Prime 10 locations to see in Puglia, Italy

A part of the appeal of Puglia is its sluggish strategy to on a regular basis life. Southern Italy’s rising star has historical farmland hemmed by a sun-bleached sandy coast and is the place travellers come to flee the frenetic vibe of close by Tuscany.

This 12 months the area’s lovely vary of personal villas, many with non-public swimming pools and all the time with attractive views, can be significantly standard, because it permits social distancing with out compromising on the enjoyment of journey.

Skilled vacation rental firms, together with Puglia Paradise, have carried out superior anti-covid protocols to soundly host friends alongside nice actions to create a really memorable expertise.

So what does this lovely area have to supply? Listed here are our high ten ideas:

Valle d’Itria

Valle d’Itria, additionally known as “Trulli valley”, has a singular fairytale panorama dotted with former peasant houses often called Trulli (plural of Trullo). These conventional Apulian constructions look quaint with their beehive-shaped roofs and are resourcefully constructed from stones that peasants cleared from their rocky fields. These constructions had been simple to erect and simply as simple to knock down if mandatory and provide heat within the winter and coolness in the summertime months.

These fanciful Trulli, set within the peaceable Puglia countryside, have been restored as vacation houses with non-public swimming pools. 

For instance, Corte Bianca in Valle d’Itria has been fastidiously renovated to deliver collectively conventional options and up to date model.

Within the coronary heart of Martina Franca is Trullo Febe, an enthralling Trullo in a secluded spot with a shaded pergola for alfresco eating surrounded by countryside and olive bushes. 

Whereas its interiors are charmingly rustic it presents trendy luxurious, together with air-conditioning and a big saltwater pool with Jacuzzi. The lodging is organized in separate items which implies a household or group of buddies can vacation collectively but nonetheless have privateness. Trullo Febe comes with a concierge service too.

The ocean and the area’s lovely seashores are close by.

Gargano

Within the spur of Italy, Gargano is replete with lovely fishing villages, darkish and historical forests inland, wonderful sandy seashores and hemmed by rugged cliffs, secret caves and picturesque coves. It’s splendid as a hub for eco-tourism and to calm down.

The preferred and trendy city in Gargano is the medieval village of Vieste. It’s a pleasure to saunter via its slender streets, passing whitewashed homes all of the whereas being missed by the gorgeous 13th-century fort.

The Mattinata seaside alongside the coastal space of Baia delle Zagare is amongst its most lovely seashores with its well-known stacks just a few metres from the shore.

In the event you like recent fish it’s important to attempt a dinner at a trabucco, a standard picket fishing platform that protrudes out to sea from on the coast. You possibly can watch the fishing course of, assist out if you need, take pleasure in a fish dinner leaving you with a really memorable expertise.

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The place to Keep

For a collection of one of the best properties with genuine and unique design and luxury, go to our sponsor, Puglia Paradise.

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Salento

The southernmost space of Puglia is outlined by stony olive groves that reach between dry-stone partitions bordered with oleander. It has a powerful id with its personal delicacies, traditions and music, influenced by its Greek previous.

Together with a few of Italy’s finest seashores resembling Porto Cesareo with the Punta Prosciutto dunes, Pescoluse seaside (additionally known as Maldives of Salento) and Torre Lapillo seaside, there are some fascinating cities to discover resembling Otranto, Specchia and Presicce (awarded as three of essentially the most lovely Italian villages).

Get there within the summer season for an opportunity to witness a sagra di paese (a village competition) the place you may eat conventional road meals whereas listening to conventional music resembling pizzica or tarantella.

Ostuni

Town of Ostuni is an attractive maze-like white metropolis on a hilltop simply 8km from the Adriatic Sea. It’s filled with slender streets and alleys you may spend ages getting misplaced in, climbing staircases and falling in love with the gorgeous views.

The historic centre inside its historical partitions is house to conventional craftsmanship outlets, cosy cafes and aperitivo spots, and wonderful eating places to expertise an ideal Apulian dinner. Then wash it down with a drink in one of many fashionable bars the place you may benefit from the full of life Italian nightlife in a world atmosphere.

Set amid the olive bushes, Villa Rosara styled as a standard Puglia farmhouse amid landscaped grounds, has a terrace and personal pool. The villa is only a 700m stroll to Ostuni and a brief drive to a few of Puglia’s most lovely seashores.

Created within the model of a standard farmhouse, Villa Margareta is just 5 minutes from Ostuni. The terrace and saltwater pool overlooks gorgeous sea views with loads of spacious areas the place you may calm down within the shade or sunshine or put together an alfresco rustic meal within the out of doors wood-fired barbecue and pizza oven.

The encircling space round Ostuni is nicely value visiting, significantly the quaint and barely out of the best way city of Carovigno well-known for its manufacturing of olive oil.

Carovigno is only a 12-minute drive from Ostuni, and if you want to have your base right here you may e-book a keep at Villa Skyler, which is situated simply 5km from the ocean. The villa is supplied with a spectacular saltwater infinity pool with views of the ocean and surrounding countryside. 

Brindisi

The protected harbour port of Brindisi is a UNESCO heritage web site for the tradition of Peace. Town hosts the United Nations Logistics Base – the hub for peacekeeping operations.

For a few years, the port was a cease level for the Indian Mail from London to Bombay, and it hosted the likes of Virgil and Gandhi.

Its lovely waterfront is filled with eating places that serve native and recent meals. The previous city nicknamed “Brindeasy” for its sluggish and relaxed way of life has an old-school conventional appeal the place persons are pleasant and welcoming.

Bari, the capital of the area, is buzzing and busy and has a beautiful previous city. Bari Vecchia (the previous city of Bari) is a walled metropolis constructed on a peninsula jutting into the ocean. It’s so intimate that strolling down the slender alleyways really feel like being in somebody’s front room. The streets listed below are locations to socialize, and every morning ladies sit at tables making orecchiette (little ears), the standard Apulian pasta made by rolling the dough into skinny logs, chopping off a bit and shaping it by hand at an impressively speedy tempo.

TIP: Remember to attempt the focaccia! It’s a flatbread typical of this space with roasted cherry tomatoes, olives and glistening with native olive oil.

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Polignano A Mare

Polignano a Mare is certainly one of Puglia’s most picturesque seaside cities, and one of the crucial vital historical settlements in Puglia. Spectacularly positioned on the Adriatic coast, it’s constructed on the sting of a craggy ravine pockmarked with caves.

TIP: For a as soon as in a lifetime expertise, go to Grotta Palazzese, a luxurious restaurant with a view over an impressive blue-green sea, carved out of magnificent limestone rocks that lies in an unparalleled location. It has been enchanting guests for hundreds of years.

Set within the countryside near Polignano a Mare there’s Villa Incanto a Mare, the last word in trendy Italian model and luxurious out of doors dwelling. A trendy and unique vacation villa, its most hanging characteristic is the spacious celebration space, which comes full with a chef’s kitchen, pizza oven and barbecue.

 

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READ ALSO: When is one of the best time to go to Puglia

ALSO READ: What to eat in Puglia: 10 unmissable typical dishes

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Alberobello

Alberobello is a fairytale UNESCO World Heritage city made from 1,500 Trulli (typical Apulian conical stone huts). It’s each distinctive and enchanting place, and although slightly touristy it’s undoubtedly value a go to.

A lot of the Trulli right here have been remodeled into memento outlets, cafes, eating places, however a few of them (in much less crowded areas of the city) are actual houses the place individuals nonetheless stay.

You possibly can keep in one of many genuine Trulli, resembling Trullo Atena, a hidden gem that mixes the custom of a historic Trullo with the comforts of contemporary dwelling.

Though it feels secluded this Trullo lies inside a simple stroll or drive of Alberobello. Get pleasure from absorbing the sunshine beside your non-public pool and enjoyable within the shady gazebo.

Lecce

Referred to as the Florence of the south, Lecce is certainly one of Puglia’s largest cities. It’s recognized for its baroque structure with greater than 40 church buildings and a minimum of as many noble palazzi constructed or renovated between 17th and 18th century. The magnificent result’s that it has one of the crucial unified city landscapes in Italy.

The streets are all the time alive with younger individuals consuming in cafes, households out for a stroll and teams of buddies having fun with gelato or road meals.

TIP: Don’t miss the Pasticciotto (typical cake of Lecce) at Pasticceria Alvino in piazza Sant’Oronzo, and Caffè in ghiaccio con latte di mandorla (ice espresso with almond syrup).

Otranto

Otranto is Italy’s easternmost city. It presents a mixture of historical past, structure, lovely views, sea-front eating places and white sandy seashores.

Sitting proper on the Adriatic sea, in entrance of the Balkans and Greece, its strategic place has profoundly influenced its historical past. The imposing fort and towers dominate a lot of the city, surrounded by thick perimeter partitions that give approach to a small port and wonderful sea-front promenades dotted with wonderful fish eating places.

The pleasant Romanesque cathedral, relationship again to 1088 with distinctive 12th-century ground mosaics, is one other spotlight to not be missed.

TIP: Although the city has its personal lovely white sandy seaside with turquoise waters, make slightly time to search out the Alimini seaside, a part of a marine protected space. It is a lengthy seaside with white sand dunes and wealthy Mediterranean vegetation.

Extra about Puglia Paradise

Puglia Paradise is a number one villa rental firm in Puglia, extremely rated on Trustpilot UK , offering villas and Trulli with non-public swimming pools for hire. Villas are managed completely by Puglia Paradise. Company take pleasure in a heat and private concierge service, or “Visitor Angel”, to welcome you and help with sensible points and provide recommendations on issues to see and do, the place to eat, native markets and one of the best native merchandise outlets. 

The collection of one of the best villas can optionally be supplied with a full employees.

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This text is sponsored by Puglia Paradise. It was up to date on January ninth, 2022, and first revealed on April 21st, 2017.