Salento, the ‘heel’ of Italy’s ‘boot’, is a romantic region in Apulia, southern Italy. The area includes Lecce, a gorgeous destination featuring a vibrant city filled with a rich heritage. It is often referred to as the ‘Florence of the South’ for its numerous Baroque buildings, and producing unique paper-mache sculptures. The ‘Pearl of Salento’, Castro Marina, buzzes with nightlife, excellent restaurants and stunning ocean vistas, and offers fantastic boating, canoeing and cave-exploring experiences. The coastline of Salento is diverse and breathtaking, moving from rugged promontories to idyllic little coves ringed with perfect sandy beaches, easing into crystalline waters. Other highlights include thermal springs, world-famous olive oil, and Otranto’s magnificent cathedral floor mosaic, the largest in Europe. The spectacular craftsmanship of local stonemasons through the centuries can also be seen all over the area.