Galatina, Castro e Zinzulusa. Full Day of sightseeing and History
Description
This tour will take you to discover 2 important cities of Salento peninsula such as Galatina, with its fascinating late Romanesque church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, built in 1390, full covered with stunning frescoes by workers from Giotto school. Castro, which was an ancient Messapian town about 20 kilometers south of Otranto, where we'll be heading driving along the best coastal route for enjoying the breathtaking cliffs. It is said that it was the place where Aeneas, the ancestor of the founders of Rome, first landed in Italy following his escape from Trojan war. Here you’ll visit the Castle which houses the archeological museum inside with several finds of Greek colonies, and spot of the mythic temple of the goddess Minerva. Down the amazing cliff of Castro you'll have a stunning experience visiting the "Zinzulusa Cave" where we'll even stop for swimming in the clearest azure sea you've ever seen.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Transfer from Lecce to Galatina 30 minutes. You'll visit the late Romanesque church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria built in 1390 by Raimondello Orsini del Balzo, count of Soleto. The interior contains frescoes by artists from "Giotto school", that make the church the second in Italy, after San Francesco d'Assisi Basilica, for its pictorial cycles.
Walking along the old town you can find out several aristocratic Palace built when Galatina was part of Soleto county with "Giovanni Antonio" the Son of Raimondello and Maria d'Enghien, Queen of Naples Kingdom from 1406 to 1414. Close the main square there is the Baroque church of San Pietro rebuilt from 1633 on a previous Byzantine (Greek-rite) edifice. Nearby is the small Chapel of San Paolo who houses a well which, according to tradition, was able to heal people bitten by poisonous tarantulas (those bitten were called tarantati or pizzicati in the local dialect, from which starts the famous Italian folk dance). Galatina is also known for the pastries produced for generations in the local pasticcerie. In the most famous one you can delight yourself by tasting the "Pasticciotto" with inside the delicious cream.
Transfer from Galatina to Soleto with a short stop along the way to visit the Raimondello Orsini Spire.
Transfer from Soleto to Palascia lighthouse 30 min. The tall white cylindrical lighthouse on the easternmost point of Italy. Walking along the path you can enjoy the splendid view of Otranto cost. From here we'll transfer driving along the stunning cliff, passing by tipical villages like Porto Badisco e Santa Cesarea Terme, heading to the Zinzulusa Cave (30 minutes about).
The Grotto's name comes from the "rags" in local dialect "zinzuli", because the stalactites resemble many hanging rags. The visit is divided into three parts: "La Conca" which is characterized by stalactites and stalagmites; "The Duomo" with its vault about 25 meters high; "Il Cocito" with very clear waters flow through it in which there are stratifications of fresh water at the top and brackish water at the bottom. It’s a true natural spectacle. The cave is not suitable for people with limited mobility. There are several steps to get into the grotto, sometimes narrow, wet and slippery so it needs to wear comfortable shoes. The grotto visit lasts 30 minutes and the waiting to go into depends on the queue. Here you can also have your independent lunch in the close restaurants with their lovely terraces by the sea.
Transfer form Zinzulusa cave to Castro historic center 5 min. The town's name derives from Castrum Minervae (Latin for "Athena's castle"), which was ancient Messapian town with a temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva. It’s said that it was the place where Aeneas, the ancestor of the founders of Rome, first landed in Italy following his escape from Trojan war (as also published by the Independent in April 2007). Here you’ll visit the little historic center and the Castle which inside host the archeological museum with several finds of Greek colonies, and spot of the mythic temple with the latest discovery of a female statue dating back to the 4th century BC, presumably depicting the goddess Minerva. In downstair room a large panel will show you all the stages of Aeneas' journey, recounted by Virgil in the Aeneid, before you will be heading up to the tower for enjoying the amazing view.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Start time refers to Lecce town departure as meeting point. Please provide your lodging name for direct pick-up. We keep in touch by Phone / whatsApp. You can recognize me by grey car.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Wear comfortable shoes
- The remaining hours of the tour will be spent on travel
- The visit to "Zinzulusa Cave" is not recommended for travelers with back problems.
Reviews(15)
My fiancée and I booked a tour with Bob and had a fantastic day out. As our hotel was a little out of the way, Bob offered to adjust the itinerary to make things easier which we really appreciated. He took us to the beautiful towns of Otranto and Castro, both of which are a must see for anyone interested in history. Along the way, he told us so much about the history and culture of the area as he knows the area like the back of his hand. On top of this, his friendly and enthusiastic attitude made it impossible not to enjoy the day. We would thoroughly recommend this fantastic trip to anyone visiting the area.
We had a wonderfull time with Bob our Tour guide. We went along the Coast. Where He showed us the most beautyful places along the adriatic Coast. Due to us not beeing hungry we got even more to see than we expected. Also he recommended a lot of places where you can habe very good food in lecce. Overall 12/10 experience. Would book again. Thank you Bob
It was very convenient to have a private driver who was very knowledgeable of the hystory of the places we visited.
Traveling the territory between Lecce and Santa Maria di Leuca on the east coast is an adventure filled with scenic views and astonishing experiences… Roca Vecchia, Grotta della Poesia, Torre dell’Orso, i Faraglioni di Sant’Andrea, Castro, Otranto… So if you need a transport service from or to different cities of Salento, the best way to enjoy your vacation is asking Bob to organise your immersive tour coast to coast, with no shortage of halts, including some wine tasting or swimming in turquoise Mediterranean beaches for fully enjoying the amazing landscapes that will blow your mind. I customised our trip with Bob and we had an amazing weekend. I do suggest you try this lovely experiece.
this is a great way ti see the area. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this trip for a few reasons= the tour guide is very friendly knowledgeable and it us next ti impissible to do by oneself. His wife was with us and she is a very pleasant lovely woman. They bith privided an insight into the region that would be impossible ti learn by oneself
Lovely second excursion for me with Roberto who is such a nice guide-driver.We went to Otranto and down the coast, with a few stops (Porto Badisco,Castro Marina...) I can only highly recommend this tour formula which I appreciated a lot as a solo traveler,very convenient
We had an amazing experience thanks to Roberto , and Sandra. Roberto gave us many tips and Sandra cooked a delicious meal. This couple and two friends made us feel at home. It felt like we were having lunch with friends. Thanks again. C.P.
for various reasons , I have the opportunity to spend about two hundred nights each calendar year outside my home , which makes me a veteran of the community . It is therefore with enthusiasm and realism that I express my personal assessment of " at Casa delle Salentine " . position : barycentric to every location 'of importance for a stay in the land of 'Otranto of absolute comfort' and relaxation , I leave out the centrality' in the location 'where' the "House of the Salentine " with the immediate proximity to every Public Service and commercial establishments (to remain there forever) in addition to the friendliness' of the C.E.O. Roberto. The other users of the private beach - where they accompanied us - with very friendly bathers and an indefinite 'comfort' and ease' of free public parking ; structure : wonderfully designed with architectural attention and particular combination of materials that do not alter the dating and the structure of the home-restaurant ; services of the structure : any description would be extremely euphemistic compared to the abundance of the offer in genuine cuisine served to patrons , menu 'complete with every gift of nature and able to meet the needs of every palate and taste - even refined and particular - abundant and adequate to spend the whole day ; outdoor spaces : excellent cleanliness , excellent comfort , summer breeze , harmony of the furnishings available and excellent accessibility 'and privacy ; Welcoming and greetings of goodbyes affability 'indescribable , almost familiar ; competitive prices and special attention to every need of guests . HOST : the structure is entrusted , like the guests , to the attentions of Mr. ROBERTO , a person naturally endowed with grace , kindness , elegance , availability 'and attention to others as well as professional competence of the highest level , certainly genetic qualities that manifest themselves and that create an immediate and lasting desire for further stays at the structure in the open air . The unparalleled contribution of Mrs PINA, a sunny woman with rare skills in the kitchen, a collaborator of the "Salentine" landlord, Ms SANDRA and Mrs RITA absolutely to recommend, to stay and to live! Nothing described is emphasized but , perhaps , the description may be limiting in relation to reality . A goodbye to Summer , truly lived joyfully and exciting . I recommend a stay / holiday to compare my experience , which I hope to relive soon, along with my large group of six people. THANK YOU Mr. ROBERTO and his talented " SALENTINE " Ms PINA , Ms RITA and Ms SANDRA with regard to COSIMO26 + SIX
Bob showed up on time. We were within the old city of Lecce and he sent us a picture of where we should meet within a one minute walk of our lodging. He took us as planned to a nice sandy beach on the Adriatic—Lido Circeo. He asked how long we wanted to stay at the beach and he showed back up at the appointed hour to take us to his home for lunch in the garden. We had a very nice multicourse meal prepared by his lovely wife, Sandra. Everything was exactly as advertised. He then returned us back to our lodging. He was so pleasant to deal with that we hired him a couple of days later just to drive us to the city of Gallipoli. At the designated time he then returned us to our lodging and Leche. Highly recommended!
Experience was lovely. The host and his wife made us feel very welcome and treated us as if we were family or long time friends. The garden where we had lunch was private and lovely and the food delicious
