MEIS invites you on a journey into the heart of Salento to rediscover the traces of the Jewish presence that has woven its way through the history and culture of this land for centuries. You’ll stay in Lecce’s ancient Giudecca district: a welcoming atmosphere that will allow you to experience the true atmosphere of the old town. <\/p>\n
THE PROGRAM<\/strong><\/p>\n Monday, May 11, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n The Jewish Roots of Salento: Lecce<\/strong><\/p>\n 4:30 PM Meeting point at the check-in point of the scattered structure Tuesday, May 12, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n The Jewish Roots of Salento: Santa Maria al Bagno and Gallipoli<\/strong><\/p>\n 9:00-12:00 Transfer to Santa Maria al Bagno<\/strong> and guided tour of the Museum of Memory and Hospitality<\/strong>, where photos, testimonies, and paintings tell the story of the arrival of Holocaust survivors on the Salento coast. Wednesday, May 13, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Places of memory and hospitality: Otranto, Santa Cesarea Terme, Leuca<\/strong><\/p>\n 9:30 Departure from Lecce for Otranto<\/strong> Thursday, May 14, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Free time until 11:00 a.m. to return to the Jewish Museum of Lecce for further information or a free tour of the historic center. COSTS AND INFO<\/strong> The price includes:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Registration by February 20, 2026. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n A deposit of \u20ac190 per person<\/strong> is required upon registration; the balance is due by March 20, 2026<\/strong>. The trip will be confirmed once 20 participants<\/strong> have registered. In the event of cancellation, the insurance policy will reimburse travel expenses according to the applicable conditions. The \u20ac55.00 insurance premium per person is non-refundable. <\/p>\n Space is limited.
\n4:30 PM\u20137:00 PM Guided tour of Lecce’s historic center, the ancient Jewish quarter, and the Jewish Museum of Lecce<\/strong>, a journey through time among the remains of the medieval synagogue and the streets that tell the story of the community’s daily life
\n7:00 PM\u20138:00 PM Welcome harp performance with a tasting of local kosher wines
\n8:00 PM Dinner in Lecce<\/p>\n
\n12:30 Lunch at a restaurant in Santa Maria al Bagno.
\n14:00-18:30 Transfer to Gallipoli, visit the historic center and the ancient Jewish quarter, among alleys, courtyards, and traces of a vibrant community tied to trade and the sea.
\n19:30 Return to Lecce.
\n20:30 Dinner in Lecce.<\/p>\n
\n10:00-12:00 Visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria dell’Annunziata<\/strong>, with its famous floor mosaic, and the Diocesan Museum<\/strong>, which houses the Jewish funerary inscription of Glyka (3rd-4th century)
\n12:30-14:00 Lunch at a Salento farmhouse nestled in the countryside
\n14:00-15:45 Transfer to Santa Cesarea Terme<\/strong> and stop at the former Caff\u00e8 Porta d’Oriente<\/strong>, whose fa\u00e7ade preserves Hebrew inscriptions. After the war, the building housed the offices of the heads of reception for Jewish refugees.
\n15:50-18:00 Transfer to Leuca<\/strong>, visit the village and learn more about the homes used to house survivors after the war.
\n18:40 Return to Lecce
\n20:30 Dinner in Lecce <\/p>\n
\n11:00 a.m. Check-out<\/p>\n
\nPrice per person: \u20ac620 <\/strong>for a double room; \u20ac760 <\/strong>for a single room<\/p>\n\n
\nFor more information, click on the poster<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n