A day in Gallipoli

November 3, 2024

The pearl of the Ionian Sea

We stayed in Gallipoli`s historic centre which is on a small island connected by a 17th century bridge. Perfect geography with the sea and and high walls to create a needed secure space. The old town also has many historical and architectural treasures. Strolling through the narrow, rock paved alleys, every corner reveals centuries of history. It was a wonderful place to poke around and spend the day.

Heading down the stairs at our BnB. This place had very interesting architectural details.

The hand painted ceiling and frescos in a sitting room. Hard to believe, but this was the room where our bikes were stored.

The original kitchen area for the large home.

The guest`s breakfast area that may have previously been the home`s dining room.

The grand front entrance leads into a wide passage way and courtyard.

Out onto the streets. A great place to explore.

We started by walking the perimeter of the island which revealed some very nice beaches just below the high walls.

The Castle of Gallipoli is almost completely surrounded by the sea at the eastern end of the island.

Looking across the bridge you can see the castle, a marina in the port, the fortification walls and some buildings on the perimeter of Gallipoli.

For a long time it was thought to be the oldest fountain in Italy, dating back to the third century BC, but later it was thought to be more correctly, architectural work from the Renaissance period.

Looking at the old town from the far side of the bridge that connects it to the mainland.

The castella and the marina. Gallipoli has many places to moor your boat and a large number of fishing vessels too.

Just off shore in a light breeze were the Sunday morning races.

Looks like a class of boat - the ILCA sailing dinghy? Also looks like fun!

Heading back to the dock with the Isola Sant'Andrea lighthouse in the background.

The lighthouse is on a small island 1.5 km off Gallipoli on the Ionian Sea.

Our table. A perfect spot for lunch but watch out for seagulls trying to take your meal. They were aggressive!

The final picture of the day - inside the The Gallipoli Cathedral.

We spent the late afternoon planning our next few days with organizing destinations and booking hotels. This always seems to take more time than you would think but we are closing in on the last days of our Puglia tour.

Our evening was spent walking in a quiet town and deciding to just have some pizza for dinner. All the restaurants we past were relatively empty on this Sunday night. Speaking with our server he said that in November we are well outside of tourist season. They expect to close in a week also. Although the weather has been great, the rainy season is coming. Tomorrow we are looking forward to getting back on the bikes and continuing to head north along the coast.

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