An Insider’s Information to Puglia, Italy — Unimaginable Pasta, Stunning Seaside Cities, and Boutique Resorts Included

Phrase is unquestionably out on Puglia, the lengthy, slim coastal area that varieties the heel of Italy’s boot. Not a hidden gem or best-kept secret, Puglia’s dramatic seashores, Baroque cities, and whitewashed trulli are splashed over many an Instagram feed. 

But in comparison with different areas of Italy, Puglia — pronounced pool-yah — nonetheless presents vacationers the Italian trip experiences they search, whereas skipping a lot of the crowds and chaos of better-known locations. “It’s undoubtedly less-visited in comparison with iconic Italian areas like Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast,” says Madeline Jhawar, proprietor and customized journey planner with Italy Past the Apparent. “And Puglia actually does have all of it: implausible meals and wine, spectacular countryside and seaside surroundings, and a deep and engaging historical past.”

Our information highlights Puglia’s interesting mixture of surroundings, historical past, delicacies — and let’s not neglect the agreeable climate a lot of the 12 months — and maps out methods to benefit from a visit to this sunny area. 

Greatest Resorts and Resorts

Borgo Egnazia

The established go-to luxurious spot in Puglia, Borgo Egnazia is a sprawling and impeccably curated compound that ranks amongst Journey + Leisure’s greatest resorts in Italy. T+L journey advisor Keith Waldon, founder and director of Departure Lounge, praises the excellent service, the place “privateness is assured,” in addition to the setting between the ocean and the Valle d’Itria. 

Le Alcove

The six suites at this boutique lodge every occupy a whitewashed trulli, with cool stone flooring, eclectic decor, and trendy bogs. We love the just about mystical feeling of consolation these areas convey, in addition to the selfmade breakfast and the situation within the coronary heart of Alberobello city, a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.

Masseria Torre Maizza

A 2020 standout for greatest new accommodations, Masseria Torre Maizza owes its polish to Rocco Forte — anticipate the model’s unmatched service and serene, Olga Polizzi-designed interiors that appear to embody a cool breeze. Waldon says the sensation right here is of “residing in an actual luxurious masseria like at dwelling, and it’s the one property with its personal golf course.”

Palazzo Sant’Anna

Set in Lecce’s historic middle, Palazzo Sant’Anna is curated to zen-like perfection. Puglia journey advisor Ylenia Sambati refers friends right here for the light-filled suites, many with uncovered stone and wooden beams, in addition to balconies. “Get up to birds singing and a colourful and bountiful breakfast ready with love by proprietor Beatrice and her staff,” she says.

Greatest Issues to Do

Take a cooking class.

Sure, cooking courses are ubiquitous in Italy, however the conventional delicacies of Puglia stands out, even in a rustic of nice meals. Waldon says to “take a pasta-focused cooking class in a neighborhood masseria with a mama” and go dwelling with some new abilities. Sambati likes the pleasant vibe and straightforward directions provided by Cook dinner In Puglia in Lecce.

Loosen up at a lido.

Seashores in Puglia could be crowded within the summertime. Escape the ruckus at a seaside membership, or lido, similar to Pettolecchia Il Lido, a luxurious spot between Bari and Brindisi. Lounge beds, linen-clad gazebos, Frette towels, and waiter service set this one aside in a sea of seaside umbrellas.

For households, attempt a trullo.

The cone-shaped trulli of Puglia’s Itria Valley are actually distinctive, and in response to Cherrye Moore of My Bella Vita Journey, they’re a success with youngsters. “Households ought to lease a trullo villa and use it as a base for day journeys to Alberobello, Ostuni, Locorotondo, and Monopoli. Many have swimming pools and out of doors areas the place the youngsters can run round.”

Head to the ocean.

Puglia’s Adriatic coast is dramatic, particularly between Polignano a Mare and Monopoli, the place clear waters lap undulating cliffs and circulation into the occasional sea cave. Each Waldon and Moore advocate chartering a personal boat (Cataurora is an efficient selection), both for a sundown cruise or a half-day tour with stops for swimming and snorkeling. 

Greatest Eating places

LaltroBaffo 

Puglia’s seafood is nearly as well-known as its orecchiette, and each Sambati and Waldon heartily advocate attempting it at LaltroBaffo, an Otranto restaurant helmed by chef Cristina Conte, who, along with her younger, passionate staff, seems refined takes on conventional Salento recipes.

Taverna della Gelosia

Sambati loves this rustic tavern in Ostuni’s previous city. “It’s a bohemian, Salento-style trattoria serving native recipes which are frivolously revisited.” Taverna della Gelosia is tucked away amid a jumble of alleys and stairways, which makes its vine-covered courtyard all of the extra romantic on a summer time night time.

Osteria Le Arpie

Handmade, ear-shaped orecchiette is the archetypal pasta of Puglia, and its manufacturing facilities round Bari’s centro storico. Osteria Le Arpie is about as old-school because it will get, and its seasonal orecchiette con le cime di rapa (turnip greens) is Puglian consolation meals epitomized. Additionally search for dishes served with pane di Altamura, Puglia’s heritage bread.

What to Purchase in Puglia

Leather-based Sandals

“Puglia is legendary for leather-based sandals, which you’ll find in all places in native retailers,” says Waldon. Erredibi is a best choice for handmade, domestically made merchandise, and so they have shops in Brindisi, Ostuni, Lecce, and Otranto.

Primitivo Wine 

“Puglia’s pink primitivo wine, even when it’s simply desk wine high quality, can stand as much as reds from the world over,” says Moore. Mix some memento procuring with a vineyard tour and tasting at Masseria Li Veli, or simply pop into a bit grocery or enoteca to purchase just a few bottles to convey dwelling.

Olive Oil 

“Historical olive groves outline the panorama of Puglia, and shopping for newly pressed EVOO straight from a producer is one thing particular,” says Moore. “Savoia presents well-organized excursions and nice oil, however don’t overlook smaller producers like L’Acropoli di Puglia in Martina Franca.”

Cities and Areas to Go to

Lecce

“We at all times inform our vacationers to not miss the unbelievable small metropolis of Lecce,” says Jhawar. “It’s known as the ‘Florence of the South’ due to its wealthy Baroque structure.” Lecce’s gentle limestone meant straightforward carving for Seventeenth-century artisans and effectively, they went to city , as evidenced at Basilica di Santa Croce, the Basilica del Rosario, and the Duomo of Lecce.

Alberobello

“It is onerous to advocate folks skip a go to to the city of Alberobello, with its iconic trulli homes,” says Jhawar. However a number of vacationers have the identical concept. “We at all times encourage our friends to mix Alberobello with much less touristy close by cities similar to Locorotondo or Martina Franca.”

Gallipoli

Whereas a lot of the vacationer buzz facilities across the Adriatic coast and the trulli space, don’t sleep on Gallipoli, which Waldon calls “the seaside city of Puglia.” The Ionian coast city has historical historical past, a quiet previous city, a more recent city brimming with life, and a nonstop Italian get together scene within the summertime. 

The Gargano

This picturesque promontory on Puglia’s northernmost shoreline is dominated by Gargano Nationwide Park, the place the surroundings adjustments from seashores to mountains in only a few miles. For smaller cities, unbelievable biodiversity, extra pure seashores, plus some dramatic sea stacks and cliffs, that is the area’s wilder facet. 

Greatest Time to Go to

Waldon recommends visiting Puglia within the shoulder seasons of April to June and September to mid-November with a view to keep away from the summer time warmth and crowds, as Puglia is a significant vacation vacation spot for Italians. Jhawar agrees, however provides that “Puglia could be very full of life through the peak of summer time, with many native festivals.” The takeaway? When you plan a summer time go to, e book your lodging and rental automotive effectively upfront, and brace your self for crowded — albeit beautiful — seashores and cities.

The way to Get There

The airports at Bari and Brindisi serve flights from inside Italy and Europe, although many incoming vacationers decide to fly into Rome’s Fiumicino airport and prepare a rental automotive or switch from there. Each Trenitalia and Italo trains serve Puglia, although bear in mind that with historic hill cities, prepare stations are normally within the decrease city, which could be a number of miles away from the centro.

The way to Get Round

You may get between Puglia’s main vacationer facilities by way of Trenitalia’s regional trains and some personal traces. However attending to smaller, rural locations and extra distant coastal areas is trickier by prepare. “We usually e book personal drivers or rental vehicles for our vacationers,” says Jhawar. “Reserving a rental automotive in Puglia is an honest method — simply be sure you know the place to park with a view to keep away from the restricted visitors zones present in most Italian cities.”