Endless travel fantasy fulfillment has long been an Italian specialty. Think of the early-Renaissance glory of Siena, Palermo’s exotic Moorish roots, and the aqueous fever dream that is Venice. Increasingly among these iconic destinations is Puglia’s Salento peninsula— far down in the stiletto tip of Italy’s boot, a region of windbuffeted plains, olive groves, and secret rocky beaches.
“Puglia has always been a beautiful place, but it had somehow been neglected,” notes photographer Massimo Vitali, who has scoured Salento, snapping dreamy images of its jagged coastline. “Miraculously, over the past decade, any dark aspects have disappeared and the region has regained its order. Witnessing this transition has been inspiring.”
With natural splendor, captivating buildings, and great food abounding, it’s no surprise that Salento’s habitués include a coterie of tastemakers—from actress…
