The ships dock at the main pier. The Old Town is about 15 minutes on foot along the causeway. There are few taxis waiting at the pier side. It is best to request taxis in advance.
Kala polis, meaning beautiful city, is the name ancient Greek mariners bestowed on Gallipoli
There aren't too many cities in the north or the south of Italy, where visitors can so fully immerse themselves in a city's past. Gallipoli's Centro Storico is fully integrated with the 21st century. The shops and restaurants, streets and lamp posts remain more or less as they once were. Only the merchants and families have changed. A bridge originally constructed in the 1800's connects Gallipoli's old city center with the new. Originally a foot bridge, and subsequently enlarged to accommodate modern-day traffic, the bridge is your entry point in to a long-forgotten past. A still visible wall and castle tower are the focal point of old town. Built in 1400 and re-enforced periodically over the next 100 years, the wall of the Centro Storico - like many medieval cities - was built to protect the city for attack.
The Centro Storico is surrounded and intersected by a network of crisscrossing cobblestone roads, the majority closed to traffic making for a highly enjoyable "zona pedonale" or area restricted to foot-traffic. Old Town Gallipoli is also notable for the remains of the Castel/fortess of Carlo d'Angiò, which was built in 1500. In the mid 1800's most of the castle was town down to accommodate the bridge and make room for new buildings. The Palazzo Tafuri, Palazzo Senape, Palazzo Balsamo and Palazzo Venneri all showcase good examples of Baroque architecture, and the Cathedral of Gallipoli, erected in 1629 has withstood the passage of time and still contains a fine selection of murals and sculptures.
Gallipoli is also known as the "Ionian pearl". Its most important monuments are the Angioinian Castle, the St. Agatha Cathedral and the Greek fountain.
there are several small shops and good restaurants.
The closest restaurants are found along the walls of the Old Town. Sumptuous seafood dishes as well as simple food are characteristic of the traditions of this region. The local fish soup is highly recommended. Excellent regional wines will complement your meal nicely.
Typical handicrafts range from earthenware pottery and papier-maché figurines to articles in Lecce stone, embroidered linens and items made from olive tree wood.
There are many cafes which offer free WiFi for customers.
Emergency number: 112
Most shops and businesses in Italy open from Monday to Saturday from around 8am until 1pm, and from about 4pm until 7pm, though many shops close on Saturday afternoons and Monday mornings, and in the south the day can begin and end an hour later. In the north some businesses work to a 9am-5pm day to facilitate international dealings. Traditionally, everything except bars and restaurants closes on Sunday, though most towns have a pasticceria open in the mornings, while in large cities and tourist areas, Sunday opening is becoming more common.