Nardò, the second largest municipality in the province of Lecce in terms of both population and land area, is one of the many pearls scattered throughout the Salento region.
The very ancient origins of this territory are testified by a series of graffiti and archaeological finds in the characteristic caves and in particular in the bay of Uluzzo.
The municipality of Neretino embraces a wide territory that also includes the 4 marine hamlets that extend for a good 20 kilometers along the Ionian coast. Art and history blend with the unspoiled and sometimes wild nature of the coast to create an exclusive environment, a popular tourist destination in Salento.
If you would like to get to know Nardò and Salento with Foodismo, we recommend booking one of our food and wine experiences
The artistic beauties of the town of Nardò
Walking through the streets of Nardò, it is possible to visit a series of historical monuments and churches in classic Baroque style, including:
- the Church of San Domenico dating back to the 16th century, was completely destroyed by the 1743 earthquake and then later rebuilt. The façade, the only part that remained intact after the earthquake along with the left side, seems to have been built at two different times, and testifying to this are the decorative elements that are much richer in the lower part and decidedly more sparse in the upper part;
- the Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption stands on the foundations of a cult building from the early Christian era, around the 3rd-4th centuries. It was on these very remains that the present three-aisled basilica was built in Norman times, the subject of numerous and frequent renovations, due also to the numerous earthquakes that have occurred over the centuries;
- in the heart of the town of Neretino is Piazza Salandra, overlooked by the main monuments and artistic beauties of the Baroque period. In the center of the square is the majestic 19-meter-high Spire with the statue of the Immaculate Conception on top.
The must-sees: the Municipal Theater and the Nardò Museum of Prehistory.
Also worth visiting are the Municipal Theater dating back to 1800′, which has hosted important theater companies and internationally renowned artists over the years, and the Museum of Prehistory of Nardò, which displays remains of fossilized fish, turtles, crustaceans and mollusks from the Mesozoic era.
The marinas of Nardò, Porta di Mare: outstanding natural beauty
There are four marinas in the municipality of Nardò:
- Santa Maria al Bagno known for its splendid waterfront, spreads out at the foot of the remains of the fortress built around 1500′ at the behest of Charles V. Well known is its Museum of Memory specially dedicated to the Jews who escaped the Nazi extermination, who found in Santa Maria del Bagno a safe place to shelter.
- Sant’isidoro is characterized by its splendid crystal-clear sea and fine, white sand. The characteristic tower of the same name built in 1500′ at the behest of Charles V is one of the most beautiful and best maintained in the area.
- Santa Caterina has always been a tourist destination thanks to the splendid sea, the characteristic caves, the verdant pine forest that offers a vacation of tranquility and relaxation and the two characteristic towers, the homonymous Santa Caterina Tower and the Torre dall’Alto both built in 1500′.
- Porto Selvaggio, is a Nature Reserve that covers about 1000 hectares of land, in 2006 it became a protected area of the Puglia region. The crystal clear sea, the unspoiled and sometimes wild nature, the beautiful cliffs, the 2 characteristic bays (of Porto Selvaggio and Uluzzo) where archaeological finds and graffiti dating back to the Mesozoic era were found make it an extremely fascinating place.
After taking this fascinating tour of history, architectural beauty and nature, we at Foodismo suggest you make a convenient stop to refresh yourself properly.
These are, in our humble opinion, the restaurants where you can spend moments of conviviality with friends or in sweet company.
The best restaurants in Nardò
The ancient culinary tradition of Salento is characterized by a typically Mediterranean cuisine with strong and decisive flavors. In the town of Neretino there is a high number of restaurants where you can taste typical dishes and enjoy the excellent wines, among other things known and exported all over the world. Below is a sort of vedecum of the best restaurants in the area.
La Dispensa dei Raccomandati: an intimate restaurant in a beautiful setting of the 1300s in the center of Nardò
The recently openedDispensa dei Raccomandati was born inside a 1300 building that is located in the historic center of Nardò. An intimate and cozy place that offers a wide variety of dishes, but it is particularly specialized in dishes based on fresh fish of excellent quality. A cuisine under the banner of local raw materials and the freshest fish cooked with care and attention to detail by the expert hands of excellent chefs. In the fall and winter period, the restaurant also offers the opportunity to enjoy excellent pizzas.
Antica Trattoria Salandra: Nardò cuisine is a must-try
The Antica Trattoria Salandra, in the heart of the town of Nardò, hosts its customers inside a rustic and cozy environment where they can enjoy the typical dishes of Neretina cuisine. A genuine cuisine with ancient flavors made of local raw materials. Simple dishes of excellent quality at cheap prices: one of the reasons why it is one of the most popular restaurants for both locals and tourists.
Braceria Antichi Sapori del Teatro: typical Salento dishes in the heart of Nardò
Braceria Antichi Sapori del Teatro, in the center of Nardò just a stone’s throw from the municipal theater, was born inside a carefully renovated 1600′ building. The rustic and cozy environment is perfect for sampling typical Salento meat dishes. The excellent quality of the meat is combined with barbecuing in a classic wood-burning oven to offer dishes of the highest quality and excellent taste. In addition, the braceria antichi sapori also offers typical Neretini dishes such as roasted peppers, grilled vegetables, baked potatoes, stewed turnip tops and much, much more.
Modò Restaurant: traditional Salento recipes revisited
Modò Restaurant welcomes its guests in a modern and sophisticated setting, offering carefully revisited traditional Salento cuisine. An innovative cuisine in which particular attention is paid to the choice of raw materials, which must be strictly local and of excellent quality.
