Excursions

 

 

LECCE

Lecce is a historic city in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Lecce, the second province in the region by population, as well as one of the most important cities of Puglia. It is the main city of the Salentine Peninsula, a sub-peninsula at the heel of the Italian Peninsula and is over 2,000 years old. Because of the rich Baroque architectural monuments found in the city, Lecce is commonly nicknamed “The Florence of the South”. The city also has a long traditional affinity with Greek culture going back to its foundation. To this day, in the Grecìa Salentina, a group of towns not far from Lecce, the griko language is still spoken.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE CITY
DEPARTURE H. 9.00 a.m. RETURN H. 1.30 p.m.
MINIBUS TO OTRANTO AND WALKING IN THE OLD CITY
COST: FREE WITH MANDATORY RESERVATION – € 15,00 W/O RESERVATION (IF SEATS AVAILABLE ON THE BUS)
Info – booking: Serena Reception first floor

 

 

OTRANTO

Otranto is a town and comune in the province of Lecce (Apulia, Italy), in a fertile region once famous for its breed of horses. It is located on the east coast of the Salento peninsula. The Strait of Otranto, to which the city gives its name, connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and separates Italy from Albania. The lighthouse Faro della Palascìa, at approximately 5 km southeast of Otranto, marks the most easterly point of the Italian mainland. Otranto main sights include The Castello Aragonese (Castle), reinforced by Emperor Frederick II and The Cathedral, consecrated in 1088.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE CITY
DEPARTURE H. 9.00 a.m. RETURN H. 1.00 p.m.
MINIBUS TO OTRANTO AND WALKING IN THE OLD CITY
COST: € 25,00 (MANDATORY RESERVATION. MIN. 8 PEOPLE)
Info – booking: Serena Reception first floor

 

PORTO SELVAGGIO E PORTO CESAREO

The coast towers stand over the sea, the towers of the typical masserie – local farmhouses – dominate the inland. These two kind of towers both remind of long history, land defence, seaside, country and great architecture. Starting from the Tower delle Quattro Colonne in Santa Maria al Bagno, you will go through the Nardò’s countryside by minibus while enjoying the Scurzone, S. Maria dell’alto, Uluzzo and Inserraglio towers. You will also take a break at the Brusca, Torre Nova, Sciogli and Carignano grande masserie.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE PORTO SELVAGGIO WILDLIFE RESERVE AND OF THE MARINE NATURE RESERVE “PORTO CESAREO”
DEPARTURE H. 9.30 a.m. RETURN H. 13.30
MINIBUS TO PORTO CESAREO AND WALKING IN THE PARK
COST: € 25,00 (MANDATORY RESERVATION. MIN. 8 PEOPLE)
Info – booking: Serena Reception first floor

 

SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA

Santa Maria di Leuca is famous for its lighthouse, which, with its height of 47 metre and its position at 102 metre above sea level, is the second most important lighthouse in Italy, after the one in Genova. Next to the lighthouse is the large Sanctuary, or Basilica, De Finibus Terrae (“End of the Land”, 1720-1755), built to commemorate the passage of St. Peter here during his travel to Italy. It is devoted to Saint Mary (from whom the town gets the name Santa Maria di Leuca). It lies on the former site of a Roman temple dedicated to Minerva. The edifice has a fortified structure, and during its existence it sustained several assault by Algerian pirates. In the same site, a Corinthian column was erected in 1939 to celebrate the construction of the Apulian Aqueduct (Acquedotto Pugliese). The basilica is connected to the port through a 284-step staircase.

MINIBUS TO S.M. DI LEUCA, ESCURSIONS AT LEUCA CAVES
TASTING OF TYPICAL PRODUCTS OF SALENTO IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY “VILLA LA MERIDIANA”
LUNCH IN THE HOTEL TERMINAL
DEPARTURE H. 9.00 a.m. RETURN H. 2.00 p.m.
COST: € 35,00 (MANDATORY RESERVATION. MIN. 8 PEOPLE)
Info – booking: Serena Reception first floor

 

GALLIPOLI – OLD CITY

Gallipoli, meaning “Beautiful City”, is a town and comune in the province of Lecce, in Apulia, southern Italy. It is located by the Ionian Sea, on the west coast of the Salentina Peninsula. The town of Gallipoli is divided in two parts, the modern and the old city. The new town includes all the newest buildings including a skyscraper. The old town, instead, is located on a limestone island, linked to the mainland by a bridge built in the 16th centur. Of great historical importance is the St. Andrew Island, about a mile off of the historic center, characterized by the presence of wild animals, such as the Audouin’s Gull.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE OLD CITY
DEPARTURE H. 10.00 a.m. RETURN H. 1 pm
MINIBUS TO GALLIPOLI AND WALKING IN THE OLD CITY
COST: € 15,00 (MANDATORY RESERVATION. MIN. 8 PEOPLE)
Info – booking: Serena Reception first floor