The history of the castles of Salento have their roots back in the medieval ages, and extended throughout the reign of the many different conquerors until the 17th century when they were fortified to defend Christianity against the ‘non-believers’. Subsequently, they were used as instruments of control of the region and became symbols of power and authority of the aristocracy, who, by this time, were no longer from military backgrounds, but were dedicated to peace and the ‘good life’. All the castles in the region have a certain consistency, with the majority being built along the Adriatic coast, to repel Turkish incursions into the territory. It is difficult to talk generally about the castles, as each one is individual with its own unique features, which distinguish it from the others. For this reason described here are just a few of the most interesting. The castle of Lecce, the provincial capital, is accredited to Charles V of Spain and was built around 1537. It incorporated the older Norman keep, which was pre-existing on the site. It was virtually unassailable due to its construction. The castle owners played host to an annual festival, to display and celebrate the cultural diversity of the region as befitted the provincial capital of Salento, all the more, as Lecce was both a city and a port of the Mediterranean. However, this stretch of coastline, boasts more castles with testify to the bloody fate of this peninsula in earlier times. The castle at Gallipoli, on the Ionian coastline, is an example of Aragonese design, with cylindrical towers built at the defence points of the port of this town. It is built on an island and is encircled by a thick city wall. Otranto’s castle on the Adriatic coast was sacked and destroyed and the scene of a bloodbath in 1480, by Turkish invaders. First to be rebuilt after its destruction, were the circular watchtowers, with their protective spikes extending out over the port. Castro and Roca Vecchia, to the North and South of Otranto, complete the fortified protection of the east coast. In land Copertino and Corigliano d’Otranto nurse two jewels of military architecture, embellished and adorned with ornate carvings and decorations. Copertino’s castle is built in a square form with juxtapositions on all sides to prevent attack, and it has a wonderful ornately carved entrance. Corigliano’s castle, on the other hand, is of typical Aragon style with four cylindrical towers and added to throughout the 17th century. It is decorated with carvings in the baroque Leccese style within its austere façade. The Salento castles give visitors a fantastic insight and glimpse into the local character and culture of the region, in the light of all their splendour.