Gallipoli is one of the principal coastal towns of Puglia, the sun-drenched heel of Italy. It has magical sandy beaches and stunning emerald waters. The town boasts a wonderful Old Town located on a linked island, endless restaurant terraces, and beaches that welcome visitors pretty much year-round. The southern latitude offers glorious weather and sea temperatures, and the beaches still attract swimmers and loungers into November.
Food from the very top table, beaches lapped by photoshopped Ionian waters and history around every corner – Gallipoli offers so much for the incentive event planner. Despite all this, somehow, Gallipoli and the wider Puglia region remain unspoilt by mass tourism, avoiding the crowds and inflated prices that blight many similarly endowed destinations.
Located on a western peninsula of the Puglia coast, Gallipoli is wonderfully charming, yet refreshingly local. Tourism is mainly domestic, and for event planners seeking a taste of real Italy, then Gallipoli remains largely un-spoiled. This is a corner of Italy that has all the historic, culinary and cultural trappings of the popular Italian honeypots, yet outside of the peak Italian holiday periods, Gallipoli is refreshingly spared the crowds of Italy’s A-list destinations.
The Old Town is the highlight of Gallipoli. Its location on a rocky promontory, the terraces and vistas, and the decaying, historic structures of the centre make for another Italian marvel. The Old Town is surrounded by marinas and beaches, which the Italians shamelessly enjoy.
Gallipoli Old Town is connected to the more modern town centre of Gallipoli by a land bridge. To the south of the town centre is a coastal strip, a bay that runs some 10km and offers superb beaches and emerald waters. Along this strip of golden sand are numerous hotels, beachfront bars and restaurants, and a wide range of water sports activities. Gallipoli is famed for its wind and kite surfing, while the crystal waters team with fish and are ideal for snorkelling.
Lecce, the capital of Puglia, is 30 minutes away from Gallipoli. It offers an inland feast of history and culture - the regional capital is known as the ‘Florence of the south’ for its Baroque centre.
Much of the action in Gallipoli takes place on the water. The stunning coastline offers a range of activities, including sailing, windsurfing and kite surfing. The golden sand beaches are magical for swimming, while the pristine water is ideal for snorkelling and diving.
Land-based activities include cultural and dining experiences in Gallipoli’s Old Town. Lecce is located east of Gallipoli and is considered the Florence of the south. It is a wonderful place to explore with its history and Puglia culture.
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Seafood dominates Puglia and much of what ends up in the kitchens of Gallipoli comes through its working harbour. Seafood doesn’t come fresher – direct from the nets being hoisted on the horizon. With wide beaches to snooze off the calories, Gallipoli prides itself on serving up feasts on a prodigious scale.
The Old Town of Gallipoli offers endless dining options amongst its labyrinth of streets. There are intimate rooms barely obvious as restaurants and spacious, stylish open-plan venues. Then there are the waterfront restaurants, with glorious terraces overlooking the turquoise waters - pleasure overload.
The coastal strip on the western flank of the Gallipoli peninsula and some 10km to the south makes for an irresistible backdrop - perfect for sunset drinks. The terraces offer fantastic settings for group social events, all underpinned by the famed Italian style. Breakouts on the sand and cocktails at sunset are always memorable features of an event.
Gallipoli Old Town offers a wonderful contrast to the open vistas of the coast. Intimate streets offer a quintessentially Italian experience with numerous bars and restaurants hidden amongst the labyrinth of pedestrian streets. The Old Town is alive with atmosphere as locals and visitors share the venues.
