Gallipoli, Italy

Infobox CityIT
official_name = Comune di Gallipoli
img_coa = Gallipoli-Stemma.png img_coa_small =


image_caption = "La Puritate" beach.
region = Puglia
province = ProvinciaIT (short form)|sigla=LE (LE)
mayor = Angelo Trovato (commissioner)
mayor_party =
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 12
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 40
population_footnotes =
population_as_of = 2006-12-31
population_total = 21201
pop_density_footnotes =
population_density_km2 =
coordinates = coord|40|04|N|18|03|E
gentilic = Gallipolini
telephone = 0833
postalcode = 73014
frazioni = Baia Verde, Rivabella
saint = St. Sebastian, St. Agatha
day = January 20
mapx = #expr:40+4 / 60.0
mapy = #expr:18 +3 / 60.0
locator_position =
native_name = Gallipoli
name = Gallipoli
website = http://www.comune.gallipoli.le.it

Gallipoli ( _gr. Kallipolis (Καλλίπολις), meaning "Beautiful City" [According to another interpretation of the toponym "Gallipoli", the use of the Byzantine root "kal" or "gal" would mean "city of emporium".] ) is a town of 21,200 inhabitants in the province of Lecce, in Apulia, southern Italy.

It is located by the Ionian Sea, on the west coast of the Salentina Peninsula. The town of Gallipoli is divided in two parts, the modern and the old city. The new town includes all the newest buildings including a skyscraper. The old town, instead, is located on a limestone island, linked to the mainland by a bridge built in the 16th century.

History

Main sights

*Angevine-Aragonese Castle
*Rivellino (sea fort)
*Spiaggia "la Puritate" beach

Transportation

Nearest airports are Brindisi (88 km) and Bari (200 km). Gallipoli can be reached from both of them via a modern freeway, the state road 101.

By train, from Lecce take the regional Ferrovie del Sud-Est.

Culture

Gallipoli is also known as the "Ionian pearl". Its most important monuments are the Angioinian Castle, the St. Agatha Cathedral and the Greek fountain.

English is not often spoken in Gallipoli, therefore it is a very good place to go and practice your Italian.

Economy

In past times the economy of Gallipoli was based on the international wine and oil commerce. Nowadays its most important activities are based on fishing and tourism.

Tourism is enjoyable throughout the year, due to the mild climate, the excellent food, and the hospitable nature of the local people. Numerous are also the celebrations (civil and religious), some of which are quite spectacular. Worth mentioning are the Carnival, Easter and all the parades, Sant'Agata, Premio Barocco, the Chess challenge. Unmissable are the Santa Cristina celebrations in July, when for three days the town is literally bursting with market stalls, luminaries, fireworks displays, parades in the historic town and a colourful cheering crowd.

Gallipoli also boasts a very recently built harbour for private boats, located just steps from the bottom of the main Corso Roma.

The summer season starts in May and ends in October, when the weather is almost invariably hot and clear. This is the time when flocks of holidaymakers gather in and around town.

port

The local football team is the Gallipoli Calcio. The team won the 2005-2006 Serie C2/C championship.

Twin towns

*flagicon|ITA Monfalcone, Italy

References

External links

* [http://www.gallipolivirtuale.com/ Virtual Gallipoli] it icon en icon
* [http://www.anxa.it/ Anxa News] it icon