The ones in the south of the region Apulia located peninsula Salento is also known as the "boot heel" of Italy. It consists of the province of Lecce and parts of the provinces of Taranto and Brindisi.
Regions
places
- Brindisi - Port city with ferry port, provincial capital in northern Salento
- Ceglie Messapica
- Fasano
- Francavilla Fontana
- Grottaglie
- Lecce - Capital of the province of the same name.
- Manduria
- Martina Franca
- Mesagne
- Nardò
- Ostuni
- Squinzano
- Tarent -Capital of the province of the same name, part of which is counted as northern Salento, on the Ionian Sea
Other goals
background
language
The official and colloquial language in Salento is Italian, however, the Salentine dialect is spoken here, the one with the Sicily spoken dialect is related. Those familiar with the Italian language will know the differences in dialects from Brindisi, Tarent and recognize the Salento, for travelers from the German-speaking area, Italian seems to be even more difficult to understand in the south of Apulia.
In the triangle between Nardò - Gallipoli - Otranto is still used by the elderly rural population Griko spoken, the language is made up of Italian and (old) Greek resp. Byzantine elements together. However, the minority language is dying out.
In touristically developed places, the English skills of the younger residents are getting better and better, and one often comes across foreign workers who have returned home who speak German. In the case of language difficulties, someone often knows a friend who can help with a knowledge of German; on the other hand, one should refrain from making disrespectful comments on the assumption that the locals do not understand you anyway (as is generally the case when traveling), the guest may be speaking at the next table in the pub perfect German...
getting there
By plane: the nearest international airport is that of Brindisi Casalefrom which the whole Salento peninsula is supplied. In addition to Alitalia, various low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet also land here.
The long-distance trains of the Trenitalia / Ferrovie dello Stato end in coming from the north Lecce. Private railroad trains run on the Salento peninsula itself Ferrovie del Sud Estwhich also organizes regional bus transport.
The best way to travel from German-speaking countries is on the 
along the Adriatic coast about Bari to Apulia. Of Bari follows the 
resp. the better developed 
to Brindisi along the coast, then continue on the older one or the more modern ones 
to the provincial capital Lecce. From there the to Maglie south and then turns to Otranto to the coast that 
to Gallipoli on the west coast resp. to the coast of the Ionian Sea.
International ferry connections only operate via the ferry ports of Brindisi and Bari, If you are traveling from German-speaking countries, these will probably not be taken into account.
mobility
Only private railways operate on the Salento Peninsula Ferrovie del Sud Estwhich also ensures regional bus transport. However, many smaller towns, nature parks and historical buildings can only be reached by private vehicle, and certain sections of the coast are only accessible on foot, and parking spaces are usually within walking distance.
Tourist Attractions
activities
kitchen
Salento cuisine uses ingredients from both land and sea.
- Mugnuli is a type of cabbage, a typical winter vegetable in Salento, it is also known as black cabbage. It is related to broccoli, but the inflorescences are smaller and less developed. The edible part are the inflorescences.
- Cima di Rapa, German stem cabbage is another type of cabbage. Fresh stems, leaves and closed flowers are used in the kitchen.
Mugnuli
Cima di rapa
- Rustico salentino consists of thin puff pastry, filled with bechamel sauce, tomato and a pinch of paprika, which is then baked in the oven.
- Pasticciotto leccese is a shortcrust pastry filled with pudding
- Calzone fritto is a fried calzone
- At Pitta Salentina it is a filled potato cake. The classic filling consists of onions and tomato sauce. But there are variants with anchovies, tuna or ham and cheese.
Pasticciotto leccese
Calzone fritto
- Puccia is a compact wheat bread with a diameter of about 20-30 cm and it weighs between 250g and one kilogram. In Salento, bread with black olives is very popular Puccia uliata to bake, with many local variations. The Puccia Caddhipulina In Gallipoli, only capers and salted anchovies were topped with toppings, today you can also find tuna, tomatoes and olive oil on bread. In Taranto it will Puccia alla vampa eaten, which, unlike others, has little crumb, is flat like a slice and very soft. It is topped with tomatoes, oil, salt and ricotta.
Puccia uliata
Puccia occupied
Puccia alla vampa
nightlife
security
climate
In the south of Apulia there is a warm Mediterranean climate, the places near the coast experience a bit of cooling due to often blowing winds, so that the summer heat is more bearable. The daily maximums reach 27 ° C in June and September, in July and August they are at 30 ° C, in early summer and autumn the temperatures are most suitable for hiking, in autumn the water temperatures are still very pleasant, from September / October. Thunderstorms and storms have to be expected.
For Taranto:
| month | Day temp. | Night temp. | Rainydays | Sunstroke |
| April | 19 | 11 | 7 | 8 |
| May | 23 | 15 | 5 | 9 |
| June | 27 | 19 | 2 | 10 |
| July | 29 | 22 | 1 | 11 |
| August | 30 | 22 | 2 | 10 |
| September | 27 | 19 | 4 | 9 |
| October | 23 | 16 | 6 | 7 |
trips
- Calabria. The tip of the boot in Italy.
