All the right reasons to visit the province of Puglia
On your next vacation
So Why Puglia, Italy ?
Avoid the Crowds
Tourism may be growing but you’ll still find far fewer visitors here than in other parts of the country, so you can navigate the streets without fighting through tour groups and you’ll benefit from lower prices.
People
Things move at a slower pace in the steamy south and people will always make time for you. It’s the warmth of the people that stays with you the most.
Wine
It might not be as well-known as Tuscan wine but Puglia produces 20% of the wine made in Italy. In the past it didn’t have a good reputation as high quality wine but that’s changed in the last few decades and there are now many wineries that rival those of North Italy. Salice Salentino and Primitivo red wines are most known internationally but there is much more to Puglian wines—as Italy’s longest region the wine produced is very varied.
History
Otranto Cathedral- Otranto’s Romanesque cathedral, built by the Normans in the 11th century, contains a vast 12th century mosaic floor and was the site of the 15th century Ottoman siege Puglia’s strategic position in the Mediterranean between the east and the west has meant a turbulent history of invasions and the resulting influences from the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Turks and Spanish are still evident in the region. You’ll find Romanesque churches, medieval castles, 12th century mosaic floors, 17th century underground olive oil mills, and exuberant Baroque cathedrals.
Traditions
Every region in Italy has a strong identity and in Puglia we particularly felt the local pride, not only on a regional level but every area and even town has its own food and traditions. This felt especially strong in the Salento, the peninsula at the very bottom of the region, where many dishes we ate were described not as Pugliese but Salentino, or even specific to a particular town.The Salento also has the interesting tradition of the Grecìa Salentino, an area of 11 towns where Greek traditions from immigrants many years ago are still kept alive, in the language Griko a dialect based on Old Greek which is still spoken by older generations, in the food, and in pizzica, a folk dance accompanied by frenetic tambourine.
Food
Puglia is a favourite region in Italy for eating. It’s the most vegetarian-friendly part of the country because of its history of poverty—as locals couldn’t afford meat they developed an innovative use of vegetables. As one of the most sunny and fertile areas of Italy the vegetables served are seasonal, fresh, and bursting with flavour. And ofcourse that pasta made by hand.
Beautiful Towns
Puglia has plenty of gorgeous towns ideal for aimless wandering including the hobbit-like trulli of Alberobello, the labyrinth whitewashed streets of Locorotondo and Ostuni, the elegant seaside towns of Otranto and Gallipoli, and the golden ornate baroque of Lecce.
Everywhere you’ll find cobbled streets, balconies adorned with pink and red geraniums, stalls overflowing with cherry tomatoes, peaches, and bunches of bright red chiles, hidden piazzas, and many many churches dating back centuries. Outside of busy August none of the towns are overcrowded and it’s easy to find a quiet alleyway to get lost in.
Olive Oil
Puglia is a mostly flat landscape and everywhere you look you see olive trees. The Valle d’Itria in the centre of the region has the highest concentration of olive trees in Italy, and one of the highest in the world—there are 60 million of them.Even more impressive many of the trees are over a thousand years old, one is even known to be 2700 years old, and they are still producing olive oil. Of course the excellent olive oil is liberally applied to most local dishes and we can’t get enough of the green tinged liquid gold.
Sea & Sun
Puglia has 800 kms of coastline and some of the best beaches in Italy with powdery sand and crystal clear water. Even towns like Otranto and Gallipoli have lovely beaches in the centre with inviting shallow turquoise water. The beaches get crowded in summer but because Puglia has warmer weather than northern Italy you can visit off-season and still swim in the sea well into October.
Celebs in Puglia
Top things to do in Puglia
San Giovanni Rotondo
One of the top pilgrimage destinations in Italy, the town of San Giovanni Rotondo was home to the priest Padre Pio, canonized in 2002. Faithful from around the world flock to the town to honor its most famous resident, paying homage in the Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina and Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the saint is buried.
Basilica di San Nicola
The Basilica di San Nicola is a centerpiece of Bari Vecchia, the old town at the heart of the modern city of Bari. The largest city in the region of Puglia and a major port on the Adriatic, Bari has a rich and varied history, and a visit to its imposing 12th-century Romanesque basilica is a must for architecture enthusiasts.
Piazza del Ferrarese
Piazza del Ferrarese is a public square in the historic part of Bari, not far from the city’s waterfront. There are two large squares in Bari’s Old Town, known as Barivecchia: Piazza del Ferrarese and Piazza Mercantile, which connect to one another. The former was named for a 17th-century merchant from Ferrara who once lived there.
This part of Bari is newly redeveloped, making it more enticing for visitors, and the businesses lining both squares are part of that effort. Piazza del Ferrarese is surrounded by bars, restaurants, and shops, not to mention that there is part of an ancient Roman road in the middle of the square.
Castel del Monte
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Castel del Monte was built in the latter half of the 12th century by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. At this time his realm stretched across much of southern Italy, and he was also responsible for the Castello Normanno-Svevo in Bari, the region’s biggest city, as well as a series of hunting lodges across his domain.
Sitting on a remote hillock among endless undulating plains, Castel del Monte is regarded as a masterpiece of medieval architecture, taking its influences from both Classical and Islamic building styles. Perfectly octagonal in shape, it is constructed around a courtyard and boasts a series of octagonal towers. Internally, it comprises two stories containing eight rooms in each, and although the rich furnishings and much of the decoration are long gone, the marble moldings around the great entrance doorway and the lack of fortifications suggest that the castle may have been a private residence rather than for military purposes. With the demise of the Sicilian empire, the castle was abandoned, and by the 16th century had fallen into disrepair; over the centuries it has been used variously as a prison, a refuge from plague and a hang out for bandits. Today it stands empty and proud, a monument to the political and cultural flowering that saw southern Italy come to prominence in the Middle Ages.
Swabian Castle (Castello Normanno-Svevo)
The 12th-century Swabian Castle (Castello Normanno-Svevo), with its fortified ramparts and vaulted halls, is one of top sights in Bari and a refreshing break from the port city’s Romanesque churches and art collections. Climb the Hohenstaufen tower and Aragon walls for sweeping views of the city and sea.
Lecce Roman Amphitheatre
Lecce is known for its 17th-century Baroque beauty, but the city’s history stretches back to the Roman empire. Nowhere is this legacy more evident than in Lecce’s Piazza Sant’Oronzo, where an amphitheater from the second century BC is still used today for performances.
Porta Napoli
The Porta Napoli in Lecce is a triumphal arch that once served as one of three entrances into the historic city center. These gates were built into the city walls, and though the walls no longer exist the Porta Napoli still stands.
The gate was built in 1548 after a commission by the Habsburg Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V, to fortify the city. Because of this funding, Lecce thanked the Emperor by decorating the Porta Napoli with the Habsburg family emblem.
Porta Napoli is a stop on many tours through Lecce. Because it doesn’t have open hours or an entry fee, it’s easy to admire at any time of day. For more explanation of the symbolism on the arch or the history behind it, however, a tour guide is useful.
Church of St Irene
Lecce’s Church of St. Irene was built between 1591 and 1639 for the Theatines and dedicated to the city’s patron saint. The church is not far from the Duomo and the Basilica di Santa Croce in Lecce’s city center.
The facade of the church features a statue of Saint Irene, sculpted in the early 18th century. Above that statue is Lecce’s emblem – a shelf-wolf and an oak tree. Artwork worth noting inside the church includes a number of beautiful altarpieces. A particularly large altar dedicated to Saint Cajetan dates from the late 17th century, and two other altarpieces date from the mid-17th century – including one to Saint Irene.
Gargano National Park
Like other national parks in Italy, Gargano is popular with visitors (Italians and foreign alike) for the great natural beauty and diversity of terrain, which means there is a variety of outdoor activities you can do in the park. There are two lakes, in addition to all the coastline along the edge of the region, so there are many opportunities to go boating. Hiking is also extremely popular. One of the main attractions within the park, however, is San Giovanni Rotondo, where Padre Pio (now a saint) is buried. It’s a beloved pilgrimage location. Organized hiking or trekking tours in Gargano National Park are available for those seeking an opportunity to explore the park’s natural wonders. There are also day trips to San Giovanni Rotondo from as far away as Sorrento or Naples.
Zoosafari Fasanolandia
Zoosafari Fasanolandia is a zoo and safari theme park in Fasano in the Puglia region of southern Italy. There are three different sections of the park: safari, amusement park, and dolphinarium. The safari section is where visitors can view a wide variety of animals. There are foot paths and self driving paths where you use your own vehicle. The paths lead you through the different animal exhibits including lions, zebras, elephants, monkeys, tigers, giraffes, bears, deer, seals, hippos, rhinos, and much more. In another section, there is a train that shows visitors groups of primates, leopards, black panthers, African hunting dogs, and several other species.
The zoo also has special sections for birds including tropical and other exotic birds and birds of prey. In there are reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, fish, and other animals in aquariums. Another interesting area is the penguin house. The amusement park section has exciting rides for all ages and a 4D cinema. The
dophinarium focuses on dolphins and sometimes has dolphin shows.
Bari Cruise Port
Bari is one of the largest cities on southern Italy’s Adriatic coast and a major cruise ship port and ferry hub for routes to Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania. Before exploring the surrounding region of Puglia or heading farther afield by ferry, tour Bari’s charming historical center and seafront promenade.