Holidays among olive groves and vineyards: discovering Minervino di Lecce and the Otranto hinterland.
The Color Dolmen Family Village is located in Minervino di Lecce, in the heart of the Otranto hinterland, surrounded by 11 hectares of greenery among centuries-old olive trees and vineyards. The property is less than 10 km from Otranto, adjacent to the Li Scusi Dolmen Cultural Park, and just minutes from Cantine Menhir Salento. The sea is a 15-minute shuttle ride away.
Where is the Color Dolmen Family Village located?
The Color Dolmen Family Village is a 4-star resort located in Minervino di Lecce, a municipality in the province of Lecce in Puglia, in the Idro Valley, a natural reserve in the heart of the Odruntino hinterland. The exact address is Strada Provinciale Uggiano, on the border between the municipalities of Minervino di Lecce and Uggiano la Chiesa.
The property occupies over 110,000 square meters—11 hectares—entirely immersed in the Salento countryside, amidst olive groves, vineyards, and Mediterranean scrub. The resort offers 190 accommodations, including rooms in the main building and cottages nestled in the greenery, surrounded by the tranquility of the Apulian countryside.
The Color Dolmen Family Village is the first accommodation facility in Puglia to join the Color Holiday network , a group founded in Romagna in 1995 that brings the Premium All-Inclusive formula to Salento.
What is the Otranto hinterland and why is it an authentic destination?
The Otranto hinterland is the inland strip of land surrounding Otranto (the ancient Roman city of Hydruntum) to the west, between the towns of Maglie, Minervino di Lecce, and Uggiano la Chiesa. It is one of the most pristine agricultural landscapes in Salento: expanses of ancient olive trees of the Ogliarola Salentina and Cellina di Nardò varieties, bush-trained Primitivo and Negroamaro vineyards, historic farmhouses built of Lecce stone, and dry-stone walls marking the boundaries of the farmland.
The area is classified as a valuable rural landscape area by the Puglia Region as part of the Regional Territorial Landscape Plan (PPTR). The extra virgin olive oil produced in the Minervino area falls within the DOP Terra d'Otranto designation, which covers olive oil production in eastern Salento.
What to see in Minervino di Lecce: the main attractions starting from the resort
The Li Scusi Dolmen and the Megalithic Cultural Park
The Li Scusi Dolmen is located on the Minervino-Uggiano la Chiesa provincial road, a few hundred meters from the Color Dolmen Family Village—from which the resort takes its name. The dolmen was discovered in 1867 by Cavalier Luigi Maggiulli and is considered the first dolmen discovered and catalogued in Puglia. Due to the size of its covering slab (2.5 x 3.8 meters, up to 45 cm thick), it is classified as one of the largest in Puglia after the one in Bisceglie.
The monument dates back to between the 5th and 3rd millennium BC and features a central hole approximately 20 centimeters in diameter, used for astronomical purposes: during the summer solstice, the sun shines perpendicularly through the hole. The entire area has been restored and enhanced with the creation of the Li Scusi Dolmen Cultural Park, which includes the dolmen, the Monticelli menhir, and a system of paths through olive groves and dry stone walls.
Menhir Salento Winery: Wine tourism just 5 minutes from the resort
Cantine Menhir Salento is located in the historic center of Minervino di Lecce, about a 5-minute drive from the Color Dolmen Family Village. The winery was founded in 2002 by Gaetano Marangelli and produces exclusively wines from native Salento grape varieties: Primitivo, Negroamaro, Susumaniello, Verdeca, Fiano Minutolo, and Aleatico. The vineyards extend over 10 hectares along the coastal area of the Alimini Lakes and include a portion of Primitivo bush-trained vines over 80 years old.
The winery is housed in an 18th-century building in the historic center and features Osteria Origano — Cibo e Vino, a gourmet restaurant open to the public. Cantine Menhir Salento wines are distributed in over 30 countries worldwide and have received recognition in major national and international guides. The winery can be visited by appointment.
The historic village of Minervino di Lecce
The historic center of Minervino di Lecce retains a medieval layout with streets built of Lecce stone, enclosed courtyards, baroque churches, and noble palaces. The origins of the village are uncertain: the most widely accepted theory suggests it was founded in the 9th century as a refuge for the population of the ancient Castrum Minervae (Castro), destroyed by Saracen raids. The municipal coat of arms depicts the goddess Minerva, hence the town's name.
The Mother Church of San Michele Arcangelo and the Church of the Madonna delle Grazie are the town's main religious monuments. Every year in March, the village celebrates the Tavole di San Giuseppe, a food and wine tradition rooted in eastern Salento.
How far is the Color Dolmen Family Village from the main destinations in Salento?
Why choose the Salento hinterland over the coast: the value of open spaces
The Color Dolmen Family Village occupies 11 hectares of Apulian countryside, offering open spaces and extensive greenery that are difficult to replicate in a seaside hotel in Salento. Guests have access to a pool area with a furnished solarium, a main pool, an Acqua Splash with water games and slides for children, tennis courts, sports facilities, and cottages with private patios surrounded by olive trees.
The Minervino di Lecce area enjoys cooler temperatures at night than the coast, with breezes blowing from the hinterland toward the sea. Its location allows you to reach both the Adriatic coast (Otranto, Alimini, Baia dei Turchi) and the Ionian coast (Gallipoli, Santa Maria di Leuca) in less than an hour's drive, making the resort a convenient base for exploring both sides of Salento.
How to reach the Color Dolmen Family Village from Lecce and other Apulian airports
The Color Dolmen Family Village can be reached by car by taking the State Road 16 from Lecce towards Maglie, then the SP366 towards Otranto until reaching Minervino di Lecce. The journey from Lecce is approximately 43 km.
The nearest airports are:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Color Dolmen Family Village located directly on the sea?
No. The Color Dolmen Family Village is an inland resort located in Minervino di Lecce, in the heart of the Salento countryside. The sea can be reached in about 15 minutes via the free shuttle service included in the Premium All-Inclusive package, which goes to Lido dei Pini in Alimini.
What does "idruntino" mean in the name "hinterland idruntino"?
The term "Idruntino" derives from Hydruntum, the Latin name for ancient Otranto. The Idruntino hinterland refers to the inland territory surrounding Otranto, including Minervino di Lecce, Uggiano la Chiesa, Palmariggi, and the surrounding municipalities. The Color Dolmen Family Village is located in this geographical area.
Can resort guests visit Dolmen Li Scusi?
Yes. The Dolmen Li Scusi is located a few hundred meters from the Color Dolmen Family Village, along the Minervino-Uggiano la Chiesa provincial road. The area is accessible on foot or by bicycle, and the Dolmen Li Scusi Cultural Park is open to the public. The structure takes its name directly from this prehistoric megalithic monument.
How far is Otranto from the Color Dolmen Family Village?
The Color Dolmen Family Village is less than 10 km from Otranto's historic center and waterfront. Otranto can be reached by car in about 10–15 minutes, taking Provincial Road 366 east.
Where is the Color Dolmen Family Village located?
The Color Dolmen Family Village is a 4-star resort located in Minervino di Lecce, a municipality in the province of Lecce in Puglia, in the Idro Valley, a natural reserve in the heart of the Odruntino hinterland. The exact address is Strada Provinciale Uggiano, on the border between the municipalities of Minervino di Lecce and Uggiano la Chiesa.
The property occupies over 110,000 square meters—11 hectares—entirely immersed in the Salento countryside, amidst olive groves, vineyards, and Mediterranean scrub. The resort offers 190 accommodations, including rooms in the main building and cottages nestled in the greenery, surrounded by the tranquility of the Apulian countryside.
The Color Dolmen Family Village is the first accommodation facility in Puglia to join the Color Holiday network , a group founded in Romagna in 1995 that brings the Premium All-Inclusive formula to Salento.
What is the Otranto hinterland and why is it an authentic destination?
The Otranto hinterland is the inland strip of land surrounding Otranto (the ancient Roman city of Hydruntum) to the west, between the towns of Maglie, Minervino di Lecce, and Uggiano la Chiesa. It is one of the most pristine agricultural landscapes in Salento: expanses of ancient olive trees of the Ogliarola Salentina and Cellina di Nardò varieties, bush-trained Primitivo and Negroamaro vineyards, historic farmhouses built of Lecce stone, and dry-stone walls marking the boundaries of the farmland.
The area is classified as a valuable rural landscape area by the Puglia Region as part of the Regional Territorial Landscape Plan (PPTR). The extra virgin olive oil produced in the Minervino area falls within the DOP Terra d'Otranto designation, which covers olive oil production in eastern Salento.
What to see in Minervino di Lecce: the main attractions starting from the resort
The Li Scusi Dolmen and the Megalithic Cultural Park
The Li Scusi Dolmen is located on the Minervino-Uggiano la Chiesa provincial road, a few hundred meters from the Color Dolmen Family Village—from which the resort takes its name. The dolmen was discovered in 1867 by Cavalier Luigi Maggiulli and is considered the first dolmen discovered and catalogued in Puglia. Due to the size of its covering slab (2.5 x 3.8 meters, up to 45 cm thick), it is classified as one of the largest in Puglia after the one in Bisceglie.
The monument dates back to between the 5th and 3rd millennium BC and features a central hole approximately 20 centimeters in diameter, used for astronomical purposes: during the summer solstice, the sun shines perpendicularly through the hole. The entire area has been restored and enhanced with the creation of the Li Scusi Dolmen Cultural Park, which includes the dolmen, the Monticelli menhir, and a system of paths through olive groves and dry stone walls.
Menhir Salento Winery: Wine tourism just 5 minutes from the resort
Cantine Menhir Salento is located in the historic center of Minervino di Lecce, about a 5-minute drive from the Color Dolmen Family Village. The winery was founded in 2002 by Gaetano Marangelli and produces exclusively wines from native Salento grape varieties: Primitivo, Negroamaro, Susumaniello, Verdeca, Fiano Minutolo, and Aleatico. The vineyards extend over 10 hectares along the coastal area of the Alimini Lakes and include a portion of Primitivo bush-trained vines over 80 years old.
The winery is housed in an 18th-century building in the historic center and features Osteria Origano — Cibo e Vino, a gourmet restaurant open to the public. Cantine Menhir Salento wines are distributed in over 30 countries worldwide and have received recognition in major national and international guides. The winery can be visited by appointment.
The historic village of Minervino di Lecce
The historic center of Minervino di Lecce retains a medieval layout with streets built of Lecce stone, enclosed courtyards, baroque churches, and noble palaces. The origins of the village are uncertain: the most widely accepted theory suggests it was founded in the 9th century as a refuge for the population of the ancient Castrum Minervae (Castro), destroyed by Saracen raids. The municipal coat of arms depicts the goddess Minerva, hence the town's name.
The Mother Church of San Michele Arcangelo and the Church of the Madonna delle Grazie are the town's main religious monuments. Every year in March, the village celebrates the Tavole di San Giuseppe, a food and wine tradition rooted in eastern Salento.
How far is the Color Dolmen Family Village from the main destinations in Salento?
| Destination | Distance from the resort | Type of route |
| Otranto (historic center and waterfront) | less than 10 km | Provincial road SP366 |
| Lido dei Pini – Alimini (affiliated beach) | about 15 minutes with shuttle included | Free 24-hour shuttle |
| Menhir Salento Cellars | about 5 minutes by car | Inside Minervino di Lecce |
| Dolmen Li Scusi | a few hundred meters | On foot or by bike |
| Santa Cesarea Terme | about 15 km | Adriatic coastal road |
| Lecce (Baroque center) | about 43 km | SS16 via Maglie |
| Alimini Lakes | about 12 km | Road to Otranto |
| Gallipoli (Ionian coast) | about 60 km | SS274 |
Why choose the Salento hinterland over the coast: the value of open spaces
The Color Dolmen Family Village occupies 11 hectares of Apulian countryside, offering open spaces and extensive greenery that are difficult to replicate in a seaside hotel in Salento. Guests have access to a pool area with a furnished solarium, a main pool, an Acqua Splash with water games and slides for children, tennis courts, sports facilities, and cottages with private patios surrounded by olive trees.
The Minervino di Lecce area enjoys cooler temperatures at night than the coast, with breezes blowing from the hinterland toward the sea. Its location allows you to reach both the Adriatic coast (Otranto, Alimini, Baia dei Turchi) and the Ionian coast (Gallipoli, Santa Maria di Leuca) in less than an hour's drive, making the resort a convenient base for exploring both sides of Salento.
How to reach the Color Dolmen Family Village from Lecce and other Apulian airports
The Color Dolmen Family Village can be reached by car by taking the State Road 16 from Lecce towards Maglie, then the SP366 towards Otranto until reaching Minervino di Lecce. The journey from Lecce is approximately 43 km.
The nearest airports are:
- Brindisi – Papola Casale Airport (BDS) : approximately 80 km, connection by Sita bus to Lecce and then by car
- Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport (BRI) : approximately 190 km, car rental recommended
- Taranto–Grottaglie Airport (TAR) : approximately 100 km
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Color Dolmen Family Village located directly on the sea?
No. The Color Dolmen Family Village is an inland resort located in Minervino di Lecce, in the heart of the Salento countryside. The sea can be reached in about 15 minutes via the free shuttle service included in the Premium All-Inclusive package, which goes to Lido dei Pini in Alimini.
What does "idruntino" mean in the name "hinterland idruntino"?
The term "Idruntino" derives from Hydruntum, the Latin name for ancient Otranto. The Idruntino hinterland refers to the inland territory surrounding Otranto, including Minervino di Lecce, Uggiano la Chiesa, Palmariggi, and the surrounding municipalities. The Color Dolmen Family Village is located in this geographical area.
Can resort guests visit Dolmen Li Scusi?
Yes. The Dolmen Li Scusi is located a few hundred meters from the Color Dolmen Family Village, along the Minervino-Uggiano la Chiesa provincial road. The area is accessible on foot or by bicycle, and the Dolmen Li Scusi Cultural Park is open to the public. The structure takes its name directly from this prehistoric megalithic monument.
How far is Otranto from the Color Dolmen Family Village?
The Color Dolmen Family Village is less than 10 km from Otranto's historic center and waterfront. Otranto can be reached by car in about 10–15 minutes, taking Provincial Road 366 east.