The Salento region, in southern Puglia, is a place to linger to fully appreciate its beauty where the countryside explodes in a kaleidoscope of colors. This stretch of land between the Ionian and the Adriatic Seas is characterized by untamed nature and breathtaking panoramas, where traditional country hamlets alternate with historic villages and watchtowers along the coast.<BR><BR>The coastline facing the Ionian Sea stands out for its long, sandy shores and rocky inlets – for instance, the Gallipoli Bay at Punta Pizzo – and the thick pine tree forests a few miles to the north that culminate in the Natural Park and Marine Reserve of Porto Selvaggio. The rocky coastline is interrupted by the golden sandy beaches at Porto Cesareo and Punta Prosciutto, where a sunset swim is a must. The coastline facing the Adriatic Sea, from San Cataldo to Santa Maria di Leuca, features vast stretches of level and sandy shores with prominent reefs.<BR><BR>Amazing rugged cliffs dotted with gorges and grottoes characterize the southern coastline. A few important small towns are found along the boardwalk, such as Otranto, Santa Cesarea, Castro, and other villages that get crowded only in summer. In between the two coastlines, a coffer of art and culture is enclosed in the many country boroughs.