Gallipoli (Italy)

Gallipoli (Sicilian: Caḍḍìpuli) is a town of 20,600 inhabitants in the Apulia region of Italy, on the west coast of Salento Peninsula, facing the Ionian Sea. Gallipoli has become one of the main Italian tourist destinations for summer holidays, because of its beach resorts, enchanting historic center and vibrant nightlife.

Understand
Gallipoli is divided into two different parts: the modern city is on a peninsula; the fascinating old town, on a calcareous rock island connected to the mainland by a 17th-century stone bridge.

Talk
Practically everyone knows Salentino dialect (Salentìnu) and usually speaks it with family and friends. It is a variant of Sicilian language, spoken in almost all Salento peninsula, and can be heard in particular in the historic centre, especially by fishermen.



By plane
The companies that provide a car-rental service from the airport of Brindisi are:

By train
Gallipoli is well served by regional trains via Ferrovie del Sud Est (FSE)



By bus
Various private bus companies provides links from cities of Italy, France, Germany and Switzerland to Gallipoli: Fares can drastically change according to the period and even the day chosen. Info are available on their websites.
 * Flixbus from 32 destinations in Italy and Europe, like Hannover, Munich, Nuremberg, Pescara, Pompeii, Rimini, Rome, Siena.
 * Marino Bus from Florence, Frankfurt, Lyon, Milan, Naples, Pisa, Stuttgart, Zurich and many other localities.
 * Marozzi from Avellino, Bari, Benevento, Rome.
 * Miccolis from Caserta, Matera, Metaponto, Naples, Pompeii, Potenza, Salerno.

All coaches stop at the bus station of, in front of the municipal cemetery.

By car

 * From Brindisi: take Strada Statale 16 Italia.svg to bypass the city, merge onto Strada Statale 613 Italia.svg towards Lecce, here take Tangenziale Ovest and Strada Statale 101 Italia.svg to Gallipoli. (1 hr)
 * From Bari: Bari Nord motorway exit, then take Strada Statale 16 Italia.svg until Fasano and Strada Statale 379 Italia.svg to reach Brindisi, then follow the route above. (2 hr)
 * From Taranto: the easiest way is reaching Brindisi heading down Strada Statale 7 Italia.svg and following the route above (1½ hr). Another possibility is driving along the Ionian coast crossing some towns, but it usually requires more time.
 * From Santa Maria di Leuca: drive along Strada Statale 274 Italia.svg for 30 minutes.

By train
The town has two more minor train stops The local train service has a reputation for being not very reliable, and people may discourage you to choose it, although it has improved. These stations are served only in summer season (updated September 2022). Check the FSE site for information about routes and fares.

By car
During summer streets can be extremely busy especially at night and find a parking can literally become an adventure! Reaching the old town or the modern center from the suburbs will require parking the car quite far away and walking along the lively Corso Roma.

On foot
The only option to explore the historic centre after you have crossed the bridge. Walk along the boardwalk of the island to admire the magnificent view then lose yourself in the narrow alleys.

Old city
The island of the historic centre is characterized by the present of various churches, all of them built in Baroque style. The narrow alleys are surrounded by enchanting white and cream-colored houses, that make this zone similar to a Greek or Arab old city.

Do

 * Festa di Santa Cristina (Festival of Saint Christina): the most important religious festival in the town, in honor of the town's patron saint. The event takes place on 23, 24 and 25 July, when the statue of Saint Christina is procession over the sea and Corso Roma is decorated with spectacular and colored illuminations, in addiction to many stalls. This is a really can't-miss events if you choose to visit Gallipoli during this period.

Buy
The main street for shopping is, that runs for 1 km (0.6 miles) from the modern centre to the bridge leading to the old town. Along this avenue you will find many shops of various categories, clothing stores above all.

If you are a souvenir lover you cannot miss a walk along a narrow street that runs parallel to the, facing the commercial port. Here it is possible to buy not only postcards and fridge magnets, but a lot of decorations like lamps in pietra leccese (Lecce stone), shells, fish and sponges. Another option is the (covered market) that shares its entry with the castle and sells various souvenirs, local handicraft and costume jewelry. It is open daily from 09:30 to midnight.

Nightclubs
Most of the famous nightclubs of Gallipoli are in the locality of Baia Verde, a few km south of the centre. Prices can change depending on various factors, such as the services required, but they are usually considered quite expensive by Italian standards.

Cope

 * Italian traffic signs - icona farmacia.svg
 * Italian traffic signs - simbolo posta (figura II 101).svg

Go next

 * Nardò – Museums, Baroque architectures, enchanting seaside villages and nature reserves. (15 min by car)
 * Lecce – The famous "capital of the Baroque" with its numerous churches and palaces, all of them richly decorated. (30 min)
 * Salve – Small picturesque town surrounded by a pleasant countryside, with miles of sea resorts including the "Maldives of Salento". (30 min)
 * Santa Maria di Leuca – Popular tourist destination with a relevant sanctuary and several sea caves to explore. (35 min)
 * Otranto – Colorful historic centre with its majestic castle, many beaches and coves to take a bath. (50 min)
 * Brindisi – relevant Romanesque churches and port with ferries to Albania and Greece. (1 hr)