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If beach is your thing Salento can be your dream place. While the east coast is mostly rocky and dry, the Ionian side is mostly about Caribbean-like white sand bays, luxuriant Mediterranean vegetation and a lifestyle/economy still based on fishing and agriculture.

With nearly 300 days of sun a year and the northern tramontana wind blowing strong, on these shores the sea is flat almost every day, for the joy of the exacting beach goers. Along the way a sequence of small fishing towns and wild countryside.

Starting from the deep south let’s head up north.

At Puglia’s very bottom, Salve- Ugento- Pescoluse is a crowded touristic area for families and honeymooners. Yet the beach is so beautiful that they call it The Maldives of Salento: in low season it really feels like heaven.

Let’s get the trip started from Gallipoli then, a hip fishing town that in summer vaguely becomes a wannabe Ibiza (but honestly it can’t make it to that level). It is still vibrant though – just avoid party and stuff – and discover a town with real character and incredible beach.

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Once in Gallipoli you definitely feel it, it is very southern Italy. The old town is like a Medina with tinys hops, food stalls, bars, interesting cultural spots and lots of people.

Life here is all about the sea, taking it easy and socializing under the spell of an ancient culture that the attentive traveler will perceive in many occasions.

15 mins north, you can’t miss the Natural Reserve of Porto Selvaggio: trek down to the little bays down the cliff – the lazy can jump on the cute train at the price of 5 euros- and explore the park, just lay in the pine-hood or by the rocks and have memorable swims in still, ice-cold water, together with an varied funky humanity.

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Leave before sunset to avoid mosquitos and drive through Santa Caterina and Santa Maria al Bagno. A beach day on the rocks here or just an aperitivo at sunset will do. The nearby Cenate district is home to a number of eye-catching Moresque style villas.

The last town on the coast is the Porto Cesareo, famous for the beach, the crowd, and the stellar dining scene that is totally based on seafood. Avoid the high season – it’s even hard to reach due to small roads and thousands of cars- and discover (another) fishing town of charm with incredible beach spots and a true maritime tradition

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A further little up north, Punta Prosciutto is – again in low season – one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy. Ditto.

Bello eh?