Salento, located at very bottom of the heel of Italy, is one of Puglia‘s two subregions, with the other being the Bari area in the north. While these two regions differ in landscape, history, and traditions (and have rival football teams, Bari and Lecce) they agree on one thing. There is nothing quite like spending the summer surrounded by the turquoise waters and idyllic beaches.

A Barese myself, I spent every summer since I can remember in Salento, and I can assure you there is more to this region than just the popular cities of Lecce and Gallipoli. Through the years, I have discovered many hidden gems in Puglia without the crowds. Read on to discover the best-kept secrets of Salento (and check out our Puglia road trip for more tips)!