Though small, and tucked away in a little-known part of Puglia's Salento peninsula, Nardò is a bit of a Baroque beauty, with elegant streets, squares and passages, and historic buildings that will surprise you with their grandeur. Close enough to the coastline for beach lovers, but surrounded by acres and acres of olive groves, we recommend the best places to stay in Nardò to anyone asking for an Italian destination with great food, a relatively rural setting, plenty of peace, and a name not too many people will recognise. Our accommodation picks for Nardò include a beautifully converted 15th century masseria, and an equally beautifully converted 16th century palazzo in the centre of town.
Nardò is also an excellent base for cyclists and hikers exploring the Puglia’s western coast, and the region’s national parks and forests. At five kilometres from the sea, Nardò has escaped an onslaught of beach tourism, but it’s still a workable distance if you’re looking for access to wild or public beaches, and low numbers of people to share them with. This is a really sunny region, with warm weather and warm seas stretching long into September and October, but even during the summer months, Nardò escapes the mass crowds of other towns on the Italian coast.
If you plan to use one of the best places to stay in Nardò as a base for exploring the region, our Gurus recommend day trips to Lecce; Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Ionian and Adriatic seas combine; Grottaglie — for its ceramic workshops; the nature reserve of Porto Selvaggio; the Ionian beach town of Torre Colimena; the Adriatic beaches of Baia dei Turchi and Torre dell’Orso. They also recommend getting back in time to spend your evenings in the Piazza Salandra, to enjoy the friendly atmosphere, local wines and gelato.