Introduction to Salento

Arrival at Brindisi airport (flight not included), pick up your rental car and start your Salento adventure. Head to your accommodation, the Ecoluxury Retreat Borgo Mulino a Vento located in the heart of Salento, where you will be staying.

A category C car (MG3 / Renault Clio or similar) with manual transmission is provided for 3 days, with pick-up and drop-off at Brindisi airport.

After breakfast, head to Lecce, the capital of Salento, and meet your guide for a refined immersion in this Baroque city, renowned for its architectural elegance and charming monuments.

The tour begins in the historic center, where ancient squares welcome visitors with a harmonious sequence of noble palaces and churches decorated in warm, golden Lecce stone. You will be led through hidden alleys and courtyards, discovering the details carved into the facades, the finely decorated balconies, and the stories that make each corner unique. The narration intertwines historical anecdotes and artistic curiosities, revealing the links between the city and the different cultural eras that have shaped it, from the Roman period to the Lecce Baroque that most characterizes the historic center. The experience allows you to appreciate not only the grandeur of the main monuments, such as the Basilica of Santa Croce and Piazza del Duomo, but also the intimacy of lesser-known views, hidden courtyards, and small artisan shops, which testify to the liveliness of the city.

At the end of the tour, you will have time to continue discovering the beautiful city of Lecce at your own pace.

Strolling through the cobbled streets, you may decide to stop at a pastry shop to taste the famous pasticciotto leccese, a shortcrust pastry filled with custard, still warm, or a rustico leccese, puff pastry filled with béchamel sauce and tomato, perfect as a savory snack. To complete your break, a caffè leccese, espresso with ice and almond milk, refreshes you and accompanies your contemplation of the squares and Baroque facades.

Those who love art and craftsmanship can detour to the leccese papier-mâché workshops, where the hands of master craftsmen model and paint papier-mâché figures and decorations. In many workshops, you can participate directly in the creation of a small piece, immersing yourself in centuries-old tradition and taking home a unique souvenir. Not far away, the Lecce stone workshops allow you to observe up close the transformation of the soft, golden stone that built the city's palaces and churches. Under expert guidance, visitors can also try their hand at engraving or sculpting a small object, experimenting with the art of sculpture.

At the end of your day in Lecce, return to the hotel and overnight stay.

After breakfast, we recommend visiting nearby Otranto for a leisurely tour of this charming town on the Adriatic Sea, with its picturesque alleys and panoramic views. You can stroll unhurriedly among the ancient walls, admiring the cathedral with its famous mosaic floor, the medieval towers, and the charming harbor. Among lively squares, artisan shops, and typical restaurants, every corner tells the story of Salento's history, culture, and tradition. The freedom of the itinerary allows you to savor the authentic rhythm of the city, letting yourself be captivated by the colors, scents, and Mediterranean atmosphere that make Otranto unique.

At the end of the visit, you will have time for lunch (not included in the price).

In the afternoon, return to your retreat for a visit to the charming underground oil mill “Mulino a Vento,” a rare place that tells the story of Salento's thriving rural economy. Here, olive pressing and oil production were powered by both animals, such as mules and donkeys, and the force of the wind, hence the name of the mill. The guided tour allows you to immerse yourself in an authentic environment, among ancient architecture and original tools, discovering the traditional techniques that have made the area's oil famous. At the end of the tour, you will taste two prized local extra virgin olive oils. The tasting takes place both pure and accompanied by Apulian bread made from Senatore Cappelli durum wheat, to enhance the aromatic notes and strong taste of Salento oil.

After breakfast, begin your return journey to Brindisi Airport in time to return your rental car and catch your flight home.

End of our services.