NARDÒ
So far from the busy rush, yet so easy to reach
Our lovely old market town lies in the Salento region which is often better known as the heel of Italy’s ‘boot’. One of the nicest things about life in this peaceful part of Italy is the way that the tourist buses simply pass by, leaving us free to enjoy life in our very unhurried, traditional way
The town of Nardò is a place of delightful Baroque architecture featuring many listed buildings including historic churches and the cathedral. At the heart of the town’s life ─ especially in the evenings ─ is the lovely Piazza Salandra from which cobbled streets and inviting alleyways radiate in all directions.
Palazzo Cariddi stands just a short walk from the square putting you within easy reach of a wide range of shops, restaurants and bars including two local wine-producing cantinas offering tastings of their deliciously robust products. Another short walk brings you to the 15th Century castle of the Aquaviva of Aragon and the botanical gardens.
Just outside town a splendid historical landscape opens up dotted with large stone Masserie farmhouses, old Moorish-style villas and Norman towers, while just five kilometres away lie the beach, the Ionian Sea and the pine forest of the Porto Selvaggio National Park.
It all feels very far away from the bustle and queues of the tourist centres and yet Nardò is surprisingly easy to reach:
- Brindisi Airport(BDS-Papola Casale) is a 50-minute drive
- Nardò Centrale Station is an 8-minute drive
- Nardò Citta Station 15-min walk
