Hidden treasures and flavors of Salento

An itinerary suited for art lovers and foodies interested in discovering some hidden jewels of Salento. The tour begin with Galatina and its Basilica of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria (a beautiful example of Romanesque and Gothic architecture in Salento) called the Apulian Assisi for its terrific frescos. Galatina is also a symbol of tarantism and pizzica (a traditional dance) and of the Pasticciotto (it has been invented by Ascalone‘s pastry workshop where we can go to taste it). We will enjoy walking in the baroque city center with the noble palaces and the church of St. Peter and Paul.
We will visit also Corigliano d’Otranto (a town of the so called Grecìa Salentina where there is still some elderly people who speaks the Griko, an ancient Greek language as dialect) with its interesting castle and its facade that represent a beautiful and rare example of Baroque style in a military building.
During the tour foodies will enjoy the visit of a masseria (a typical farmhouse) with its vineyard, the 18° century underground olive oil mill, the barrique room and the restaurant for a wine and extra virgin olive oil tasting, a meal with typical products or a cooking class.

Some idea for changes to the itinerary
It’s also possible to extend /modify the itinerary with a cheese tasting, a visit of the Unesco site of Otranto with the cathedral and its terrific mosaic, some symbols of the baroque architecture (Lecce, Nardò, Gallipoli), some other town of the Grecia Salentina (such as Soleto and its wonderful city center, Calimera and its folk art and tradition museum, etc.), the interesting prehistoric megalithic structures called dolmen and menhir, the coast on the North of Otranto with Roca Vecchia and the Cave of Poetry, the faraglioni stacks of Torre S. Andrea, etc.