Palazzo Cutrofiano at Puglia

The Neighborhood

Palazzo Cutrofiano is around a ten-minute drive from Cutrofiano (4.5km), in Salento. Salento is the most southerly part of the “heel” of Italy’s boot; with the Adriatic Sea to the East, and the Ionian to the west. With a fascinating Greek history, Cutrofiano is known for its ceramics and the name even derives for the Greek word for ‘vase’. Indeed, the Salento region is known for its Greek influences and colourful dialects (with Sicilian origins). This area is home to some of Italy's most romantic towns: visit the island town of Gallipoli (21km) with its fantastic market, flower-filled little streets and amazing views or head east to Otranto (32km), on the Adriatic coast, with its Romanesque cathedral and town beaches. Indeed, the beaches outside both these towns are famous for their beauty whether it’s the shallow waters of Baia Verde (22km) south of Gallipoli or Baia dei Turchi (40km) near Otranto and even swimming in the lakes just north of the town. To the north, spend the day in the great city of Lecce (36km) with its brilliant shops as well as historic sights. Other fascinating villages to explore include the historic Maglie (13km) and Muro Leccese (17km) with fascinating sights and charming shops as well as Specchia (30km), classified as one of Italy’s prettiest towns.  The region is known for its olive oil production, as evidenced by the surrounding stretches of olive groves as well as its distinctive white-washed hill towns, centuries old farmland and kilometres of Mediterranean coastline from idyllic rocky coves to white sandy beaches and turquoise seas.