Puglia In A Nutshell
Often, the best way to get a feel for a place is by sampling its cuisine. And with Italy, and Puglia in particular, renowned for its cuisine, it would be rude not to take advantage of the amazing restaurants found across the region.
Try a taste of home cooking with the rural yet sophisticated Masseria Il Frantoio near Ostuni. Providing an experience that goes beyond a simple meal, here you’ll eat home-grown ingredients, served in a plant-fringed courtyard. For some retro tastes of old Italy, Lo Scalo is the ideal venue. Enjoy grilled meats, fried seafood, and some five-star veggies at this beautiful waterside eatery in Marina di Novaglie. LaltroBaffo is set in the Centro Storico of Otranto and is frequented in summer by the Italian elite who want an unmatched fresh taste of the sea.
Enjoy the restaurants, bars, and cafes of the medieval town of Castellana Grotte before visiting its famous caves. There you’ll find a thrilling complex of underground passages and natural corridors inside pitch-black caverns. Admire spectacular features like the glittering stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the phenomenal ‘white cave’.
Whether you’re a riding pro or an absolute beginner, guided horseback tours are a must for any would-be adventurer in Puglia. Explore romantic routes that cover vineyards, farms, and surrounding countryside on Murgese horses, a breed that originated in the region. And with the countryside being covered in vineyards and wineries, wine tasting and tours are another popular activity here.
Perhaps you’d prefer to discover the incredible Puglian landscapes on two feet. Get your walking boots on and take things off-road with a stunning coastal walk of the surrounding Otranto. There are many self-guided trails to follow, with breathtaking routes leading you through some of Puglia’s most picturesque areas.
For a family-friendly trip to the seaside, look no further than the gorgeous Baia delle Zagare in Gargano. Baia delle Zagare is part of the Gargano National Park, which covers approximately 120,000 hectares, and is framed by soaring cliffs. Also surrounded by vibrant local flora, this sand and pebble beach is dotted with rock formations and sea caves, with gentle tides creating ideal swimming conditions.
Marina di Pescoluse on the Ionian Coast is considered to be one of the best beach areas in Puglia. It boasts four kilometres of sandy stretches, with clear sea waters in a variety of gorgeous aquamarine shades. Water sports like snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, and kayaking are also very popular here. The coast looks and feels so tropical, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in the Maldives!
Puglia’s historic towns and cities are a dream for culture lovers. Due to its wealth of baroque architecture, Lecce is known as “The Florence of the South”. The main landmarks to mark off your sightseeing list include the Piazza del Duomo, the Basilica di Santa Croce, and Chiesa di San Matteo.
Often, the best way to get a feel for a place is by sampling its cuisine. And with Italy, and Puglia in particular, renowned for its cuisine, it would be rude not to take advantage of the amazing restaurants found across the region.
Try a taste of home cooking with the rural yet sophisticated Masseria Il Frantoio near Ostuni. Providing an experience that goes beyond a simple meal, here you’ll eat home-grown ingredients, served in a plant-fringed courtyard. For some retro tastes of old Italy, Lo Scalo is the ideal venue. Enjoy grilled meats, fried seafood, and some five-star veggies at this beautiful waterside eatery in Marina di Novaglie. LaltroBaffo is set in the Centro Storico of Otranto and is frequented in summer by the Italian elite who want an unmatched fresh taste of the sea.
Enjoy the restaurants, bars, and cafes of the medieval town of Castellana Grotte before visiting its famous caves. There you’ll find a thrilling complex of underground passages and natural corridors inside pitch-black caverns. Admire spectacular features like the glittering stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the phenomenal ‘white cave’.
Whether you’re a riding pro or an absolute beginner, guided horseback tours are a must for any would-be adventurer in Puglia. Explore romantic routes that cover vineyards, farms, and surrounding countryside on Murgese horses, a breed that originated in the region. And with the countryside being covered in vineyards and wineries, wine tasting and tours are another popular activity here.
Perhaps you’d prefer to discover the incredible Puglian landscapes on two feet. Get your walking boots on and take things off-road with a stunning coastal walk of the surrounding Otranto. There are many self-guided trails to follow, with breathtaking routes leading you through some of Puglia’s most picturesque areas.
For a family-friendly trip to the seaside, look no further than the gorgeous Baia delle Zagare in Gargano. Baia delle Zagare is part of the Gargano National Park, which covers approximately 120,000 hectares, and is framed by soaring cliffs. Also surrounded by vibrant local flora, this sand and pebble beach is dotted with rock formations and sea caves, with gentle tides creating ideal swimming conditions.
Marina di Pescoluse on the Ionian Coast is considered to be one of the best beach areas in Puglia. It boasts four kilometres of sandy stretches, with clear sea waters in a variety of gorgeous aquamarine shades. Water sports like snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, and kayaking are also very popular here. The coast looks and feels so tropical, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in the Maldives!
Puglia’s historic towns and cities are a dream for culture lovers. Due to its wealth of baroque architecture, Lecce is known as “The Florence of the South”. The main landmarks to mark off your sightseeing list include the Piazza del Duomo, the Basilica di Santa Croce, and Chiesa di San Matteo.
Often, the best way to get a feel for a place is by sampling its cuisine. And with Italy, and Puglia in particular, renowned for its cuisine, it would be rude not to take advantage of the amazing restaurants found across the region.
Try a taste of home cooking with the rural yet sophisticated Masseria Il Frantoio near Ostuni. Providing an experience that goes beyond a simple meal, here you’ll eat home-grown ingredients, served in a plant-fringed courtyard. For some retro tastes of old Italy, Lo Scalo is the ideal venue. Enjoy grilled meats, fried seafood, and some five-star veggies at this beautiful waterside eatery in Marina di Novaglie. LaltroBaffo is set in the Centro Storico of Otranto and is frequented in summer by the Italian elite who want an unmatched fresh taste of the sea.
Enjoy the restaurants, bars, and cafes of the medieval town of Castellana Grotte before visiting its famous caves. There you’ll find a thrilling complex of underground passages and natural corridors inside pitch-black caverns. Admire spectacular features like the glittering stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the phenomenal ‘white cave’.
Whether you’re a riding pro or an absolute beginner, guided horseback tours are a must for any would-be adventurer in Puglia. Explore romantic routes that cover vineyards, farms, and surrounding countryside on Murgese horses, a breed that originated in the region. And with the countryside being covered in vineyards and wineries, wine tasting and tours are another popular activity here.
Perhaps you’d prefer to discover the incredible Puglian landscapes on two feet. Get your walking boots on and take things off-road with a stunning coastal walk of the surrounding Otranto. There are many self-guided trails to follow, with breathtaking routes leading you through some of Puglia’s most picturesque areas.
For a family-friendly trip to the seaside, look no further than the gorgeous Baia delle Zagare in Gargano. Baia delle Zagare is part of the Gargano National Park, which covers approximately 120,000 hectares, and is framed by soaring cliffs. Also surrounded by vibrant local flora, this sand and pebble beach is dotted with rock formations and sea caves, with gentle tides creating ideal swimming conditions.
Marina di Pescoluse on the Ionian Coast is considered to be one of the best beach areas in Puglia. It boasts four kilometres of sandy stretches, with clear sea waters in a variety of gorgeous aquamarine shades. Water sports like snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, and kayaking are also very popular here. The coast looks and feels so tropical, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in the Maldives!
Puglia’s historic towns and cities are a dream for culture lovers. Due to its wealth of baroque architecture, Lecce is known as “The Florence of the South”. The main landmarks to mark off your sightseeing list include the Piazza del Duomo, the Basilica di Santa Croce, and Chiesa di San Matteo.
frequently asked questions
The best times to visit Puglia are the spring and autumn. April to June and September to October offer pleasant temperatures that make sightseeing and exploring the area a comfortable experience. There are also less tourists during these months, so accessing popular sites and landmarks in towns and cities is much easier. Summer (July and August) is a great time to travel to Puglia if you love the heat (it regularly reaches the mid 30°Cs inland), but be aware that beaches will be very crowded!
Alberobello, Ostuni, Lecce, Otranto and Puglia’s capital, Bari, are some of the most-visited spots.
Castel del Monte in Andria is one of the world’s only eight-sided castles. Puglia produces about 40% of all of Italy’s olive oil. Puglia has the longest coastline on the Italian mainland - it stretches over 500 miles.