Gallipoli: The Pearl of the Ionian
Gallipoli is Salento’s most vibrant coastal city, with a medieval old town on an island connected to the mainland by a 16th-century bridge. Summer population swells from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Seafront Properties
Apartments on Lungomare Galilei and surrounding streets command €3,000-5,000/m². A 100m² seafront apartment with terrace sells for €350,000-500,000. Summer weekly rentals: €1,500-3,000. These properties offer the highest rental yields (8-12% net) but the shortest season (10-12 weeks).
Historic Centre
Properties in the centro storico range from €1,800/m² (unrenovated) to €4,000/m² (fully renovated with roof terrace). Smaller units (40-60m²) are most liquid. Rental yields: 5-7% net, with a longer season (April-October) due to cultural tourism.
Investment Strategy
The sweet spot is a 60-80m² renovated apartment in the old town at €150,000-250,000, targeting couples and small families for weekly rentals. Seafront properties are better for capital appreciation (8-10% annual over the past 3 years) than pure rental income.