Holidays in Puglia

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Puglia is a beautiful an all year round holiday destination on the heel of Italy. The traditional food is delicious and here is where 60% of the Italian olive oil is produced. The region has become an easy to reach destination since it increased the number of flights to the two international airports of Bari and Brindisi. A car is needed to properly discover the countryside because the bus and train service is very poor. Choose to stay in a traditional 'Masseria' - a farmstead converted into a beautiful boutique hotel - located a few miles away from the sea.

Beaches are always at your fingertips in Puglia and you can easily reach the coast in less than a 30 minutes' drive. You can stay in Salento and take a dip at the point where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet. The area around Otranto offers the opportunity to enjoy rocks and sandy beaches (beautiful is the sandy beach of Alimini). South of Bari the whitewashed medieval old town of Polignano a Mare, perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea and the port of Monopoli are the gateway to a fascinating strip of limestone coast dotted with coves, bays, and caves. On the Ionian Coast, the beach near Manduria is still wild. Going towards Gallipoli, the area becomes more crowded, especially in the summer months.

Worth to visit Puglia is bursting with history and at one time or another it was ruled by Greeks, Romans, Turks, and Spanish, all of whom left their unique marks on its culture. Here are lots of unusual things to see. The amazing Valle dell'Itria has many picturesque villages like Locorotondo, Martina Franca and Alberobello, popular for its 1500 trulli packed into its narrow streets. These white houses with their characteristic conical black roofs are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Do not miss the 'Grotte di Castellana', which are spectacular underground caves where you can admire stalactites and stalagmites, impressive sculptures shaped by layers of limestone deposited million years ago and carved by the force of the water.  Visit Bari, the capital of the region, Polignano a Mare and Ostuni, one of Puglia's loveliest hilltop towns. Tour the Salento stopping in the baroque Lecce, dubbed 'the Florence of the south', which is a testament to the Spanish influence in Puglia. Visit Gallipoli, a walled island village with a lively nightlife; Nardò, popular for its baroque architecture; Otranto which still retains a Moorish atmosphere.

Food and wine The food is one of the treats of a trip to Puglia. Tasty olive oil and delicious wine are both produced locally and in abundance. The dish that most strongly defines the local cuisine is the 'Orecchiette', 'little ear'-shape fresh pasta seasoned with a sauce of tomato and meatballs or with a sauce made with olive oil and local vegetables called 'cime di rapa'.  Try the peasant finest food  'Fava bean puree and chicory greens'. Try the 'Tiella', layers of potatoes, mussels, rice, and onion; the wild 'lampasciuni' onions, stuffed sardines, and aubergines and'Gnummerieddi' a local lamb dish similar to haggis.Tasty olive oil and delicious wine are both produced locally and in abundance. Taste the huge variety of salty biscuits 'taralli' made with olive oil, peppers, rosemary, and the tick delicious 'focaccia' with their cherry tomatoes. Do not miss the local fresh cheeses and the mouthwatering 'burrata', a kind of mozzarella filled with fresh cream.

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