Activities and Territory

Welcome to our historic Palace: between a varied sweet and savory breakfast prepared by Luisa and a dinner in our Orto-Locanda on the Terrace and roof garden, we will tell you about Salento and the love we feel for this territory, recommending bike itineraries, trekking, Salento recipes, the most beautiful beaches and marinas and the main events and festivals throughout the year.

If you have any particular doubts about the typical recipes of Salento that we propose, about the places to visit, about the cycling itineraries along the Salento coast, about the festivals in the province of Lecce, contact us: we will be happy to chat with you and tell you a little about our history and give you some advice on how to live and enjoy your holiday here in Puglia to the fullest!

Galatone arnacocchia: fruit of Salento

It is an ancient, small-sized, early-ripenin g apricot cultivar traditionally grown in the Galatone countryside and in the neighboring territories of Nardò, Secli and Sannicola.

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Folk traditions and patronal festivals in the province of Lecce

Folk traditions of Salento are the most original and deepest in Puglia and in the whole Southern Italy. The Salentine love, work and mournful songs are also very numerous, such as Griko and Salentine lullabies. The great Hellenic influence is indeed expressed in songs, in fables and in witches, nymphs and elves stories which populate the magical Salentine country, in caves and under dolmens.

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Friselle from Salento…our ancient bread

The friselle arrived in Salento probably with the first Greek navigators who apparently used it as biscuits, but their large-scale diffusion occurred when, less than a century ago, with the decline of the feudalism, typical buildings spread in the countryside house, the “furneddhi”, where the peasants often spent the summer with the aim of obtaining supplies for the winter.

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Polipo in pignata , the recipe from Salento

Octopus “pignata made” is the most popular traditional Salento recipe to prepare octopus, which in turn is one of the most loved and appreciated fish species in the province.

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Ugento and his history

Many scholars who have written about the origins of Ugento never agreed on the period of its foundation, and have supported various and conflicting hypotheses; however, and on this there is unanimity of consensus, its origin is lost in the mists of time. An evident proof is given by the archaeological finds of prehistoric origin found in the area, including the Menhirs of which we can , still today,  admire two examples set on the periphery of Gemini and on Terenzano masseria. Around 1500-1000 BC the Messapi settled in the area; indelible marks of this settlement are the important walls whose perimeter was about 4900 km with an urban area of about 150 hectares; their thickness ,still visible today in some points, measured approximately between 6 and 8 meters and were constructed using large squared blocks. In this period the town was great, prosperous and powerful, and  had its own mint. During the Roman Empire, Ugento entered the great expansionist design of Rome,and became a Roman ally. The outbreak of hostilities between Rome and Carthage let the Messapian towns to form an alliace with Hannibal hoping to regain independence and ancient autonomy.

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Xmas lunch 2021 in South Italy-Magic Apulia_

Already from the day of Saint Lucia, the kitchens of Salento begin to become animated by a feverish activity that sees the female members of the family gathered together, masterful interpreters of an ancient script that is renewed in the roles of those who knead, cut, fry, decorate, compose.

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The Gallipoli “scapece”, where to eat it in Salento? Typical restaurants near Gallipoli

The scapece is a specialty made up of fish of particular species, fried, layered with breadcrumbs in special tubs and marinated with vinegar colored with saffron. The fish traditionally used for this preparation are the zerro, locally called pupiddhru, the garizzo, distinguished on the basis of sex in mascularu and fimmineddhra, the small boghe and the silversides, locally called minoscia.

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Cozze piccinne allu rienu- traditional salentine poor dish-

The “cozze piccinne allu rienu” is an archaic as well as very poor dish consisting of the small terrestrial snails of the Pisan Euparipha species, simply boiled, salted and flavored with oregano.

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Visit Acquarica Del Capo

Acquarica del Capo is a small town in the area of Santa Maria di Leuca, from which it is 15km away and is located 8km from the Ionian coast (the closest beaches are those of Torre Mozza and Lido Marini), and about 15km from the coast. adriatica (nearest sea on the east side, marina di Novaglie). "A locanda Tù Marchese" in Matino is 23km away. The civic emblem of Acquarica Del Capo is a golden fountain from which a long gush of water rises, probably it was a symbol representing the aboundance of water in the territory.

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Merangianata te Santu Ronzu

The aubergine of Santu Ronzu or merangianata te Santu Ronzu is a kind of pie made with fried aubergines, variously stuffed, sprinkled with tomato sauce and baked in the oven.

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From Matino to Santa Maria di Leuca by bicycle: it can be done!

From Matino to Santa Maria di Leuca by bicycle: it can be done! The Acquedotto Cycle Route is an extraordinary itinerary between history and nature of about 500 kilometers from

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Travel on bike: new destination in south-Italy I Salento I

Are you ready to ride in a wild land in Italy? What about Salento? Our B&B with bikeroom welcomes you! A special promotion for who want go cycling in south-Italy and try some workshop: homemade traditional pasta, pizzica pizzica dance and ricotta cheese.Contact us.

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Orecchiette workshop with the grandmother Tetta

In  "A Locanda Tù Marchese" are waiting for you with our grandmother Tetta to LEARN TO MAKE ORECCHIETTE, at our km0 trattoria, to learn everything you wanted to know about the art of Orecchiette: from dough with semolina and hot water , to the secret of transforming a shapeless piece of dough into the famous orecchiette and more.

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Coastal Towers route in north of Gallipoli by bike

So outstretched towards the sea, so exposed to the dominations, so fought for its geographical position, but at the same time welcoming and open to new cultures, the Salento peninsula has always had to deal with the numerous assailants. By cycling in some cities of Salento, you will be amazed by the mighty messapic walls and the great number of coastal towers scattered along the coast but also inland as part of the structural complex called "masseria"

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Food and wine route by bike:The places of the flavors of Salento

Everyone who would like to try this cycling-gastronomic route of the Salento can choose whether to travel independently or guided, and to stop only in some of the places we propose.... 

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Walking to Torre Colimena and the flamingo of the monk’s saltpan

Torre Colimena, near Manduria, is 60km far from “A Locanda Tù Marchese” historical B&B and family typical restaurant in Matino. We with our guide organize a bus to go to Torre Colimena and a trekking route there.

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Excursion in south Serre  Salentine:taste and pasta workshop

Salento is an extremely varied land, its beaches, its culinary tastes are known, but the hinterland is all to be discovered. And what we would like to do is a tour in the south south of Matino, in the heart of Serrre Salentine.

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Leuca: the origins and places to see

Santa Maria di Leuca, one of the most beautiful beach city in Salento, here the most important places you must visit during your holiday!

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Bike and Pizzica: Rally in Salento 28th April 21st May 2018

With our friends of Bikeitalia from April 28 to May 1, 2018 we organized a cycling meeting in Salento through the olive trees and beaches, dry stone walls and savoring the of our land.

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Where you can do guided excursions and hiking tours in Apulia: hiking to the “Spunnulate”

Hiking in the South Apulia: to the “Spunnulate” and discover this particular phenomenon, and these particular places and landscapes...

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Walking in Alliste and Felline:history and nature

Alliste e Felline are very beautiful cities, discovery with what you schould visit by bike or on walking...

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For groups:3 days south Puglia food and wine on bike

For groups: south Puglia on bike 3 days: ride with us around south Puglia and discovery our land on bike.

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Easter Weekend 2018 on bike in south Puglia

3 days for 190€ - 2 days for 130 € ALL INCLUSIVE. On bike or on foot we will visit the ionic coast and the hinterland of sputh Puglia...

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Excursion on bike from Matino to Gallipoli

The excursion includes points of historical interest including museum, rural churches, votive chapels and churches in the city ,  palaces in historical centres and some points to taste local food and wine. For our guest we prepare this route for our guests, to discover the hidden corners of Salento, in contact with nature, history and people.

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Maccaruni and sagna ‘ncannulata: salentine homemade pasta

Do you want to learn how to made these kind of pasta with us at Locanda? We organize homemade pasta workshop...

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Salento Jazz night on terrace in Locanda in Matino

Every year on our terrace you are welcome in our vegetable garden restaurant, where artists, musicians, actors and poets entertain our guests.

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Cycling Tour Salento between history,food and wine

If you want to keep in touch with Salento nature , here at A Locanda Tu Marchese, we have road and mountain bike routes, to discover this land...

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Learn Pizzica dance in South Puglia

At "A Locanda Tù Marchese"  B&B and restaurant in Matino, near Gallipoli we organize WORKSHOPS OF PIZZICA, at our tipical family restaurant, where dance teachers and tamburellists will teach you how to dance Pizzica Pizzica and tell you the story of this ancient dance.

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