccoli, but do not form a large head. Rapini is known for its bitter taste, and is particularly associ ...
''
* ''
Parmigiana di melanzane'', made with aubergines, tomato sauce and cheese like
mozzarella
Mozzarella (, ; nap, muzzarella ) is a southern Italian cheese traditionally made from Italian buffalo's milk by the pasta filata method.
Fresh mozzarella is generally white but when seasoned it turns to a light yellow depending on the anim ...
or other
* ''Pitta di patate'', a savoury pie made with mashed potatoes
*''
Turcinieddhri'', grilled lamb offal
* ''Purciaddruzzi'', fried hand-made small cookies with honey, eaten during Christmas time
Tourism
In the province of Lecce, the
Ciolo cave is one of the main tourist destinations.
''Sagre'' food festivals
Salento’s ''
sagre Sagra may refer to:
* Sagra, Uttar Pradesh, a village in Domariaganj, Uttar Pradesh, India
* Sagra, Diamond Harbour, a village in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, India
* Sagra, Russia, a rural locality (a settlement) in Sverdlovsk Oblast, R ...
'' food festivals show off local cuisine, cooking traditions and local culture. These communal feasts are vibrant, welcoming occasions that provide an introduction to Salento’s cuisine.
Gay culture
Salento is a major holiday destination for the Italian gay population. Long hot summers, varied coastline and vibrant nightlife draw an international gay crowd. A sophisticated gay scene has developed around the southern Salento town of Gallipoli, the lidos at Baia Verde and nearby naturist beaches.
Salento Pride is celebrated annually.
Gallery
See also
*
Grecìa Salentina
*
Salentino dialect
*
Lecce
Lecce ( ); el, label= Griko, Luppìu, script=Latn; la, Lupiae; grc, Λουπίαι, translit=Loupíai), group=pron is a historic city of 95,766 inhabitants (2015) in southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Lecce, the provi ...
*
Brindisi
Brindisi ( , ) ; la, Brundisium; grc, Βρεντέσιον, translit=Brentésion; cms, Brunda), group=pron is a city in the region of Apulia in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
Histo ...
*
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles s ...
*
Otranto
Otranto (, , ; scn, label=Salentino, Oṭṛàntu; el, label= Griko, Δερεντό, Derentò; grc, Ὑδροῦς, translit=Hudroûs; la, Hydruntum) is a coastal town, port and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce (Apulia, Italy), in a ferti ...
*
Magna Grecia
Magna Graecia (, ; , , grc, Μεγάλη Ἑλλάς, ', it, Magna Grecia) was the name given by the Romans to the coastal areas of Southern Italy in the present-day Italian regions of Calabria, Apulia, Basilicata, Campania and Sicily; these ...
*
Catepanate of Italy
The Catepanate (or Catapanate) of Italy ( el, ''Katepaníkion Italías'') was a province of the Byzantine Empire from 965 until 1071. At its greatest extent, it comprised mainland Italy south of a line drawn from Monte Gargano to the Gulf of S ...
References
{{Coord, 40, 20, 00, N, 18, 00, 00, E, source:dewiki_type:adm1st_region:IT-23_dim:200000, display=title
Peninsulas of Italy
Landforms of Apulia
Province of Lecce
Province of Brindisi
Province of Taranto
Adriatic Sea