Campo delle Bandiere

A couple of days simply chilling out by the beach might be all you have in mind for your stay, but it's also very much worth venturing down to the gorgeous town of Gallipoli (10 minutes' drive) for a wander around. The Old Town is on a small island, with a maze of historic streets clustered around the castle and cathedral. The beach at the far end of the island is a popular spot for sunset drinks. If that's whetted your appetite for urban wanders, try a trip to Lecce (half an hour) too – this gorgeous city is packed with baroque architecture including the stunning facade of the Santa Croce Basilica. There's a lot to enjoy simply strolling through the streets here, but look out for the old city gates and the Roman amphitheatre if you like to focus on bigger sights. Back over at the coast, there are plenty of ways to amuse yourselves other than lazing on the beach – there are several boat tours and scuba/snorkel operators who can take you out to sea, and some nice walks through the forests of Porto Selvaggio Regional Natural Park (20 minutes), often finishing at a wild beach where you can paddle or swim.