Sfondi dal Salento

It’s a peninsula – ancient Messapia – whose shores are splashed by water from the Ionic and south Adriatic seas.Geographers in the past defined it as the “hell of the boot”.It’s most important cities are:Lecce,brindisi,Otranto,Gallipoli,as well as Taranto in the far west and numerous historic cities and towns with ancient origins,surrounded by archaeological remains and clear evidence of ancient civilizations.Crossing its 5,800 km sq.surface,one will encounter,especially along the east side of Lecce,megalithic monuments from the Bronze Age:see dolmen and menhir.But the attractions of the sub-region are not only limited to these archaeological finds or the walls,building remains and objects conserved in the museum in Lecce.The natural beaty found in this area is also very picturesque,as well as the flora and fauna in certain zones and the landscapes around the populated areas.All this describes a peaceful peninsula that offers a rare vacations opportunity,which for many tourists can be a true find.To complete the features of the Salentina peninsula,keep in mind the karst aspect of the territory.There are very few superficial rivers;the existing waterways are underground and easily salvaged for irrigation by digging wells.For this reason,olive groves and green vineyards stretch across the large irrigated areas.Plantations of figs and vegetables grow s well,thanks to the wells.In the province of Terra d’Otranto (Land of Otranto) in particular,one will discover the geologic phenomena of rocky  sediment:in the middle of the Murge territory, which is at a median height above sea level,what seems to be flat terrain is actually jagged (falso-piano).A mass of stone, limestone residue and sandstone that create large and numerous caverns,chasms and ravines,form the Murge territory.Various types of fossils can be found here,including calcite shells.These single and bivalve seashells however,abound on lower ground as well,conserving their vibrant colors and primitive appearance.Elsewhere,but always on low ground,there is another shell tuff and soft calcareous loam rock that makes one think of sea sediment formed over hundreds of years.

A mass of chalky layers with shavings of zoophyte shells,sand and other various materials are found here.Other interesting sight include the fossilized shark teeth discovered in the marls,that were considered “thunder tonghes” by the locals,as well as Cardium aculeatum and Pecten shells that would make malacologists and collectors very happy.A panoramic look at the interior shows a relief represented by the Serre to the south,or rather the Murge Salentine,which has a maximum height of around 200 meters above sea level,as previously mentioned.The most renown of these relieves is called la Serra dei Cianci (The Green House of Gossip).To the north,near the ionic coast,the hills form the Murge Tarantine.Drainage work has been done in these areas, allowing partial reforestation of land,which was previously bare and swampy.Without doubt,the Salentina coastal perimeter offers the best possibilities for interesting stops.The Adriatic side extends from the south of Brindisi to Santa Maria di Leuca,which is one the tip of the heel.The Ionic side begins from here and extends to the gulf of Taranto.The renowned city of Gallipoli,founded by the Messapians and defined as Callipolisal in Roman times,is found just before this famous port center.

Salento not only distinguishes itself from the rest of Puglia from a geological point of view ,but also a linguistic one.It has a very characteristic dialect, unlike that of Puglia.The Messapians,whose origins are unknown,occupied the peninsula.They arrived in Italy around a thousand years BC.Their language remains the foundation of today’s local vernacular,whereas the Greek language spoken by later colonist had a great impact on other zones.

The main centers where dialects derive from Magna Grecia are:

Calimera (“good day” in Greek),Martano,Sternatia,Castrignano,Corigliano,Martignano,Zollino,and Soleto.It should also be mentioned that a few hundred inscriptions of the ancient Messapian language remain,even though some are not authentic,and have been published by Mommsen and other researchers.Almost all the inscriptions date back to the 2.nd and 1.st centuries BC and establish that the people and the language of  Messapia have Indo-European origins,mixed with Illyrian,Venetian,and German.Through approximate translations,it has been discovered that very few words exist,for example:penkaheh means “five”and aran means “land that can be cultivated”.As in other areas of Puglia,tourism is increasing in Salento,which is improving the general situation of the region, especially regarding the care given to tourist establishments,especially to the seaside resort on the Adriatic and Ionic coasts.