Martano is situated in the heart of the "Grecia Salentina" (Salentinian Greece) , an area near the town of Lecce which is inhabited by the Griko people, an ethnic Greek minority living in southern Italy who traditionally spoke a Greek Language dialect also called Griko.

BEST SANDY BEACHES

Sant’Andrea, Torre Dell’Orso, Baia degli Angeli, Marina di Pescoluse (also known as ‘Le Maldive’), Torre Vado, Porto Badisco, Punta Prosciutto. All offer free beaches and also Bagni (where you can rent seat and umbrella). Most beaches have been awarded with one or even two Blue Flags.

Reccomended for families for white sandy beaches and shallow water: Alimini. Reccomended ‘Bagni’ (private equipped beaches) at Alimini: Bagni Acqua Chiara, Bagni Lucia, Ficodindia, Bahia. If visiting 'Bagni Lucia'(bagnolucia.com), book your lounger and umbrella with Mr. Federico, +39 0836 805203, [email protected]

Reccomended for ‘A-Listers’ guests! :
Bagni ‘La Castellana’. Localita’ La Punta in Otranto. Tel 335 811 2520. Sunbeds from €35 to €65 p. day.
Bagni Dolce Riva, Localita' Grotta Monaca, Otranto, http://www.ladolceriva.it.

PLACES TO VISIT

OTRANTO

A short drive from the Masseria, Otranto is a popular destination for Italy’s jet set.
Among the must-see sights are the Duomo, dating back to the 11th century with some internal columns allegedly from a temple dedicated to Minerva which has been restored to its original form and the dramatic five-sided Castello Aragonese, which has cylindrical towers and a moat.

LECCE

This ancient and beautiful city is known as the ‘Florence of the south’ because of the ornate Baroque architecture. Unlike Florence, the buildings are created from the local stone, pietra leccese, which adds to the city’s luminosity and appeal.

Lecce is a lively city, popular with Italians and non-Italians alike. It is usually buzzing with life even late into the night in autumn and winter. There is always something going on, whether it be a market, street theatre or just the evening passeggiata. Apart from the designer shops and great restaurants, there are stunning sights like the half buried Roman amphitheatre near piazza Sant’Oronzo. The Chiesa di Santa Croce with its richly decorated façade and rose window is worth a visit as is the town hall, the Palazzo del Governo next door. Along Corso Vittorio Emanuele 1 the Duomo, with its 210 foot bell tower, is considered one of the most important in the whole of Italy. Go along via Palmieri to see craftsmen working on the local stone. Don’t forget the Orto Botanico di Lecce – the Lecce Botanical Garden, located in via prov. Lecce-Monterone. It covers just over 5 acres and is under the auspices of the University of Lecce.

Rest of Salento:

SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA, CASTRO and the GROTTE ZINZULUSA, GALLIPOLI, SPECCHIA, GALATINA, MAGLIE, POGGIARDO, NARDO.

Rest of Puglia:

ALBEROBELLO, OSTUNI, GROTTAGLIE, MARTINA FRANCA, ALTAMURA.

Also recommended a visit to Matera in Basilicata, half an hour drive from Bari.

Maybe you don’t know about Puglia’s food and wine, but the rest of Italy certainly does! The region provides a lot of what the country consumes. Most of the grain for Italy’s pasta comes from here, the majority of the fish eaten in Italy is caught off the Pugliese coasts. The specialities are mussels, squid, octopus and anchovies. In coastal areas (and there is a lot of coastline!) the locals tend to eat mostly fish and seafood, but inland lamb is one of the preferred foods. Everywhere you look you will see olive trees, so it will come as no surprise that Puglia also produces over 70 percent of Italy’s olive oil (and 15 percent of the world’s olive oil).

Every region of Italy is associated with one type of pasta, and in Puglia it is orecchiette (literally ‘little ears’). The most traditional way of eating this is with a simple and delicious fresh tomato and olive oil sauce.
The Puglia climate is deal for the production of wonderful vegetables like tomatoes, artichokes, aubegines, onions and courgettes. Many of these are dried or preserved under oil. Puglia also produces pulses such as ceci, borlotti beans and cannelini beans as well as nuts including pistachio nuts, hazelnuts and almonds. You will be able to buy all these, and much more besides, at the many local markets.

The region produces 25 DOC wines and most of these come from the Salento area of Puglia. Two such luscious examples are the internationally acclaimed Salice Salentino, a deep red made with the Negroamaro grape and the Primitivo di Manduria, made from the Primitivo grape which is thought to be genetically related to Californian Zinfandel.

Visit Tenuta Sant’Emiliano near Porto Badisco to buy fresh cheese: from Otranto you have to follow the coatal route to S. Cesarea, then drive until the coastal tower of S. Emiliano: the farm is on the right, 200 metres from the main road.

Norcinera (artisan butcher) – apparently an unmissable experience: Il Simposio can be found on Via Dei Veradi, 7 73100 Lecce Tel: +39 0832 277 819.

Recommended Restaurants:

La Locanda, Pizzeria and restaurant – Carpignano Salentino, V. FILZI 23 - Tel: 0836 586594 - 0836 580409 | Mob: 339 5723760. Ask for Enzo, the Owner.

Da Sergio – Otranto, for superb fresh fish.

L’Altro Baffo – Otranto, Via Cenobio Basiliano, 23;[email protected]; Tel. +39 0836 80 16 36. Probably the best restaurant in Otranto.

Peccato di Vino – Otranto

Profumo di Mare -Torre Vado

Masseria Cento Porte – Otranto (open only late Spring, summer and early autumn)

Masseria Appide’ – Corigliano d’Otranto

Pio Bove – Lecce - excellent meat. this is a typical ‘macelleria’ with tables.

La Porta Antica – Sternatia – excellent meat. V. Placera’ 34 – Tel: 0836 666 771

Pizzeria Vecchia Borgata – Corso Margherita 95 – 73020 Serrano

La Bettola - Specchia

Torre di Merlino – Vico G.B del Tufo 10, 73100 Lecce (Just off Via Peroni). Tel: 0832 242 091.

Da Umberto – Localita’ Frassanito, 73028 Otranto. Tel: 0836 803 072. www.daumberto.com Osteria di Chichibio – Polignano (BR). http://www.osteriadichichibio.it/

Naif – Cannole

Barriques - on the road between Carpignano and Martano.

Ristorante Villamarina di Carlo Sanna (celebrity chef), Lungomare Matteotti, 14 | Località San Foca, 73020 Melendugno, Italy. Reservations recommended.

La Locanda Dei Camini, via Vittorio Emanuele, 36 - 73020 Botrugno (Lecce) ,http://www.lalocandadeicamini.it.

Trattoria La Puritate,Via S.Elia, 18, 73014 Gallipoli.

SPA & WELLNESS
Spa in Santa Cesarea Terme.

Associazione YIS ‘Yoga in Salento’ – Le Campine Eco Resort – Via Stazione 116, 73010 Zollino (LE) Lecce
Tel: +39 0836 802 108 - E-Mail: [email protected]

GOLF
Hotel Acaya Golf Club - Lecce

NATURAL RESERVE AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
Parco Naturale Le Cesine
Parco Naturale Porto Selvaggio
Giardino Botanico La Cutura

OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA
Wine tasting, cycling, cookery classes, windsurfing, horse riding.

Coli in Cutrofiano – Incredible selection of traditional crockery and pots (mainly terracotta) for your garden, an awesome display of shapes and sizes. They have an “offer” room where you can bag yourself a real bargain.

Tessitura Giaquinto
Buy yourself beautiful handmade towels and linen.
http://www.tessituragiaquinto.com/index.phpOtranto (Lecce).
Stores:
Otranto, Via Cenobio Basiliano 25
Santa Maria di Leuca (Lecce), Via Fratelli Cairoli 23
Its Laboratory in Gagliano del Capo (Lecce), Via Redipuglia

GROCERY SHOPPING
Closest shopping centres for your groceries: Carpignano Salentino (our village), Martano (1km) and Maglie (16km). Large SISA in Carpignano (on the way to Martano) , Large Leclerc in Cavallino (15 min drive on the ‘strada statale’ towards Lecce).

Weekly food market every Tuesday between 8am and 1pm in Martano. It is a fantastic experience and the local stall holders are only to happy to encourage you to try their home grown produce. Great for olives, fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, salame, mozzarella and fish.

Buy superior organic extra virgin olive oil and beauty products directly from the Masseria's olive oil producer, ALEA. http://www.olioalea.it/en
Personal Contacts:
Alessandro Coricciati
[email protected], mobile: (+39) 333 85.35.060

Azienda Agricola Alessandro Coricciati Via Zaca (Fondo Mauro) - 73025 Martano (LE), Italy