A Stroll Through the Heart of Gallipoli

I’m not a professional tour guide, but I love Gallipoli, and I enjoy walking with tourists to discover the most hidden corners of the historic center and sharing its secrets. I don’t speak English very well, but Gallipoli’s beauty speaks for itself. The tour will begin at the Greek Fountain, just a stone’s throw from the 17th-century bridge—the only access to the islet on which the historic center stands, suspended between sky and sea. Before crossing it, we’ll stop to admire the Angevin Castle, which stands majestically to the left of the bridge with its ramparts overlooking the water. Once across the bridge, we’ll walk along the ramparts to the right—the 16th-century city walls upon which the entire historic center rests—all the way to Purità Beach, one of the most beautiful in Puglia. If we’re lucky, we’ll witness one of the most breathtaking spectacles in the Mediterranean: the sunset as the sun plunges into the open sea, beyond the island of Sant’Andrea with its solitary lighthouse. We’ll then continue along the walls to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, which the people of Gallipoli call the “Church of the Thief.” From here, we’ll wander through the narrow streets of the historic center until we reach the Cathedral of St. Agatha.