Puglia travel:
Baroque in Salento

Lecce: the fifth entrance Photo © metallo

Salento is a peaceful land full of history and traditions, whose strong points are its natural and architectural beauties, its hospitality, its magic atmosphere, its several wonders to discover, its warm sun, its blue sky, its crystal sea and its dreamlike coast. 

Among the architectural beauties the Barocco is present in all of Salento, this itinerary touches the main locations that have Baroque monuments. 

Departure from ALIMINI to LECCE, the city known as the “Florence of southern Italy”.

Visit to Piazza S. Oronzo occupied by the Roman Amphitheatre and where there is the column dedicated to the saint, the palazzo del Seggio (Throne building), the small church dedicated to S. Maria delle Grazie, the church of S. Irene or the Theatine church, the Cathedral, the Bishop's palace, the Seminary building, the church of S. Croce, the Celestine palace and Charles V's castle.

Nardo' old town center Photo © ferpero01

Going through S. CESARIO and its Ducal Palace and LEQUILE, with its seventeenth century Chiesa del Redentore, we reach COPERTINO, a delightful town which owes its fame to the Castle, the Collegiate church and the church of S. Giuseppe.

The visit continues with NARDO’ and its old town center full of Baroque churches and buildings: including the Municipality building, the spire of the Immacolata, the Cathedral, the churches of S. Domenico and S. Giuseppe.

There is a stop off for tasting local wines and typical products at the Cooperative wine growers' association.

Next stop: GALATONE, famous for its Santuario del Crocifisso della Pieta', the sixteenth century castle, the chiesa Maggiore, the Dominican church and the chapel of S. Pietro.  

Galatina Church - Photo © matteo_boller

Then we reach GALATINA, which experienced its artistic height between the Renaissance and the Baroque periods as is witnessed by many buildings and churches including: palazzo Vernaleone, palazzo Galluccio – Mezio and palazzo Gorgoni.

The churches include: SS. Pietro e Paolo, S. Caterina d’Alessandria and S. Caterina Novella.

Going through MAGLIE, whose old town center is full of noblemen's buildings (Palazzo Capece) and churches (S. Nicola and Madonna delle Grazie), return to ALIMINI.

cocourtesy in part of Alimini Village at Lake Alimini