Gallipoli: What to See in the Old Town and Beaches
Its name comes from the Greek Kallípolis, "beautiful city", and it's no false advertising. Gallipoli is the queen of Salento's Ionian coast: an old town gathered on an island, a castle rising from the water, sunsets that set the sea on fire and, just minutes away, some of the most beloved beaches in Puglia. It's the perfect day out for anyone staying inland who wants to experience Salento's western side.
The Old Town, an Island
The heart of Gallipoli is its old town, built entirely on a small limestone island and connected to the mainland by a seventeenth-century bridge. Inside lies a Mediterranean labyrinth of whitewashed alleys, courtyards, workshops and Baroque churches, completely surrounded by the sea: whichever way you turn, sooner or later you come out onto a riviera overlooking the water.
Walking the circuit of the walls is the best thing you can do here: every glimpse is a postcard, and the right moment is late afternoon, when the light turns golden and the town comes alive.
The Castle and the Fish Market
Guarding the bridge stands the Castle of Gallipoli, a fortress almost entirely surrounded by the sea, with its bastions and distinctive ravelin tower. Today it hosts exhibitions and is open to visitors: from the ramparts, the view over the harbour is magnificent.
Right beneath the bridge, the fish market is a small daily spectacle of voices and overflowing stalls: Gallipoli is still a true fishing town, and it shows. The local red prawn is something of a gastronomic legend.
The Cathedral and the Underground Oil Mills
At the highest point of the island rises the Cathedral of Sant'Agata, a Baroque masterpiece that wouldn't look out of place in Lecce: its golden stone façade and an interior rich in paintings make it the artistic highlight of the visit.
But the most surprising Gallipoli lies underground: the frantoi ipogei, ancient oil mills carved into the rock beneath the houses, where for centuries lamp oil was pressed to light the cities of Europe. Visiting one — several in the historic centre are open to the public — means descending into an unexpected world of stone, millstones and history.
The Beaches: Baia Verde and Around
South of the town stretches Baia Verde, the most famous beach: fine sand, crystal-clear water and lively beach clubs that have made it the summer capital of Salento's nightlife. A little further on, the Punta Pizzo park offers the same sea in its natural state, amid Mediterranean scrub and dunes.
In town itself, the small Purità beach, tucked beneath the walls of the old town, is perfect for a swim with the historic centre as your backdrop — a rare luxury.
The Sunset
Gallipoli faces west, and its sunsets over the sea are among the most beautiful in Puglia: the sun drops straight into the water right in front of the riviera. The perfect end to the day is an aperitivo on the walls or a seafood dinner in the old town, as the sky changes colour.
Getting There and Practical Tips
From the masseria, Gallipoli is about a fifty-minute drive, crossing Salento from coast to coast: it's the classic day trip in our week-long itinerary. A few tips:
- In high season, go early: the car parks near the centre and Baia Verde fill up fast.
- Combine beach and old town: morning by the sea, afternoon in the alleys, sunset on the walls.
- Watch the wind: Gallipoli sits on the Ionian — on days of tramontana or maestrale the sea can get rough; here's how to pick the right coast.
A day in Gallipoli tells the story of a different Salento from the Adriatic one: softer, more golden, more worldly. And coming back in the evening to the quiet of the countryside, after a sunset over the Ionian, is the perfect way to bring the day full circle.