Most of the tourists often overlook Italy’s sun-baked heel, home to hidden grottoes, medieval fortresses, and the beautiful beaches of two seas. With roots stretching back to ancient Greece, the Salento modestly bears the laurels of centuries of history. Its art and architecture are some of the best preserved in Italy, its vistas pristine, and its scuba diving superb. Transportation within the peninsula can sometimes be complicated, but a sojourn along the varied coastline or inland among olive groves and vineyards is well worth the careful planning.