Making the most of Gallipoli
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Ships berth at the main pier, with the Old Town a 15-minute walk away along the causeway. Few taxis wait beside the pier, so booking ahead is advisable. Larger cruise vessels anchor offshore and tender passengers to land.
Ancient Greek sailors named Gallipoli Kala polis, meaning beautiful city.
Few Italian cities, north or south, let visitors become so immersed in their past. Gallipoli's Centro Storico remains integrated with the 21st century, its shops, restaurants, streets and lamp posts largely unchanged apart from the merchants and families. A bridge first built in the 1800s links the historic and modern city centres. Originally for pedestrians, it was later widened for present-day traffic and leads into a forgotten past centred on a surviving wall and castle tower...
Criss-crossing cobbled streets surround and divide Centro Storico, most closed to vehicles and forming an enjoyable "zona pedonale" for pedestrians. Old Gallipoli also retains the castle/fortress of Carlo d'Angiò, built in 1500. Much of it was torn down in the mid 1800s to accommodate the bridge and new buildings. Palazzo Tafuri, Palazzo Senape, Palazzo Balsamo and Palazzo Venneri exemplify Baroque design, while Gallipoli Cathedral, erected in 1629, has withstood the passage of time...
Gallipoli is also called the "Ionian pearl". Principal monuments are Angioinian Castle, St. Agatha Cathedral and the Greek fountain.
Getting around
Restored and open to visitors, medieval Gallipoli Castle stands at the old-town entrance. It offers an absorbing insight into local history and broad views across the sea and surrounding area.
Food and shopping
Several small shops and good restaurants are available.
The nearest restaurants line the Old Town walls. Regional traditions range from lavish seafood dishes to simpler fare, with local fish soup strongly recommended. Excellent local wines pair well with a meal.
Traditional crafts include earthenware pottery, papier-maché figures, Lecce-stone objects, embroidered linen and pieces fashioned from olive wood.
Money
The currency is the Euro.
Staying connected
Italian is the local language.
Many cafés provide customers with free WiFi.
Call 112 in an emergency.
Opening Hours and
Most Italian shops and businesses trade Monday to Saturday from about 8am to 1pm and 4pm to 7pm. Many shut on Saturday afternoons and Monday mornings; in the south, opening and closing may occur an hour later. Some northern companies follow a 9am-5pm working day for international dealings. Traditionally everything except bars and restaurants closes on Sunday, though most towns have a pasticceria open in the morning and Sunday trading is increasingly common in large cities and tourist areas.