Cotriero

Born in 1998, the Cotriero is situated in the extreme south of the city of Gallipoli, in the area commonly known as Pizzo.

Artfully framed within the Mediterranean maquis, it perfectly adapts to the geomorphology of the place, characterized by rocky outcrops, cliffs from which sprout bushes of rosemary, thyme and myrtle, sloping down to the sea in a twisted manner, typical of this stretch of coast on the Ionian sea, where the Mediterranean maquis meets the sea.

Beach resort  during the day, it turns into a live  pub at night with live music concerts, the Cotriero is a painting in harmony with the Mediterranean maquis, exuding respect for nature and its own culture, its discrete structure blends perfectly with the twisted thickets of myrtle and rosemary.

HOW TO RELAX
The Cotriero offers an extensive menu of dishes and, for those who love to eat 'slow', it can be interesting reading the explanatory placemats that provide information about the flora and fauna of this area.

There are, in fact, more than 80 information sheets which alternating on the placemats, describe the birds, reptiles and plants that can be observed in the area.

For those who have forgotten a book to read at home no problem, you can always consult the books available for customers. They are all informative, easy to read and illustrated, they all talk about Salento,  its culture, tradition, art, of its folklore and beliefs, the nature,  the places of touristic, architectural and archaeological  interest.

THE NAME
Cotriero is the ancient name of the area where the live pub is located, as shown by the old charts found in the library of Gallipoli, the oldest of which dates back to 1631-1635. Here you can find in the area south of Gallipoli, Punta del Cotriero.

The importance in the history of this strip of land of Salento has been confirmed with the discovery of a manuscript of Vernole, an historian from Gallipoli of the early twentieth century. Vernole, taking up what was told by Plutarch, greek biographer and philosopher, based on deeds of Pyrrhus, changes one of the theories on the site of the sinking of the king of Epirus with his fleet, during his trip to bring relief to Taranto against Rome. Plutarch tells that in 280 BC, Pyrrhus came from Epirus, north-western coast of the Greece region (roughly corresponding to Albania), to bring help to Taranto against Rome.

During the trip, dubbed the Capo di Leuca, in the middle of the Ionian sea, a spring storm split the impressive fleet and the ships scattered. The King's ship resisted for long against the impetuosity of the see until it wrecked on the sea along the Ionian coast of Salento.

Vernole, contrary to the most commonly known version on the sinking of Pyrrhus, which states that the king was stranded in the Shallow waters of Ugento, maintains that Pyrrhus was a knowledgeable expert of the seas and coasts and that, seeking a secure docking for his ship, he avoided the shoals of Ugento and, after passing the cape of Acroterion (Cotriero or Pizzo), landed on this land sheltered from the north-east and east wind.