Ok, I have to admit, Gallipoli is my favorite town in Puglia--so far. The picture tells the story. Pick a warm, sunny day. You'll be seeing blue.

Yes, I know that Lecce is the "Baroque jewel" in Puglia's crown. Lecce is wonderful.

Gallipoli, though, is a seaside village that isn't entirely devoted to tourism, but rather to the enjoyment of folks who head down for some rest and relaxation. Plus, people still make a living fishing in Gallipoli. You can walk the little streets of the historic center and discover little places like Corte Gallo, a virtual outdoor ethnographic museum with all manner of cultural items you'd expect to find in the houses of a small fishing village maybe 40 or 50 years ago. People have just assembled these things and stuck them artistically to the walls spanning two courtyards. Fabulous!

If you have an apartment, you can go down to the fish market and talk to the friendly folks there, who will sell you impeccably fresh fish (mussels, 2€ a kilo!) or will have fun guessing where you're from.

If you don't like the look of fish fresh from the sea, you can choose to have your them served to you right on the shores of Gallipoli's jutting peninsula with the little houses as a pastel background to it all.

I found Gallipoli friendly, inexpensive, and full of life and vitality. Try it. You'll like it--even when you're blue.