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Salento
Salento > The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy in Salento
The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy in Salento
Specchia, Presicce-Acquarica and Otranto
Salento can boast three towns included in the prestigious circuit of “ The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy ”: Specchia , Presicce-Acquarica and Otranto .
Three different ways to experience the area: the silent, stony hinterland, the underground world linked to oil, and the walled city overlooking the East.
Specchia: the medieval elegance of the hinterland
Specchia is often cited as one of the most charming villages in Southern Italy. Its strong point is the harmony of its historic center: a maze of stone alleys, small courtyards, arches, and houses huddled together, where every corner seems designed to be discovered slowly.
What makes Specchia special
the compact and scenic medieval center, perfect for exploring on foot
the local stone which, with the late afternoon light, takes on warm, golden tones
the feeling of authenticity: a village that doesn't "act", but still lives its rhythms
What to do : Get lost among the narrow streets with no fixed itinerary and stop at panoramic points to observe the Salento countryside.
Presicce-Acquarica: the city of hypogea and "black gold"
Presicce-Acquarica is a surprising village because it tells the story of Salento not only above ground, but also underground. Here, the history of the local economy is literally carved into the rock: the famous underground olive presses, where oil has been produced for centuries.
Interesting fact : the village is linked to the production of “lampante” oil, nicknamed black gold: an oil long used for lighting (lamps) and destined for foreign markets, when oil was a truly strategic asset.
Not to be missed
a visit to an underground oil mill, to understand what working life was like underground
the squares and historical views: the village combines peasant culture, architecture and identity
Otranto: the seaside village that faces east
Otranto is the Adriatic soul of Salento: a walled city on the sea, with bastions, alleyways, and views that tell of centuries of trade and defense. It is also symbolically "the first light": here, Italy seems to be drawing closer to the East.
What you absolutely must see
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Three different ways to experience the area: the silent, stony hinterland, the underground world linked to oil, and the walled city overlooking the East.
Specchia: the medieval elegance of the hinterland
Specchia is often cited as one of the most charming villages in Southern Italy. Its strong point is the harmony of its historic center: a maze of stone alleys, small courtyards, arches, and houses huddled together, where every corner seems designed to be discovered slowly.
What makes Specchia special
the compact and scenic medieval center, perfect for exploring on foot
the local stone which, with the late afternoon light, takes on warm, golden tones
the feeling of authenticity: a village that doesn't "act", but still lives its rhythms
What to do : Get lost among the narrow streets with no fixed itinerary and stop at panoramic points to observe the Salento countryside.
Presicce-Acquarica: the city of hypogea and "black gold"
Presicce-Acquarica is a surprising village because it tells the story of Salento not only above ground, but also underground. Here, the history of the local economy is literally carved into the rock: the famous underground olive presses, where oil has been produced for centuries.
Interesting fact : the village is linked to the production of “lampante” oil, nicknamed black gold: an oil long used for lighting (lamps) and destined for foreign markets, when oil was a truly strategic asset.
Not to be missed
a visit to an underground oil mill, to understand what working life was like underground
the squares and historical views: the village combines peasant culture, architecture and identity
Otranto: the seaside village that faces east
Otranto is the Adriatic soul of Salento: a walled city on the sea, with bastions, alleyways, and views that tell of centuries of trade and defense. It is also symbolically "the first light": here, Italy seems to be drawing closer to the East.
What you absolutely must see
- the Cathedral with its extraordinary floor mosaic
- the Aragonese Castle, icon of the fortified citadel
- the walk between the walls and the viewpoint, especially at sunset