Italy - The Salentine Coast or "I Left My Heart in Otranto"

Water so blue….so shimmering….…you'll wonder if it ever ends. Stretches of coastline so powdery white you'll think you were back in Greece. Welcome to one of Southern Italy's best kept secrets. Welcome to the Adriatic port city of Otranto.

Originally called Hydrus or Hydruntum - what is now Otranto, Italy used to be THE political, cultural and commercial center of Salento: a perfect example of all that was good in the Magno-Grece culture. A thriving port and a literal bridge between the Orient and the Mediterranean, Otranto was a pit-stop for the Turks, the Crusaders, Byzantines, and the Normans. And each left their mark on the area in one way or another.

But those are factoids for the history-minded. Visitors from abroad will enjoy knowing that Otranto gets only about half as many tourists as its nearby sister-cities of Gallipoli, Port Caesareo and Santa Maria De Leoca. For some reason that has yet to register, Otranto just hasn't earned the status as "the next bet thing". And that's a good "thing" for you. Because that translates into lower prices on rooms and restaurants and everything in between,

As far as things to do - well you do have the beach. A glorious sun-drenched beach that frames the fabulous azure waters of the Salentine Coast. Miles and miles of luscious coastline free from hotels and third-world nationals selling cigarette lighters and beach balls. Not all of the coast is made of sand. Quite a bit is rocks and cliffs and the stuff great photos are made of. But even so, most of the locals manage to squeeze themselves into a nook or cranny and figure out a way to stretch out and get some sun. Many more spend the day diving in the lush, cool waters. One of the most interesting sites along the coast and within close proximity to Otranto is Le Grotte dei Cervi. Discovered only in 1970, this grotto dates back about 20,000 years or so and is probably the first habitat for prehistoric man living along the Salentine coast. The many murals that line the grotto have been compared to the prehistoric designs in Palmira, Sapain and Exil, Ethiopia.