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Go for a paddle on a toddler-friendly beach
Marina di Ugento’s beaches are calm and rock-free. Their super-fine sands are lapped by an aqua-blue lagoon that stays at a good paddling depth for tens of metres – perfect for small children to play in. If you pitch a parasol in Torre San Giovanni, you’ll be metres away from a restaurant-filled avenue, so you won’t have far to go for lunch or a cold drink.A 30-minute drive along the coast from Marina di Ugento gets you go Gallipoli – a town of two halves. The streets on the mainland are modern and contemporary. Cross the bridge to the old town, meanwhile, and you’ve got narrow, cobbled lanes closed in by 14th-century ramparts. Wander through it, and you’ll pass Baroque cathedrals and seafront trattorias before ending up at the golden-sand beach.
Read MoreAt the opposite end of the island to Gaios, Lakka is the place to go for sundowner cocktails. And it’s just over a 10-minute drive. Happy hour describes the mood here at dusk, rather than the discounts, but most harbour-side bars offer free mezze when you order a cocktail at this time.
Read MoreYou’re spoilt for choice for places to eat in Torre San Giovanni. Pizzerias, gelaterias and seafood restaurants line up all along the seafront, with some places’ tables spreading out over the sand. Sit back and watch the sun sink below the horizon as you tuck into a freshly-baked pizza and a bottle of Italian wine.
Read MoreA summer highlight in Marina di Ugento is the Festa Della Madonna Dell’Aiuto – a festival in honour of Madonna of Leuca. The town's decorated with lights for the occasion and, for several days, musical performances and food stalls pop up all over the place. On the Sunday, a statue of the patron saint is paraded through the streets and onto a decorated fishing boat for a ride along the coast, with town residents following behind on their own boats and jet-skis. Its return to the church marks the start of mass before the evening's finished off with fireworks.
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