Salento

Salento (; Salentino: Salentu; Salento Griko: ) is a cultural, historical, and geographic region at the southern end of the administrative region of Apulia, in southern Italy. It is a sub-peninsula of the Italian Peninsula, sometimes described as the "heel" of the Italian "boot". It encompasses the entire administrative area of the Province of Lecce, most of the Province of Brindisi (all of it except Fasano, Ostuni and Cisternino), and the south-eastern part of the Province of Taranto (like Grottaglie and Avetrana, but not Taranto itself).

Etymology

In ancient times the peninsula was named Sallentina, or Messapia. To this peninsula the term Calabria was originally applied during the ancient Roman and early Byzantine era, but since 580 the administrative scope of Calabrian province was gradually expanded towards western regions, encompassing ancient Bruttium, and thus by the 10th century the term Calabria was shifted to that region, known since then as modern Calabria.

History

thumb|right|250px|Ancient Roman region, and later province Regio II Apulia et Calabria, encompassing modern Apulia, with Salento (known then as Calabria)

In the eleventh century BC, Iapygians migrated to Apulia from the Illyrian coast, to what was Messapia (Greek: Μεσσαπία) which was the ancient name of a region of Italy largely corresponding to modern Salento. Following the migration, the Greeks arrived in Messapia from Sparta, and giving Salento the name Magna Grecia.

In the fourth century BC, the Roman Empire built the Appian Way or Via Appia, connecting the capital Rome to Apulia. The Romans expelled the Greeks and took control of the region in 272 BC. Under Roman rule, the region of Salento was known as Calabria, and it developed a flourishing agricultural economy growing wheat, and producing olive oil. Around 7 BC, emperor Augustus divided Roman Italy into regions, one of them being Regio II Apulia et Calabria. Emperor Diocletian (284-305) reorganized Italian regions into provinces, and the newly created province of Apulia and Calabria was placed under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Suburbicarian Italy. The Roman Empire collapsed in 476 AD, but the province continued to function under the Ostrogothic rule. although an old Hellenic dialect (known as Griko) is also spoken in a few inland towns.

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
Parmigiana di melanzane, made with aubergines, tomato sauce and cheese like mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Pitta di patate, a savoury pie made with mashed potatoes.
Turcinieddhri, also known as gnummareddi, grilled lamb offal.
Purciaddruzzi, fried hand-made small cookies with honey, eaten at Christmastime.

Transportation

The nearest international airports are those of Brindisi and Bari (the latter is out of Salento but not far).

A 2-lane freeway connects Salento to Bari. The main railway line ends at Lecce. Other locations are served by regional railroads.

Leisure ports are those of: Taranto, Brindisi, Campomarino di Maruggio's tourist and leisure Marina, Gallipoli, Santa Maria di Leuca, Otranto.

Tourism

In the province of Lecce, the Ciolo cave is one of the main tourist destinations.

Festivals

Salento's sagre 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.

Salento is a major holiday destination for the Italian gay population, developing around the southern town of Gallipoli, the lidos at Baia Verde and nearby naturist beaches. Salento Pride is celebrated annually.

Coastal towers

The coastal towers in Salento are coastal watchtowers, as the peninsula's coast was long subject to maritime attacks by the Saracens. The first towers may have been built by Normans. The remaining historic towers are mostly from the 15th and 16th centuries. Many are now in ruins.