Among the many and most interesting events scheduled during this year’s edition of the ITB Berlin, Festa Italia Salento Amore Mio really stood out: it was organized and hosted by Luca Bruno in his Berlin-based restaurant Casa Italia, in Friederichstrasse 136, on the 5th of March, in collaboration with Carmen Mancarella, journalist and editor-in-chief of the tourism and entertainment magazine Mediterraneo Spiagge (www.mediterraneantourism.it), and Angelo Maria Perrino, director of Affaritaliani.it.

Special guests of the day were some of the finest and most iconic typical products of Salento: Primitivo and Negroamaro wines from the Cantina San Donaci premium wine cellar, (www.cantinasandonaci.eu), the extra-virgin olive oil from the century-old groves managed by Rocco Caliandro's company, Tratturi Reali (www.tratturireali.it), the almond biscuits from Ceglie Messapica (the best sellers for two of the most important bakery shops of the city, Allegrinitaly and Altergusto) and of course the famous Pasticciotti from Lecce, brought by a company called Surbador (www.surbador.it), where they are prepared according to the traditional recipe and methods, then freezed and shipped worldwide. They are little sweet shortcrust pastry pies filled with custard and they have become quite popular lately among tourists from all over the world who get to try them during their holidays.

But let's just learn a little more about Salento: what is it? Where is it? What about its history and culture? Most of you may be already familiar with the shape of the Italian Peninsula which has given it the nickname of "the boot": well, Salento is the southeastern extension of Apulia and it is one of the three main smaller peninsulas that form this particular shape, more precisely the heel bit. It is surrounded by the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea, and in the last few years it has become the most popular Italian tourist destination. Its long, golden beaches are dreamy and relaxing and the shades of aqua, green and blue that colour its coasts have nothing to envy to the Caribbean. But as you step away from the coast and enter the hinterland, you discover a myriad of little historical towns and villages, with beautiful ancient churches and elegant castles, uniquely and sumptuously decorated with pietra leccese elements, secret gardens and more… Pietra leccese is a local limestone which is so soft and malliable that it became the favourite material of the greatest artists and sculptors during the Baroque Era.

Nature also has its own monuments in Salento: as mentioned above, olive trees that crowd the typical country landscape are usually more than one hundred years old and still give plenty of delicious fruits from which local extra-virgin olive oil comes from, carrying unique flavours and aromas.

Before electricity was discovered, olive oil was used as fuel for lamps to enlighten streets and houses, even in big cities like London. During the English Industrial Revolution huge ships used to sail from this region, loaded with gallons of oil which was used to lubricate machines in the earliest factories. This export activity proved to be incredibly profitable for the local traders and noble families and that would explain the elegance and the opulence of the local architecture of that period.

“The best seasons to visit Salento are definitely spring and autumn, because temperatures are not too high and tourists crowds are less concentrated” explains Carmen Mancarella. “You can take long walks in the parks and on the beaches, admire the stunning blue shades of the sky and sea, visit our charming historical centres. And should you want something more, Salento offers countless occasions of fun for all ages and tastes! Make sure you try some pizzica moves for example: it is a traditional folkloristic dance typically performed during fairs and patron saint’s festivities which take place almost every day during these months. Finally, it is worth to mention that Salento has recently been defined as the “new Ibiza” for the highly lively nightlife”.