The Salento or Terra d’Otranto peninsula lies between the beautiful Adriatic and the Ionian coastlines. Expect endless rocky shorelines with white sandy coves with aquamarine waters dotted in between, ancient olive groves and as-yet-undiscovered villages. You can head for the beaches at Santa Maria al Bagno or Santa Caterina for a lunch of local delicacies, explore the fortified sea-front towns of Gallipoli and Otranto for the day, or immerse yourself in baroque Lecce. Towns further south are still influenced by historic ties to Greece, adding to the gastronomic attraction.