That is what Charles Didier wrote about the salentine peninsula, named in the past Terra d’Otranto (Otranto Land), during his travel: “Terra d’Otranto is the most eastern area of the Kingdom of Naples and it represents the heel of the Italian boot-shaped peninsula. It is a miniature Italy. Washed by the Adriatic sea on one hand and the Ionian sea on the other hand, it seems a peninsula and all the beauties and treasures of the big Peninsula are in miniature in this miniature peninsula.[...]

Seashores of the cape of Leuca are completely golden by expanses of lemons and oranges. Tobacco shows its big leaves and diffuses its aroma, aloe makes a good showing of its bunch of feathers and, elegantly and languidly rocked by the sea breeze, eternal model of sculpture and painting, some palms let their exotic foliage swing some times in the sky. [...]

Terra d’Otranto had several names in the past, or, it is better to say, several peoples imposed their own name: the region of Salentine people, or the land of Messapi (the ancient inhabitants – N.d.R.). [...] The general nature of the peninsula of Otranto is grace and pleasantness. Huge olive groves cover the plains; a large number of farmhouses animate the landscapes, and the slender and a bit Moorish architecture of the simple bell towers gives an original look. [...]

Life is easy. Cities and villages are refined and clean and, like the bell towers, the architecture of the modest houses is gentle and graceful. They do not have the roof but terraces with flowers; an indoor courtyard leads to the rooms. These courtyards, square and paved by stone slabs, are shaded by a pergola where women gather to spin during the day. People enjoy the cool of the evening on the terraces.

Although olive tree is the king of the country, it does not reign always alone. Some times, mainly in the southern coast, the rich and black carob blocks the pale and regular olive tree contending the sovereignty. Holm-oaks are not uncommon here and pine tree is familiar; it opens here and there its fan, that is always in movement, while palms overlook coasts with their leafage characterizing the extreme beaches by an oriental touch.