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    Gallipoli

    Italy

    Gallipoli

    City

    Gallipoli is located on the west coast of Salento on the Ionian Sea. The old town is situated on a small limestone island, connected by a 17th-century bridge to the new town on the mainland.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Italy
    7. Apulien
    9. Gallipoli
    Gallipoli is located on the west coast of Salento on the Ionian Sea. The old town is situated on a small limestone island, connected by a 17th-century bridge to the new town on the mainland. A waterfront promenade circles around it, linking the bastions of the old city wall.In the narrow streets of the old town stand Baroque churches and palazzi, including the Cathedral Sant'Agata. South of the city, sandy beaches such as Baia Verde and Punta della Suina stretch along the coast.

    Sights in Gallipoli

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Castello di Gallipoli
    Museum

    1Castello di Gallipoli

    The castle stands at the eastern tip of the old town island, almost completely surrounded by the sea, guarding the city and harbor. It has a quadrangular layout with three round and one polygonal tower; it was extensively rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries under the Angevins and Aragonese. The outer bulwark, Rivellino, dating from 1522, secured access from the land side. Since 2014, the castle has been open to visitors again and is used for exhibitions.
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    Cattedrale di Sant'Agata
    Church

    2Cattedrale di Sant'Agata

    Baroque Cathedral in the heart of the old town island, begun 1629, its facade completed 1696. The two-story facade from local Carparo stone bears statues of Sant'Agata and other saints. Inside hang numerous paintings, many by Giovanni Andrea Coppola from Gallipoli and by Neapolitans Nicola and Carlo Malinconico.
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    Fontana Greca
    Attraction

    3Fontana Greca

    Fountain on the mainland side near the bridge to the Old Town. The reliefs depict three transformations from Greek mythology: those of Dirke, Salmakis, and Byblis. Its dating is disputed: some place it in the 3rd century BCE, others in the Renaissance. In 1560, the fountain was dismantled and re-erected at its current location.
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    Church of Saint Mary of the Purity
    Church

    4Church of Saint Mary of the Purity

    The church was built between 1662 and 1665, commissioned by the Brotherhood of the Bastasi, the port porters. The nave is completely covered with 18th-century canvas paintings, most of which are attributed to Liborio Riccio. Opposite is the small town beach Spiaggia della Purità.
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    City walks in Gallipoli

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Gallipoli: Island Magic and Baroque Splendour

    Discover Gallipoli, the 'Beautiful City' of Apulia, on a relaxed walk. Immerse yourself in the history of its Baroque old town, enjoy breathtaking sea views and experience authentic fishing life. An unforgettable insight into the heart of this pearl on the Ionian Sea.

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (6)

    Restaurants & Cafés

    1

    Trattoria La Puritate

    Fish restaurant on the old town's waterfront street above Purità Beach, with a glazed veranda overlooking the sea.
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    2

    Osteria del Vico

    Osteria serving fish dishes in Vicolo Mercato, an alley in the Old Town.
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    3

    Martinucci Laboratory

    Patisserie and Gelateria on Riviera Armando Diaz in the Old Town, with pastries from Salento such as the Pasticciotto.
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    Dining & Drinks

    Gallipoli thrives on fishing, so fish and seafood naturally dominate the local cuisine.

    Scapece Gallipolina

    Small fried fish, layered with breadcrumbs, soaked in vinegar and saffron; the saffron dyes the dish yellow. Traditionally, it is stored in large vats.

    Sea urchins

    Sea urchins are eaten raw in Salento or used for pasta. Their catch has been banned in Apulia since May 2023, currently until the end of June 2029; only traceable sea urchins from outside the region may be sold.

    History and Culture

    The name is presumed to derive from the Greek Kallipolis, meaning beautiful city. In the 4th century BC, Gallipoli was likely a base of Tarentum, and after the Social War, it became a Roman municipium. Later, among others, the Angevins and Aragonese shaped the city, as demonstrated by the expansion of its castle.From the 16th to the 19th century, Gallipoli exported lamp oil, the price of which was listed on the exchanges of Naples and London. It was pressed in underground mills, the frantoi ipogei, with around 35 of them built beneath the old town.The city's brotherhoods have their own churches, such as Santa Maria della Purità for the port workers. During Holy Week, among other things, the wooden figure of the dead Christ from the Church of del Crocifisso is carried in a procession.

    Nightlife

    **Gallipoli's nightlife** primarily unfolds during the summer months along the coast and in the charming old town, where you'll find various bars for a relaxed aperitivo. For larger events and open-air parties, Parco Gondar is a well-known venue, which often stays open until the early hours of the morning.
    1

    La cantina del Salento

    Bar in Via Antonietta de Pace.
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    2

    Baron's pub

    Bar in Via Salento.
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    3

    Enoteca Mieru

    Bar in Via Cinque.
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    4

    La bottega del Salento

    Bar in Via Antonietta de Pace.
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    5

    Blanc

    Bar in Via XXIV Maggio.
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    6

    Vecchia Saponeria

    Bar in Riviera Nazario Sauro.
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    7

    Blucafè Bar Gallipoli

    Bar in Lungomare Galileo Galilei.
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    8

    Parco Gondar

    Restaurant in Lungomare Galileo Galilei Lung.
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    Exploring Locally

    Explore the old town island on foot; in summer, only residents may enter by car (ZTL). Parking is available in the new town; in summer, these are paid and often full.Via Zollino, Gallipoli is connected to Lecce by train via Ferrovie del Sud Est. Construction is underway on parts of the network in Salento; check the current timetable before your journey. From the new town station, it's a short walk to the bridge leading to the old town.Baia Verde beach has its own train stop; you're more flexible with a bike, scooter, or rental car.

    Accommodations in Gallipoli

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      • 2Cattedrale di Sant'Agata4 days
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    Nearby

    Salento Peninsula

    Salento Peninsula

    Salento is the southernmost part of Apulia, the "heel" of the Italian boot between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. On the east coast, limestone cliffs with grottoes drop steeply into the sea, while on the west coast, near Porto Cesareo and Gallipoli, there are long sandy beaches with shallow water.Inland, olive groves, dry stone walls, and small towns with Baroque churches define the landscape. In the towns of Grecìa Salentina, such as Corigliano d'Otranto and Melpignano, a Greek dialect is still spoken today. Lecce is the cultural center; Otranto and Gallipoli are the best-known coastal towns.
    Lecce

    Lecce

    Lecce, Salento's provincial capital, has an old town shaped by baroque churches and palaces, built from the region's light, soft, dense limestone, the *pietra leccese*. Its easy workability fostered a unique, richly ornamented Baroque style here in the 17th century.Roman remains, including the Amphitheater on Piazza Sant'Oronzo and the Theater in the old town, lie beside the baroque facades. The city's territory stretches over 20 kilometers of coast to the Adria.
    Otranto

    Otranto

    Otranto is located on the Adriatic coast of Salento. Just south of the city, Punta Palascìa marks Italy's easternmost point, and is also the closest point to Albania.The old town, with its Norman Cathedral and Aragonese Castle, overlooks the harbor. North of the city lie the Laghi Alimini and the Baia dei Turchi.
    Ostuni

    Ostuni

    Ostuni is situated on three hills at the edge of the Murgia, about 7.5 kilometers from the Adriatic coast. The lime-whitewashed houses of the old town have earned it the nickname Città Bianca, the white city.In the old town, alleys, stairs, and arches lead up to the cathedral with its late Gothic facade and a large rose window. Surrounding the city lies the Piana degli Ulivi with numerous monumental olive trees.
    Alberobello

    Alberobello

    Alberobello is located in the Valle d'Itria in the Metropolitan City of Bari and is known for its Trulli, houses built of roughly hewn limestone using dry-stone techniques without mortar, with conical roofs made of stone slabs. Since 1996, they have been a UNESCO World Heritage site.The two Trulli districts are Rione Monti and Aia Piccola.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI