San Giorgio Ionico

San Giorgio Ionico is a small town in Puglia, the heel of southern Italy, set inland from the Ionian coast in the province of Taranto amid a countryside of ancient olive groves and dry stone walls. It is a working Puglian town of pale limestone streets and a central church, close enough to the sea for its long sandy beaches and to the wider region of baroque towns and olive country.

This is deep southern Italy, warm and unhurried, at its best from late spring through the long, hot summer when the Ionian beaches come into their own, with spring and autumn offering softer light for exploring the region. The surrounding countryside supplies the olive oil, seafood and wines that define the local table. For families and groups who want a quiet base near the Ionian coast, luxury villa rentals in San Giorgio Ionico sit among the olive groves of the Taranto countryside.