Plan a trip to Puglia

In fact, one can almost imagine that it descended from another planet or was created as a film set for cartoons. The area of the Itria Valley, in particular, stands out with its iconic and most unusual trulli – traditional, round stone huts.

Puglia is a long and narrow region, sprawled along the Italian boot between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, and is inhabited by approximately 4 million people. The nearly 7500-mile area is surrounded by 328 miles of beaches – some rocky, others sandy- making this the Italian province with the most beaches.

The southern part of the Italian boot, including the area of the heel, was conquered repeatedly throughout the centuries. In addition, for many years, it was the final stop in Europe for the Crusaders before they continued on their journey to the Holy Land. These historical facts are reflected in the architecture, the local dialect, the cuisine, and in the numerous archaeological discoveries from different periods. The many ancient settlements, fortresses, castles, churches, and basilicas are characterized by different styles, each one with a legend or a religious story. One of the most famous is the Church of St. Nicholas in Bari which was built to enshrine the remains of St. Nicholas - aka Santa Claus - the eternal Father Christmas. Some of these sites have been declared UNESCO Heritage Sites.  

The Apulia region is mostly flat, though there is a slightly mountainous area in the northern part where the spur of the heel protrudes into the Adriatic Sea. Known as the Gargano Promontorio, much of this area is a forested national natural park - Gargano National Park – and it is interspersed with a number of ancient and incredibly beautiful coastal villages and towns such as the town of Vieste. The coast is considered one of Italy’s most stunning areas with its sparkling sea, dense vegetation, beautiful flowers, ancient forests, and magical grottoes.

There are several important Christian sites located here which attract religious tourists and pilgrims from all over the world. The small mountain town of Monte Sant'Angelo is situated at an altitude of 2723 feet above sea level and is an important pilgrimage site because of the cave that, according to Catholic faith, was visited several times by the angel Gabriel. The second site, San Giovanni Rotondo, became well-known at the beginning of the 21st century when a local priest received recognition as a saint. Throngs of faithful Catholics from both Italy and around the world pay pilgrimage here throughout the year.

The beautiful, unique islands of the Tremiti Island Archipelago – known as “The Pearls of the Adriatic” - are located off the coast of Gargano and can be reached by ferry. Of the five islands, two are inhabited - San Domino and San Nicola – and they are a natural paradise of turquoise water, caves, and bays as well as home to historical castles and an ancient abbey.

Here are some highlights in Puglia that you don’t want to miss:

The large city of Bari, located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, is the capital of the Apulia region, and is known as the "Milan of the South.” It is a modern city with an ancient area at its center. Bari is home to shopping districts, a bustling pedestrian street, beautiful beaches - most of which are open to the public, a 5.5 mile promenade, and a must-see street called Via delle Orecchiette. As you stroll along, you’ll see women sitting and preparing the traditional ear-shaped Puglia pasta (orecchiette in Italian). The locals come here to buy this delicious fresh pasta, and, typically, use it as a base for the special Puglia dish known as Orecchiette Con Cima di Rape, orecchiette pasta with heads of turnip leaves.

Castel del Monte is a 13th century fortress built by Frederick II on an isolated hill which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its unique shape is characterized by the number eight: eight octagonal towers and eight rooms on each floor- all identical.

The trulli buildings in the Itria valley, and especially in the fascinating town of Alberobello, are a most unique site. A trulli is built with a cylindrical base and a conical slate roof – but without cement – and its thick stone walls are usually whitewashed. Many of the gray roofs are adorned with mystical symbols. Alberobello, with close to 1500 trulli buildings, was chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some of the trulli today contain artisan boutiques and are home to summer events. If you’re looking for a native experience, stay in one of the renovated trulli – they have been modernized while still preserving their original character.

Don’t miss the three white cities, Ostuni, Locorotondo, and Cisternino, which have been painted white since their establishment, earning them this well-deserved distinction.

For lovers of Baroque art, the city of Lecce is a must-see. Lecce, known as the “Florence of the South,” is one of Apulia’s most beautiful cities. It is a university town built mainly of the local, pinkish-colored stone, and, from the ancient amphitheater to the central buildings with their Baroque-style facades, you can learn about the history and architecture of the city.

Polignano a Mare is a popular tourist beach town which is located on the Adriatic coast south of Bari. Domenico Modugno, one of the great singers of Italy (think “Volare”), was born here, and the town is also known for its superb ice cream which is made exclusively from local natural ingredients.

Apulia is a fertile region which arouses the senses - not necessarily with sophisticated cuisine and luxury products, but with outstanding basic staples. The local olive oil is high quality and is sold all over the world. The bread in the town of Altamura was considered the best bread in Italy for several centuries and the only one to receive the special DOP classification – meaning that it is a food product whose origin is identifiable in its taste, texture, or aroma and it is produced in a specific region with all ingredients originating in that region.  

Puglia produces 17% of all the wines in Italy – in fact, it is one of the largest producers in the world due to its ideal location and climate for growing grapes. The most well- known and outstanding wines in Puglia are Primitivo, Negroamaro, and Salice Salentino.

With the good wine comes the renowned cheeses of Puglia. The famous Burrata is considered “the queen of cheeses.” It looks like a large ball of mozzarella, but the inside is full of a delicious creamy white liquid. The spicy Cacio cheese is made from sheep or goat milk, the yellowish Caciocavallo is made from cow's milk, and the cacioricotta cheese is one of the area’s most popular cheeses. The Capocollo, the traditional aged pork cold cut, stars in every sandwich.

And to accompany these culinary delights, you will always find the traditional taralli – round, hard crackers that are ubiquitous throughout homes in Puglia and stores throughout Italy.

All this delicious produce reaches the local markets from the many “masserie” – fortified agricultural estates and farms scattered throughout the region. Most of the masserie offer bed and breakfast accommodations for tourists who are looking to enjoy a rural atmosphere and “farm to table” delights. There are even masserie that have in recent years been turned into luxury boutique hotels and spa hotels.

In Puglia’s coastal cities there are fish markets every morning just as the fishermen arrive from the beaches with their fresh catches. You can’t beat fresh fish that just made its way from a fisherman’s net to the table, or a Burrata with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil that drips from the pan into your mouth – all with the freshest bread and outstanding local wine…

With our mouths watering, we can truly say – this is Puglia at its best!