Experience Baroque cities, trullo homes, and local wine in Puglia
August 2, 2024
One of Italy’s overlooked southern regions has been vastly overlooked, until now. Forming the “heel” of Italy’s “boot”, Puglia’s oceans of olive groves, medieval towns, and a sparkling Mediterranean coastline are finally earning their moment in the spotlight. These towns of Puglia (Apulia) are rich in history, culture, and charm for your next Italian vacation.
Spanning three Puglian provinces, the Itria Valley is a karst depression flooded with ancient olive groves, vineyards, and Mediterranean scrub. It’s most known for its Trulli (singular, Trullo) residences: drywall huts crafted from limestone and topped with a conical roof. Alberobello has the highest concentration of trulli while others are dotted around the towns of Locorotondo, Fasano, Laureto, and Martina Franca. A small number of trulli have been carefully transformed into luxurious boutique hotels.
Lecce is known as “Florence of the South” for its baroque architecture. Churches, residences, and commercial buildings were carved from the soft Pietra Leccese (Lecce stone) quarried from the local area. Its unique properties suited it to carving the ornamental facades seen on the city gates and Lecce Cathedral. The Lecce experience is completed by catching the sunset over a Tagliere (charcuterie board) and a glass of Puglia’s Primitivo red wine.
Otranto is a lovely day trip for beaches, Lungomare strolls, and peeking at Otranto Cathedral’s remarkable mosaics.
Puglia’s capital is a buzzing university town where young academics rub shoulders with vacationing Italians and international travelers arriving from the sea. Whole Lecce is likened to Florence, Bari carries the essence of Bologna through its elegant Citta Vecchia (Old Town) and decadent gastronomy. Orecchiette, ear-shaped pasta served with sautéed broccoli rabe (rapini), is the dish to order. The women of Bari sit out on the streets making it by hand at the speed of lightning.
Arriving in Ostuni is reason alone to visit. The whitewashed city rises like a wedding cake from the verdant countryside where premium wines and olive oils have been produced for centuries. Once within the fortified La Città Bianca, Ostuni continues to stun with its chic boutiques and classy bistros overlooking the tiered city and idyllic landscape. Being quiet at night and well-positioned for day trips to inland towns and Adriatic resorts make Ostuni an excellent base in Puglia.
Monopoli is a charming resort on the Adriatic Sea with a photogenic Old Town and dreamy beaches. Meandering the narrow streets and plazas eventually concludes at the Basilica of the Madonna della Madia whose crypt contains a curious archaeological site tracing the city’s development. Monopoli is surrounded by teeny swimming coves comprising sand and stone. Yacht charters with skippers are available during summer.
Although technically part of the Basilicata region, Italy’s City of Caves is close enough to the Puglian border to justify a day trip. UNESCO-designated Matera is home to cave dwellings known as the Sassi di Matera and is believed to be Italy’s oldest settlement.
Contact Darby’s Destinations to plan an authentic Italian travel itinerary to Puglia and beyond.
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