NARDÒ
Nardò sits in the heart of the Salento peninsula in Puglia — one of the most unspoiled corners of southern Italy. Few tourists find their way here, which is precisely the point. Those who do discover a town of extraordinary beauty: a grand baroque piazza, centuries of layered history, and a pace of life that feels entirely its own.
The Ionian Sea is just a few kilometres away, with long sandy beaches, crystal-clear water, and the rugged coastline of the Porto Selvaggio natural park. Inland, the landscape stretches into an endless patchwork of ancient olive groves, dry-stone walls, and whitewashed trulli.
Palazzo Cariddi stands close to Nardò's main piazza, placing you at the centre of everything — the morning market, the evening passeggiata, the best restaurants, and the quieter streets that most visitors never find.
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
