The sun-drenched region in southern Italy, known interchangeably as Puglia and Apulia, has served as a crossroads of civilizations, flavours, and cultures for centuries. Today, this landscape of ancient olive groves, alabaster villages, and crystalline seas continues to attract increasing numbers of visitors while masterfully preserving its distinctive character
Apulia, boasting a 940-kilometer coastline that was once part of Magna Graecia and anchored the Roman naval fleet, forms the iconic “heel” of the Italian boot. While certain locales have transformed into prestigious wedding destinations and celebrity hideaways, the genuine essence of this region lies within its quaint, picturesque settlements, where life unfolds at an unhurried pace in harmony with nature, and hospitality is elevated to an art form.
This captivating southern Italian territory harbours some of the nation’s most enchanting villages, extraordinary architectural wonders, and breath-taking coastal landscapes. From verdant, forested peninsulas to ornate baroque cities and charming Hellenic settlements, these destinations merit inclusion on every Puglia “Must See” itinerary.
BARI
Disregard the North Pole – the authentic Saint Nicholas hails from Bari! Within this picturesque Italian city’s core stands the magnificent Basilica di San Nicola, housing the revered relics of the saint whose legendary generosity inspired the modern conception of Santa Claus. Yet Bari encompasses far more than this spiritual treasure – it functions as a vibrant maritime hub offering ferry connections to Greece, Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia.
Its ancient quarter, Bari Vecchia, constitutes an intricate maze of stone pathways where historical heritage and contemporary daily life seamlessly intertwine. Along the narrow corridor of Arco Basso, local women emerge each morning with wooden boards (spianatoie) to craft handmade orecchiette pasta – the culinary emblem of Apulia.
Bari transcends being merely a haven for pasta enthusiasts. Visitors can indulge in the regional crispy focaccia, savour fried polenta morsels (sgagliozza), and delight in warm panzerotti – perfect companions for an unhurried promenade through the scenic streets of this coastal jewel.
PROMONTORIO DEL GARGANO
A chocolate box of photogenic paesi (towns) and arresting natural beauty, the Gargano Promontory is an all-in-one treat in Puglia’s northeast. Clifftop Vieste and Peschici make for ideal bases, their bright, Arabesque streets scattered with fluttering laundry, color-popping geraniums and seafood trattorie. In the warmer months, boat tours sail from their harbors to Gargano’s dazzling sea caves, coves and stacks.
Both towns are also summer gateways to the nearby Tremiti Islands, where fragrant hikes, crystal-clear seas and a medieval abbey make for an evocative offshore escape. Behind Vieste and Peschici, twisting backroads and hiking trails criss-cross the rugged, mountainous expanse of the Parco Nazionale del Gargano, home to ancient woodlands and brooding mountain villages. The prettiest of the lot is Monte Sant’Angelo, where, according to the faithful, the Archangel Michael made several apparitions in the fifth century.
POLIGNANO A MARE
Flat-roofed, cube-shaped buildings sprout directly from the cliffs in Polignano a Mare, precariously perched above a turquoise Adriatic. Its nail-biting location and sun-peeled charm is not lost on the thousands of holidaymakers who squeeze into its centro storico (historic center) each summer. For many, trip goals include a dip at Insta-famous Cala Porto beach. For others, it’s a reservation at Grotta Palazzese, a fine-dining restaurant some may argue is better known for its spectacular setting (in a cave right above the sea) than its value for money.
Consider visiting the town either side of July and August to avoid the heftiest crowds, and make time for its excellent Museo Pino Pascali, an abattoir-turned-contemporary art gallery dedicated to the great, late Puglian artist Pino Pascali.
VALLE D’ITRIA
Should Snow White and her seven besties ever move to Italy, World Heritage-listed Alberobello is where you’ll find them. The most visited town of the bucolic, vine-laced Valle d’Itria, its peculiar trulli (limestone abodes crowned with conical roofs) are a fabulously surreal sight, clustered together like giant beehives in a fantastical fairy tale. You can wine, dine and shop in many of them, as well as learn about their past at Trullo Sovrano, a “living” museum capturing trullo life in the 19th century.
While several of Alberobello’s trulli offer accommodation, consider exploring the town as a day trip and basing yourself instead in one of the valley’s lesser-known jewel-box towns. Among them is chic, whitewashed Ostuni, rustic Cisternino and baroque Martina Franca. Foodies know the latter for its capocollo, a delicately sweet cured meat regarded as the king of Puglia’s salami.
LECCE
Erudite Lecce is often called the “Florence of the South.” That said, Puglia’s architectural show-off leaves Renaissance restraint to the Tuscan capital, reveling instead in its high-octane take on baroque – barocco leccesse. For the city’s 17th- and 18th-century architects, more really was more, a philosophy captured in hyper-theatrical buildings like the Duomo, Palazzo Vescovile and Basilica di Santa Croce. The latter’s intricately carved facade is one of Italy’s architectural masterpieces.
Of course, Lecce’s backstory is much older than its Counter-Reformation showstoppers. On Piazzetta Castromediano Sigismondo, glass floor panels offer a glimpse of a Renaissance oil store. At nearby Museo Faggiano, a mundane search for a sewage pipe led to the discovery of millennia-old subterranean relics, among them a pre-Christian Messapian tomb and a Roman granary.
OTRANTO
Over 800 locals were slaughtered when the Ottomans invaded Otranto in 1480. Today, their skulls make for an unconventional welcome committee at the city’s Romanesque cathedral. What makes this hulking landmark unmissable, however, is its action-packed mosaic floor, one of the largest and most intriguing ever executed in medieval Europe. Located a mere 72km (45 miles) from the Balkan coast, it’s not surprising that Otranto’s backstory is riddled with occupations and liberations. Sleuth around its compact old quarter to peel the past off in layers – Greek, Roman, Turkish and Napoleonic. In summer, peel down to your swimsuit; Otranto’s beaches are among the most inviting in Apulia.
GALLIPOLI
Gallipoli is the epitome of southern Italian seduction: Mauritian-blue seas, laid-back locals and a picture-perfect Old Town heady with the scent of freshly fried seafood. A dense warren of intimate squares and bar-studded alleyways, the Old Town occupies a tiny island connected to the mainland by a causeway. Come July and August, the hip and the beautiful descend en masse to lap up Gallipoli’s superlative beaches, chic vibe and hedonistic nightlife. Not that it’s all beach clubs and bronzed pin-ups. Gallipoli harbors the Cattedrale di Sant’Agata, a shining example of barocco leccese architecture, and the extraordinary Frantoio Ipogeo, a subterranean, 17th-century olive press. It’s also home to the mysterious Fontana Greca (Greek Fountain), an intricately carved monument whose exact origins are still up for debate.
Whether wandering through narrow cobblestone alleys, exploring imposing fortifications, or savouring a sunset accompanied by a glass of local wine, this region offers an experience of Italy in its original and most authentic form – genuine, welcoming, and utterly enchanting
Source: www.lonelyplanet.com
