Nardò is a town in the province of Lecce which has a population of just over 30,000 inhabitants. It is located on the Ionian side of the Salento coast and is nestled between the municipalities of Porto Cesareo, Avetrana, Veglie, Copertino, Galatina and Galatone. The Apulian town extends over a coastal strip of 22 km and among the main seaside destinations we have Santa Caterina, Sant'Isidoro, Santa Maria al Bagno and Porto Selvaggio which are overrun by tourists every year. However, Nardò is not only appreciated for its enchanting beaches as it is also characterized by its rich historical and artistic heritage. The Apulian city originated around the 8th-3rd century BC, or at the time of the Messapi civilization. In 269 BC Nardò passed under the dominion of the Romans and was subsequently conquered by the Byzantines who retained possession of it until the 11th century. In 1055 the Normans occupied the town, only to be supplanted by the Angevins in 1266. In 1497 the fiefdom of Nardò was attributed to the Acquaviva family, of which Belisario was the main exponent. In 1861 the Apulian village was also annexed to the Kingdom of Italy and during the years of the Second World War thousands of Jews who had escaped from the concentration camps were welcomed here.