Since low-cost airlines have opened direct flights to Bari and Brindisi, Puglia has become a favorite holiday destination for the French.
Puglia captivates travellers at first sight. The landscape is both green and arid, with wheat fields as far as the eye can see, vineyards and thousands of olive trees. Throughout the region, you’ll find carob, fig and almond trees.
Between idleness and sightseeing, Puglia is full of possibilities.
The beaches
With over 800kms of coastline between the Ionian and Adriatic Seas, you’ll be spoilt for choice:
The rocky east coast offers numerous coves and low cliffs, particularly at Polignano a Mare.
On the west coast, you’ll find white sandy beaches surrounded by pine forests, as in the area around Gallipoli, where you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches in Puglia.
Must-see towns and villages
- Locorotondo is a pretty hilltop village with white streets. The village was built in a circle around the church.
- Ostuni, also known as “the white city”, is reminiscent in some ways of Greek villages. Its picturesque old town, painted entirely in whitewash, is a maze of narrow streets waiting to be explored.
- Martina Franca is the largest town in the Itria region. Just follow the narrow streets to Piazza Plebiscito, the heart of the town and its masterpiece, the superb Basilica di San Martino.
- Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its historic center is entirely characterized by the pyramid-shaped buildings that make it unique in the world: the trulli.
- Gallipoli, a town in the Lecce region, is famous for its historic center at the end of a peninsula, surrounded by water.
- Lecce, with its exuberant Baroque style, decorates the facades and interiors of its many religious monuments.
- Taranto, a shopping town famous for the castle in its historic center.
Gastronomy
Puglia is the region with the highest olive oil production, and its cuisine is a tribute to it. Also considered the breadbasket ofItaly, the durum wheat used for pasta is of excellent quality. Local pastas such as Orecchiette or Troccoli are often cooked with vegetables. Fish is also one of the region’s specialties (mussels, oysters, octopus, anchovies, sardines, swordfish…).
And ifItaly is the world’s leading wine producer, it’s largely thanks to Puglia. The speciality is Primitivo di Manduria, with a very high degree of alcohol and lots of body.
Remember to take out travel insurance for your stay .
