Apartments Alba Lilia - Puglia Salento

Luigi made our couple of nights in his studio feel special. He shared stories and helped us get to know the less touristy, more authentic side of Salento, including the friselle "fori de capo" we tried while we were there. His advice was thoughtful, from where to eat well without spending much to which beach suited the wind. The studio was comfortable and had everything we needed, plus a lovely little terrace for breakfast outside or drying our beach clothes. We’d happily go back and keep discovering Salento with him.

Luigi was a huge help throughout our week, with suggestions for beaches, places to visit, and useful nearby shops and services like supermarkets, pharmacies, and newsstands. His tip about the Notte della Taranta led us to a fun, unusual experience we really enjoyed. The apartment felt like home: new, spacious, spotless, and equipped with air conditioning, mosquito nets, Wi-Fi, TV, a washing machine, a roomy shower, and a kitchen with what we needed. Its position between the Ionian and Adriatic coasts made it easy to get to beaches and places such as Lecce, Gallipoli, Santa Maria di Leuca, and Otranto. A week wasn’t enough to see it all, so we’ll be back, and we’d stay with Luigi again.

Luigi’s apartments make a convenient base for exploring Southern Salento, without having to stray far from where you’re staying. Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca are about 20 minutes away, Castro is 10 minutes, Gallipoli and the Maldives of Salento around half an hour, and Lecce about 35 minutes via the highway. I keep coming back because the apartments are new, clean, comfortable, and well equipped, with air conditioning, mosquito nets, a washing machine, terrace, Wi-Fi, TV, a practical bathroom, and a refrigerator. Luigi is courteous, discreet, knowledgeable, and ready with advice about places and situations. We also share a love of yellow and red, meaning Lecce and Benevento.

Luigi welcomed us so warmly, and his professionalism really stood out. We’ve vacationed in Salento often and still got tips from him about lovely places we hadn’t seen before. The town is within about an hour and a half of much of Salento, with Punta Prosciutto farther out; Castro, the "pearl," is roughly 15 minutes away and somewhere we’ve returned to for years. Thanks, and see you next year!