Puglia Travel Guide

White trulli with conical roofs, Baroque facades made of honey-colored stone, and cliffside baths overlooking turquoise-blue waters: Apulia (Italian Puglia) is the „heel“ of the Italian boot—covering an area of about 19,500 km², with approximately 800 kilometers of coastline along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Its capital is Bari, and the trulli of Alberobello have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Hardly any other region in Italy combines so much sea, architecture, and cuisine in such a flat, sunny landscape.

On this page, you'll find an overview of all the articles about Apulia from italien.news: from the Bari Travel Guide About the Baroque City Lecce and the Trulli of Alberobello to the cliff Polignano a Mare. You'll also find key facts, accommodation options, and answers to frequently asked questions—all updated regularly.

Which places in Apulia are worth visiting?

The short version: In the north lies the rugged Gargano; in the center, the Valle d’Itria with its white villages; and in the south, the Salento with its Baroque architecture and swimming coves.

• Bari and the Adriatic Coast: In Bari Vecchia Women roll orecchiette pasta right outside the front door, and the Basilica di San Nicola is the resting place of the remains of Saint Nicholas. To the south: Polignano a Mare, perched on 20-meter-high cliffs, and the fishing port of Monopoli.
• Valle d’Itria: Alberobello has about 1,500 trulli, plus the circular Locorotondo and the „White City“ Ostuni on its hill overlooking the sea of olive trees.
• Salento: Lecce is known as the „Florence of the South,“, Otranto is located at Italy's easternmost point, and Gallipoli connects the Old Town island and the city beach on the Ionian Sea.
• Gargano: Peschici It sits atop a limestone cliff over 90 meters high; other attractions include Vieste, the pilgrimage site of Monte Sant’Angelo, and, offshore, the Tremiti Islands.

What makes Apulia so special?

Apulia is Italy’s land of olive trees: there are about 60 million of them in the region, many of which are centuries old and gnarled like sculptures. Dotted among them, the trulli—stone houses with conical roofs built without mortar—bear witness to rural architectural tradition; in Alberobello, they stand so densely that UNESCO designated the complex a World Heritage Site in 1996.

Then there's the stone itself: made of soft, honey-colored Pietra leccese Sculptors carved the ornate facades of Lecce’s Baroque architecture, most notably the Basilica di Santa Croce. The adventure continues underground—the stalactite caves of Castellana Grotte extend about three kilometers into the karst, while the Grotta Zinzulusa awaits on the coast. And hovering over it all is the mystery of the octagonal Castel del Monte, which Emperor Frederick II of the Staufer dynasty founded on the Murge Plateau around 1240.

What are some worthwhile activities to do in Apulia?

Along roughly 800 kilometers of coastline, everyone has their own spot: Snorkelers dive into the natural pool at the Grotta della Poesia Near Roca Vecchia, beachgoers alternate between the sandy beaches of the Ionian Sea and the rocky coves of the Adriatic. Hikers will find the Foresta Umbra in the Gargano National Park, whose ancient beech forests are part of the UNESCO Natural Heritage Site. Cyclists ride along flat country roads through the Valle d’Itria from trullo to trullo, while golfers play on courses such as San Domenico Golf right by the sea—more on this in the golf section above. Boat tours take visitors to the caves of the Gargano and the Tremiti Islands.

What should you eat and drink in Apulia?

Apulia Cucina povera turns a little into a lot: Orecchiette con cime di rapa (Ear-shaped pasta with stem cabbage) is the signature dish, served with creamy burrata from Andria, crispy taralli, and Barese focaccia. The region produces about 40 percent of Italy’s olive oil—you can taste it in every dish. The wine list features full-bodied reds: Primitivo di Manduria and Negroamaro from Salento, and a rosé similar to Chiaretto Rosato. To wrap things up, a Pasticciotto, the cream-filled shortbread from Lecce.

What events are worth attending in Apulia?

In early May, during the Festa di San Nicola (May 7–9), Bari welcomes the relics of its patron saint with processions on land and water. At the end of August, Salento comes alive with dancing: At the closing concert of the Notte della Taranta in Melpignano, well over 100,000 visitors celebrate the pizzica. The Putignano Carnival, with roots dating back to 1394, is one of the oldest in Europe, and during the patron saint festivals of Salento, elaborate Luminaria-Arcs of light transform entire town centers into seas of light.

Puglia has something to offer every season—with beach weather lasting into October and quiet historic centers in winter. Browse through the article overview above and plan your itinerary from the Gargano to Santa Maria di Leuca.

Note: Disclaimer – Italien.news is not the owner or organizer of the attractions, accommodations, and events listed here and is therefore not responsible for changes to the program, event cancellations, or any incorrect information. The editorial team at Italien.news always endeavors to provide detailed and accurate information. However, it is possible that events, attractions, etc. may be changed and not updated promptly. Exact details of dates, times and programs can be obtained directly from the owner of the attractions and accommodation.

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