What to see in Salento, here is Nardò which with 35 thousand inhabitants is the second largest city in the province, read the post and decide to visit Puglia and southern Italy.
Who has never been in Salento or would not like to spend a holiday there, raise your hand. Be honest though.
Taking a tour in the villages of the hinterland, a day on the white Ionian beaches or on the cliffs of the heel and tasting the typical dishes has become for some years one of the wishes of many tourists who choose this area of ​​Italy.
One of the largest in the province, after Lecce, the hub of Salento, is Nardò, just 30 minutes from the capital.
With more than 35 thousand inhabitants and a territorial extension of over 190 square km is the second city of the province by extension.
The heart of Nardò is the historic center, a network of alleys that unite the various entry points of the citadel that was once fortified and enclosed by high walls. Visiting the historic center of Nardò, some stops cannot be missed.
Temple of L'Osanna
Coming from Lecce, just before entering the historic center, there is a particular octagonal temple with 8 columns.
Di Baroque era, has recently been recovered and enhanced, recovering the ancient steps that surrounded it and which were now below the level of the road surface.
They enter through the door exactly behind the Temple of L'Osanna and after a few meters you arrive in the main square of the historic center, Piazza Antonio Salandra.
Theater
Before reaching Piazza Salandra, on the left is the Municipal theater, built in the XNUMXth century. After years of little use, it is finally back in operation.
Continuing a few steps you will arrive in Piazza Salandra.
In a few meters and turning a 360% one cannot fail to be fascinated by the beauties of this square.
Spire of the Immaculate Conception
Positioned in the center of the square is the spire of the Immaculate Conception, a tall column 19 meters, made in carparo, a local stone. At the top stands the white statue of the Immaculate Virgin positioned on a terrestrial globe.
The statue was strongly desired by the Neretine population following a violent earthquake that occurred around the mid-1700s.
The palace of the Magistrate's Court
Today it is known as such, but in the sixteenth century, the period of construction, it was called University building or City. The earthquake of 1743 destroyed it and it was rebuilt 30 years later, with a baroque facade. On the side stands the Clock Tower.
Fountain of the Bull
Always near the "column" we find the Fountain of the Bull, animal represented in the stemma citizen. Made in the Fascist era, it represents a bull digging the ground with its paw.
The Cathedral and the churches of Nereto
The Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, in the piazza del vescovado, was born on an ancient Basilian church.
In addition to the numerous frescoes present, there is a "Black Christ”, A XNUMXth century cedar wood crucifix.
In addition to the Cathedral, the church of San Giuseppe Patriarca, that of San Domenico and that of Santa Chiara, which houses the convent of the cloistered nuns, are worth a visit.
The Castle
Another important center of interest is the Aragonese castle, seat of the Municipality.
There is no certainty of the construction date. The first documents date back to the XNUMXth century, when there was the passage from the Angevins to the Aragonese.
Living your own city on a daily basis, you often don't pay much attention to the beauties that surround us.
Yet they are there, admired and photographed by tourists, taken for granted by those who see them every day. But it doesn't just happen in the historic center of Nardò, it also happens in the other historic centers that we often frequent.
By traveling you learn to appreciate details, to look at things you have seen every day of your life with different eyes.
I want to give you some advice, take a tour in our cities as tourists, find out about the history, about the past. Sometimes you don't need to go to the other side of the world. Just leave the house, turn the corner and look up.
