Embark on a stress-free excursion starting from Lecce, where we'll explore the captivating towns of Galatina and Gallipoli. These enchanting destinations are conveniently close to each other and easily accessible by a slow but direct train, making it effortless to visit both in just one day.

Galatina

We started our day by taking a short and easy train ride from Lecce to Galatina, a charming town that is conveniently located along the same railway line as Gallipoli. The journey only took us 45 minutes, and as soon as we stepped off the train, we were immediately drawn to the town's mini Lecce-like ambiance.

Galatina welcomed us warmly as we explored its streets, which were adorned with centuries-old buildings that had a rich history. One particular highlight on our itinerary was the magnificent Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria.

Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria

The Basilica, built in 1383, impressed us with its exquisite artistry and religious significance. Stepping inside, we were immediately struck by a sense of awe. The walls were adorned with intricate frescoes that took us on a fascinating journey through time, depicting scenes from biblical stories and the lives of saints.

The artistry displayed in these frescoes was truly remarkable, showcasing the talent and devotion of the artists who created them so many years ago. We were amazed by the vibrant colors that still retained their brilliance. It felt as though we had entered a living museum, where history came alive before our eyes.

What made our visit even more special was that admission to the Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria was based on donations, making it accessible to visitors from all walks of life.

Chiesa Madre dei Santi Pietro e Paolo

Continuing our exploration of Galatina, we stumbled upon another architectural gem - Chiesa Madre dei Santi Pietro e Paolo, also known as the Mother Church. Its grand façade enticed us to step inside and discover its hidden treasures.

Upon entering, we were greeted by a serene and reverent atmosphere. The ornate decorations adorning the altar and walls showcased Galatina's rich religious heritage. We took our time to admire the intricate details carved into every surface, a testament to the craftsmanship of those who built this magnificent structure.

Try out the Pasticciotto

Make sure to try the pasticciotto in Galatina, where it originated. This shortcrust pastry with a creamy filling is a local specialty which you can also find in most cafes in Salento. We had a delicious one from a bakery near the Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria. It's a delightful treat that perfectly complements your visit to the basilica and allows you to experience Galatina's culinary heritage firsthand.

Where to Stay in Galatina?

The old town is pretty relaxed so if you want a quiet base then this is the place for you. I recommend staying in the center.

For mid-range, Casa Vacanza Vico Maroncelli is central and nicely decorated.

For luxury, check out the highly rated Amira 1899 Luxury Suite where you can pamper yourself in a hot tub or relax in a sauna.

Gallipoli

After our delightful time in Galatina, we hopped on a short train ride to reach the coastal town of Gallipoli. As we arrived, the refreshing scent of the sea filled the air, setting the stage for a culinary adventure.

Seafood in Gallipoli

Gallipoli is a seafood lover's paradise, thanks to its location on the Ionian Sea. We couldn't resist trying the local specialties at Trattoria Santa Monaca, a renowned restaurant in the old town. One dish that stood out was the succulent purple prawns cooked in salt. You can also have it simply grilled as it can be too salty. These local delicacies boasted a delicate flavor and vibrant color, offering a memorable taste experience.

To complement our prawns, we savored a flavorful fish soup brimming with mussels, clams, and squid. The broth was skillfully infused with herbs and spices, creating a symphony of flavors that delighted our palates.

Our meal at Santa Monaca, including drinks, came to a total of EUR 62, a reasonable price for the quality and quantity of food served. Portions were so huge that we didn't have space for dessert.

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Basilica Concattedrale di Sant'Agata

Also known as the Gallipoli Cathedral, it holds deep religious importance in this town and is dedicated to their patron saint Saint Agatha. Its history dates back several centuries, and as we wandered through its hallowed halls, we couldn't help but feel a connection to those who had come before us.

Hooded Penitents

While exploring one of the churches by the coast, I was shocked to see a hooded mannequin as I entered one of the churches simply because I wasn't expecting that and didn't do much research prior our visit. This is just a model of the hooded penitents that parade barefoot during Lent and are covered to protect their identity.

We found this at the Church of the Holy Crucifix just along the coastal road. They also have some photos of the penitents during Holy Week.

There are a few more churches that you can explore within the old town but these two are what I found most fascinating.

Left: hooded statue

Right: church interior

Take it Slow at a Café

When in Italy, take it slow. We settled into our seats and ordered comforting cappuccinos – creamy concoctions topped with delicate foam. As we sipped our drinks, we savored both their rich flavor and the relaxed atmosphere surrounding us.

Fontana Greca

The Greek fountain, believed to be built around 3rd century BC, is just located outside the fort of the old town so we visited this as we headed back to the train station.

We were here in the late afternoon and also watched fishermen and locals transact by the shore. There's also a church that you can visit from here.

Santuario di Santa Maria del Canneto

Where to Stay in Gallipoli?

Coastal towns in Italy tend to be pricey but you can still find a place on a mid-range budget. Check out Centro Storico Casa Nel Cuoro

If you're feeling luxurious, check out the 4-star Palazzo Presta in the center of the old town.

https://www.youtube.com/watch/4yqARfS5ybU

Conclusion

Our day trip to Galatina and Gallipoli from Lecce proved to be a rewarding journey filled with historical marvels, tantalizing flavors, and the ease of travel. Thanks to the convenient train connections, we seamlessly ventured from one town to another, immersing ourselves in their unique charms.

If you want something more convenient and you do not have your own car, getting a private transfer is the way to go. Check out this full day tour of Galatina and Gallipoli. They provide a comfortable airconditioned car with a private driver from Lecce which really makes a difference especially during the hot peak summer season and saves you the long trip in the slow train. You still have the independence to get around and explore on your own. Combine this with the itinerary we have provided above. Have fun!

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Galatina and Gallipoli Day Trip Itinerary from Lecce, Puglia, Italy

Embark on a stress-free excursion starting from Lecce, where we'll explore the captivating towns of Galatina and Gallipoli . These ench...

Galatina and Gallipoli Day Trip Itinerary from Lecce, Puglia, Italy

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Hi everyone

In today's post I want to tell you a little about what I did yesterday, because I also had the opportunity to visit a beautiful city called Padua and which is practically in the Veneto region, I went by train with my niece whom I accompanied because she had to take an important exam for the university, and she has practically been enrolled at the University of Padua for some years.

I confess that I have been to Padua several times, because A few years ago I practically had a half-girlfriend, with whom I frequented, and therefore every now and then I also like to go back to maybe meet some old friends, certainly the part I like more than Padua is Prato della Valle which you can practically see in the photo and it is where the market practically takes place, in fact while I was waiting for my niece to conclude this exam I took a tour inside this market.

Think of yourself that besides being a city rich in history and culture Padua is famous all over the world for its ancient university which was founded in 1222 and is today one of the most prestigious not only in Italy but also in Europe. that's why in fact my niece who is practically studying medicine chose to come to Padua from Milan to study.

Then Padua has a great religious importance having been the home of Sant'Antonio one of the saints certainly most revered by the church and famous throughout the world especially in South America, in fact here is the famous Basilica of Sant'Antonio which contains the relics of the Santo and it is certainly one of the main tourist attractions of the city that you absolutely must not miss if you come to Padua.

When my niece finished taking the exam we walked around the streets of Padua, and we had an aperitif at the famous Pedrotti café but in any case there are many museums and places to visit in Padua because it is famous for its great artistic heritage and architectural and is also famous for the botanical gardens which are a Unesco world heritage site. a Padua by night that I had only seen on very few occasions, and I must say that it is a city full of life because there were a lot of people even in the evening.

I hope you enjoyed this post of mine and I hope you also enjoyed the photos I took yesterday, I didn't take many but I hope you enjoyed the few I took, see you soon See you next time

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I'm going to Padua to take my niece to an exam

Hi everyone In today's post I want to tell you a little about what I did yesterday, because I also had the opportunity to visit a be...

I'm going to Padua to take my niece to an exam

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An afternoon stroll in Trieste

Today has been a day of "improvisation", I had planned to go to Verona but I overslept and when we went to the train station it was too late to do the tour in one day, so we had to improvise and look for another destination.

After looking at several options we chose to go to Trieste, a beautiful city, with great buildings and with a lot of freshness.

I loved the architecture of this place, all the buildings are imposing and in perfect condition. The city is very welcoming and with different attractions.

You can tell that it is a city with history as soon as you walk through its cobblestone streets, and at the same time it has opened up to modernization, it is a mixture of both.

We were in the square "La Piazza dell'Unità" or Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia, surrounded by imposing buildings like the ones you see in the pictures, among which are the Government Palace and the City Hall Palace.

In front of the square is the promenade, a long walkway around the sea, with a harbor in the background with large boats.

The gastronomy is varied and there are cafes for all tastes. I liked to see many stores with more than 60 years old.

As a travel experience I can tell you that we have suffered a little with the language issue, it has not been easy to get people who speak Spanish, even in the hotels. When we got on the bus to the train station we could barely understand that we had to buy the bus ticket through a mobile application.

Everything is very orderly here, the public transportation is impeccable in terms of comfort and punctuality. Very organized.

It's a destination that I would like to repeat to see with more time many other attractions that I could not appreciate because of the time factor.

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An afternoon stroll in Trieste

An afternoon stroll in Trieste Today has been a day of "improvisation", I had planned to...

An afternoon stroll in Trieste

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Hello to all the visitors of this community!

By the way, I want to take advantage of this opportunity and I'm glad that it has been revived anyway, so we have this space where we can share our experiences but also our travels that we do, and I apologize if I am not very present but I am quite busy with the move, so I really have little time to write.

However, today I managed to carve out some time, also to take a break from the sweltering heat hitting Bologna. I wanted to share with you some photos I took a few evenings ago, where I had a somewhat special experience. It was my first time, but I know it's a fairly widespread trend not only in Italy but around the world, which is to have these culinary experiences in nature, among vineyards or, as in this case, in a lavender field.

It wasn't the first time I visited a lavender field, a trend that has become quite popular in recent years. I love the scent of lavender. In fact, usually my shower gel and body cream have that lavender scent, and I usually buy products that are matched with this fragrance.

However, a friend of mine proposed this experience some time ago, which I honestly considered a bit expensive right away since I paid almost €30 to taste products in a location that is basically a lavender field.

In the end, though, I viewed this experience positively because it's a very romantic thing, especially if you catch a beautiful day and can admire a stunning sunset. Most importantly, I could enjoy quality products and taste excellent wines, so I think the price was fair in the end.

Of course, those who cultivate these lavender fields try to create a bit of a business beyond just producing lavender-scented products. Nevertheless, it's very beautiful because for those who adore lavender like me, it's like being in paradise.

I hope to have another similar experience soon, perhaps in a different natural setting, and I hope you can do it too! Anyway, I hope to share my next post in these communities very soon. Kisses to all!!

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Exploring Lavender Fields: A Culinary and Natural Experience

Hello to all the visitors of this community! By the way, I want to take advantage of this opportunity and I'm glad that it has been ...

Exploring Lavender Fields: A Culinary and Natural Experience

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Hello traveling friends,

In today's post, I want to start telling you about my upcoming vacation that will last several months, and I'm really excited about it. But most importantly, I'll be sharing it with a very important friend of mine, Giulia, whom I've known since childhood. In these months, we plan to travel around Italy without a predetermined destination, simply going wherever we feel like each day.

I think that sometimes, planning a trip well in advance and deciding exactly how you want your vacation to be isn't very enjoyable. It's nice to organize things as we go along. Our first stop will be Sardinia, a place I've been to several times in my life. Even though I've visited many places in Sardinia, there are still enchanting locations on this beautiful island that I haven't seen.

Another aspect of this trip is that we'll be keeping it very low cost. I don't intend to spend a lot of money. Moreover, I believe that the simplest things are always the best, and I don't consider certain travel comforts to be essential.

Our first destination is Castelsardo, a little-known town in the world that is located in the province of Sassari, in the northwestern part of Sardinia. This area is more naturalistic and deserves to be experienced fully.

This place, situated towards the end of the Gulf of Asinara, is included in the list of the most beautiful villages in Italy. I noticed this immediately from the first few hours I spent here. Even though I'm not particularly interested in art and history, I still enjoy living in and appreciating these beautiful places. My friend Giulia will probably appreciate this place more, especially since she is a graduate and very knowledgeable. In fact, it was mostly her who chose this location.

On our first day, we took a little stroll through the city to admire the architecture and the atmosphere in these small villages. It wasn't too demanding, but there were a lot of people around, and even though it's not widely known, we came across many foreign tourists. We didn't climb to the top of the hill that practically overlooks this village to see the Rocca, which is the castle built by the Doria family. I don't know if we'll visit it tomorrow; we haven't planned our day properly yet.

What struck me about Castelsardo were the shops selling Sardinian handicrafts. We found a man who was making a kind of basket, and it was truly a beautiful experience, especially for someone like me who comes from Milan, a big city, and probably isn't accustomed to encountering these small craft shops. I believe that these shops should be preserved over time because they represent a rich heritage of this Sardinian land.

I only took these photos; we'll see if I can take more to share with you here tomorrow. The idea is certainly to move to other regions, perhaps by taking a ferry. We're still evaluating the costs because unfortunately, it's very expensive to travel during peak season. Nevertheless, it will definitely be an adventurous trip that I haven't done in many years, and I've been craving it, especially after the pandemic period.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I hope you liked the first photos, so stay tuned because there's more to come!

Goodbye, everyone.

 

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The holidays can finally begin!

Hello traveling friends, In today's post, I want to start telling you about my upcoming vacation that will last several months, and ...

The holidays can finally begin!

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