Nothing to See in Puglia

Well, of course I am being cheeky with that headline because there is A LOT to see in Puglia.

But it's not museums and art and cathedrals and all that usual 'tourist in Italy' stuff - think charming white washed cities and stunning beaches. Miles and miles of olive groves and seaside cities perched on cliffs. This is Puglia. 

Italy is hot right now. Last year Italy saw record numbers of tourists visiting and the forecast for this summer is the same (if not busier!).

So if you’re thinking about a trip to Italy consider traveling during shoulder season (March/April or September/October) when crowds will be slightly smaller and costs are generally lower. Another thing to consider is visiting parts of Italy that are typically less crowded with tourists. Venice, Rome, Florence, Amalfi - these are definitely going to be busy! But there are plenty of other parts of Italy that are worth visiting and a little less popular with tourists…at least for now. One of those areas is Puglia - although it’s been gaining in popularity, it still remains a lesser traveled region for American travelers. I visited Puglia on my second trip to Italy - it’s a perfect place for returning travelers who have already seen the major sights in Rome, Florence, or Venice and are ready to experience another side of Italy. But even if it’s your first time to Italy, keep Puglia in mind! You’ll get amazing food, beautiful landscapes and beaches, and a chance to see a side of Italy you are likely less familiar with.

White washed walls, sparkling blue seas, and olive groves everywhere you look - this is Puglia. It’s an incredibly beautiful part of the country with a more relaxed vibe than you’ll find in those more touristy seaside areas such as the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre. 

Unlike other parts of Italy, there are no major sights in Puglia. Instead, spend your time in this region exploring the small towns around the area, relaxing on the beautiful beaches, and enjoying the incredible food and wine. The towns here are small and charming, filled with restaurants and cafes serving the region’s specialities. Puglia invites you to fully relax and enjoy the region’s charms. This is the part of your Italy vacation where you can just chill!

If you’re looking to explore the beautiful towns that make up Puglia, here are a few to consider:

Ostuni - Driving towards Ostuni, you will see this famous white city perched upon a hill. The walled-in medieval city is made up of white-washed buildings making it stand out among the miles and miles of olive groves surrounding the town. This is the perfect place to get lost (I’m pretty sure we did) and duck into local shops or cafes while you do.

Locorotondo - My favorite little town in the region, it is small and charming and full of the white-washed buildings typical of the area. It is so lovely to just wander around Locorotondo for a few hours before dining in one of the local restaurants.

Alberobello - One of the most iconic images of Puglia is the trulli, the domed white houses all lined up in a row. Alberobello is where you’ll find these homes - 1,400 in fact - perfectly preserved and lined up along narrow streets.

If it’s beaches and stunning coastlines you’re looking for, you must visit Monopoli and Polignano e Mare. These seaside towns are gorgeous and perfect for a day sail, enjoying some freshly caught seafood, and wishing you could stay here forever (or at least for the entire summer).

You’ll also find Otranto quite charming - another city set along the coast of the Adriatic, Otranto is known for its medieval castle and historic city center. You’ll find beautiful beaches around the city, medieval architecture, history, art, and more while you are here.

A slightly less popular tourist destination, Gallipoli is known for its incredible beaches. So if you are truly looking to escape and relax, this might be the place for you.

Lecce - Spend a few hours wandering through this city and admire the incredible baroque architecture. There are no cars allowed in the city center (similar to other towns in Puglia), so this makes it ideal for wandering, maybe with a gelato in hand.

Where to Stay in Puglia

You can choose to stay in or around any of these towns while you are in Puglia. Many of the towns are clustered together so you can stay in one location and visit other parts of the region from your home base. For example, during my time in Puglia we stayed just outside of Otranto and Locorotondo and we were easily able to visit a number of these towns on quick day trips or during our road trip between our two home bases. Most of these towns can be seen within a few hours - the real beauty is in staying just outside of these cities in the masserie.

The masserie are farmhouses that were the home of the massaro, or farmer. Today, these masserie range from rustic, renovated farmhouses to luxury hotels. Traditionally agricultural, you can stay the night or simply go for a traditional, extremely local meal.

You may also consider staying in a hotel in one of these medieval towns to get a feel for the old town charm before spending some time out in the countryside. This region also has many beautiful villas available for rent if you’re traveling with a larger group or even just for a smaller group of friends - these can be a nice alternative to a hotel or masseria where you will have private chef and housekeeping services to help you relax even more.

It’s also best to consider renting a car while you are in Puglia, whether for a day or for multiple days during your stay. Accessing the towns and cities in the region, as well as the beaches, can be challenging without a car. It is possible to organize guided trips to visit areas within Puglia so that you don’t have to rent a car, but it’s good to know that public transport is a bit less accessible in this part of the country. If you’re staying in a masseria in the countryside, you will definitely want a car.

Food & Drink in Puglia

Puglia is known as the breadbasket of Italy due to the high production of durum wheat here. So obviously you’ll be eating a lot of pasta and bread! Fun fact: orecchiette pasta comes from this region. Because many parts of Puglia are on the coast, you’ll find plenty of seafood pastas and fresh fish dishes in Puglia, as well as vegetable-focused dishes.

I mentioned that there are a lot of olive groves in the region - more than 60 million olive trees grow here - so you have to try the famous olive oil while you are here. Of course it will be drizzled quite liberally on your pastas, fish, and vegetable dishes but you can also take a tour of the olive groves (and hopefully taste some very fresh olive oil!)

If you’re looking for wine while in Puglia, you should try the local wines made here -

Red wines include Negroamaro (which you can also have as a rose), Primitivo (the same as California Zinfandel grapes), and Nero de Troia. Verdeca is a white wine grape grown nearly exclusively in Puglia and makes for easy drinking. Primitivo is probably the most well known from this region and has been a favorite of mine since I traveled to Puglia in 2017.

Intrigued? Contact us to plan your own trip to Puglia...and discover this incredible part of Italy.