For most visitors, Salento is above all a terrific seaside destination thanks to its long stretches of white sandy beaches and crystal-clear blue sea, earning it the nickname of the 'Maldives of Italy'. But Salento is much more than its coastline: venture just a little further inland to understand that it boasts some incredible treasures of art and tradition. In the countryside, spattered with a painter's palette of centuries-old olive trees and ancient slumbering villages echoing with the footsteps of passers-by, Salento reveals its deep Apulian soul imprinted by centuries-old traditions, excellent wines, fine olive oils and numerous local dishes much sought-after by tourists from all over the world.