Driving the Stiletto Heel of Italy - Part 3

We ended our coastal drive in Gallipoli, which means beautiful city in Greek.  I am not sure that is an appropriate name for this very muscular looking fortified town.  The old town of Gallipoli is situated on a small island and is linked to the nearby mainland by a bridge built in the 16th century.

Local rowboats sit in front of Angionino Castle walls which were originally built in the 13th century.  The new town can be seen across the bay.

The castle walls surround the city as does the sea.  Several fortified improvements were made to the protective walls during the 14th and 16th centuries.  Gallipoli is a large fishing port as well as a popular beach destination.

The layout of the old towns narrow, twisted streets is from its Moorish domination around 900AD.












 St. Agata Cathedral was built in the 1696 in the Baroque style.  The interior paintings on the sides and roof of the Nave depict the life, miracles and martyrdom of St. Agata.







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