Gallipoli crowned capital of amphibious flight: Salento readies for

Gallipoli crowned capital of amphibious flight: Salento readies for Gidro 2026

The second edition of Gidro 2026, the Italian amphibious flight tour, will spotlight Salento. After an initial phase across the northern lakes and Trieste in May, the aerial caravan will resume in September, calling at Cagnano Varano, Bari, Brindisi and Taranto before reaching the province of Lecce.

• Key dates: departing Lake Trasimeno on 5 September 2026 and concluding in Gallipoli on 13 September 2026.
• Participants: at least a dozen seaplanes from Italy, Switzerland, Austria and the Mediterranean area, organized by the Association of Italian Maritime Aviation with support from the Air Force.
• Local programme: conferences, aeronautical exhibitions, screenings and school events; tastings of local specialties curated by the "Dispensa di Caroli".
• Goals: tourism promotion, enhancement of historic seaplane bases and advancement of sustainable air mobility to help ease road congestion.

For Salento, the event is an opportunity to combine cultural promotion and local economy: besides the spectacle of the aircraft, organizers plan activities to engage residents and schools and to showcase local excellence alongside low-impact mobility solutions.