Apulian Magic
Our beloved Puglia is a beautiful region. In case you’d like to extend your stay and explore the beauties of the region, there are some magical towns around that you can consider visiting. It may be worth renting a car to facilitate traveling to more than one town.
Ostuni: Small and quaint, with oversized charm, the hill-crested city of Ostuni, Puglia is where fairytale meets reality. Stroll the narrow cobblestone streets – where pink prickly pear cacti pop against white stone buildings – and you’ll quickly see why Ostuni is lovingly known as La Città Bianca (Italy’s “White City”).
Locorotondo: a very pretty town perched on top of a hill in Val D’Itria, Puglia and steeped in history, with roots that date back to the medieval era. Its round historical center is picture-perfect with small alleys, cute balconies and dainty corners. Wander the ancient streets and discover its architectural gems, including the Church of St. George and the Palazzo Morelli, which boasts stunning frescoes and artwork.
Ceglie Messapica: a small town located in the Itria valley. Ceglie Messapica gets its name from it’s people, the Messapi, of ancient times. It’s a blessing in disguise for those who want to see the local more realistic side of Puglia. Ceglie Messapica is known as a gastronomic capital in Italy. It has a main village with its castle, piazza, and ancient palaces, and then an outskirt dotted with white washed trulli.
Oria: Built over 3 hills, Oria is a delight. The small town is animated and cheerful. Narrow medieval lanes paved with cobbles open into pleasant piazzas and lead to the distinctive landmarks at the high point of the town. The white homes are splashed with the colors of flowers cascading from window boxes and the vibrant green shutters that decorate the windows. Located halfway between Taranto and Brindisi, Oria occupies the lone hill amidst the area's bountiful vineyards and olive groves.
Carovigno: Carovigno's charm comes mainly from the Middle Ages when the sinewy narrow lanes, palazzi and castle were built.
Grottaglie: Grottaglie is located south of Taranto on the edge of an escarpment overlooking the Ionian Sea. It is surrounded by numerous ravines. Grottaglie is synonymous with ceramics. It is one of about 30 Italian towns allowed to use the official designation Citta di Ceramiche; it also has the distinction of a European Union Denominazione di Origine Protetta (DOP) for its ceramics production - so Grottaglie's distinctive ware cannot be made anywhere else.