Things to Do in Gallipoli, Italy with Kids
Things to Do in Gallipoli, Italy – This coastal Puglian town engaged our kids in ways we didn’t expect and, as long as it’s dry, all ages will have a rather splendid day out.
Cross the Bridge – Things to do in Gallipoli
The centro storico of Gallipoli is situated on an island connected to the land via a short walkable bridge. It’s a beautiful approach so park the car in the ‘New Town’, then cross on foot to discover more. Our kids found this crossing disproportionately exciting. Look out for the Ancient Greek Fountain just before you cross.
Walk the Walls – Things to do in Gallipoli
Next we walked the town walls. You’re surrounded by sea views, and it’s a great way to get a sense of the place, get your bearings and enjoy the sunshine. Stop as the mood takes you at cafes, cut into the centre of town, or drop into churches you spot along the way. You’ll see fishermen at work, and find a town indelibly linked to the tides and rhythm of the sea.
Visit the Churches & Cathedrals
Gallipoli has several detailed and attractive churches to visit, but our boys’ favourite, the Church of Saint Mary of Purity, piqued their interest due to rather gruesome murders/assassinations depicted on the walls. You won’t be bored within its peaceful confines, although the artwork is far from peaceful.
We also stuck our head inside the calming Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, and made time to visit the the main Cathedral/Duomo Ricordi del Salento (pics below). A mysterious hand caught our attention and I’ve never quite forgotten it.
Nativity/Christmas Crib – Things to do in Gallipoli
We stumbled upon an unexpected nativity scene, totally free but the artists who created the scene accept donations. Follow a walkway around a dark interior where life size handmade statues and scenes depict the nativity story in detail. My lads loved this and went round twice. Find Betlemme casa del Pane on Via Incrociata.
Underground Olive Press – Things to do in Gallipoli
Kids are free, and for €1.50 for adults you can descend below ground to see how olive oil was traditionally produced in these slightly cooler temperatures. The Palazzo Granafei Mill on Via A De Pace provides leaflets in English that summarise the heritage here. It turns out that the Gallipolians provided oil across Europe for everything from the carding of wool to public and private lighting. A charming and unexpected stop on our travels.
Hit the Beach
Yes, Gallipoli boasts its own sandy beach – Spiaggia della Purita. Pack your cossies, towels and suncream to spend some time in the waves after all the sightseeing.
It’s Christmas!
Visit ‘It’s a Small Christmas World’, a tiny wonderfully busy little shop that celebrates Christmas all year round. A handy countdown keeps you right – when we visited it was exactly 67 days till Christmas! Find this little gem on Via Antonietta de Pace.
Eat & Drink
We especially liked finding bars with sea views to stop and rest up, such as C’est La Vie, simple but ideal for a coffee or aperol spritz. Look out for gelato bars and lots of seafood offerings.
You may also find this useful:-
Things to Do in Monopoli with Kids
Farm stay with pool and Trulli accommodation near Alberobello
Things to Do in Bari with Kids
Browse All of our Italian Content
Other Ideas
One thing we didn’t fit in was visiting the Gallipoli Castle or Castello di Gallipoli. This imposing medieval fortress with view over the marina offers guided tours, exhibitions & dance shows.
You may also like to look into the Museo Civico Emanuele Barba – a museum featuring archaeological artefacts, skeletons, history exhibits and artworks.
Where to Stay
Browse the deals below to find accommodation that suits you in Gallipoli or nearby. We booked a self catering property metres from the sea, half an hour from the town of Gallipoli. Browse similar properties at vrbo.com.
Overall, Gallipoi was a walkable and welcoming town. Puglian cities generally don’t overload visitors with a bucketload of ‘must see’ attractions, instead it’s about taking in the architecture, vibes and heritage, but we did find more to experience and had a relaxed day out at this coastal gem.
Our Story – We flew into Bari, grabbed a hire car and spent 10 days touring Puglia.
If you found this guide helped you plan a break then please consider subscribing here or buy us a coffee to support our work that’s provided absolutely free. Please join the conversation on Facebook, or check out the bonny photos on Instagram. For any queries or opportunities please email scots2travel@hotmail.com. Content and images copyright of Scots2Travel. Contains affiliate links.
