Explore Puglia
Ostuni is another maze-like white city on a hilltop just 8km from the Adriatic Sea where you’ll find some of Puglia’s most exclusive resorts. It’s a wonderful town to get lost wandering the alleys, climbing staircases, and dipping under archways; or browse the stalls of local fruit and vegetables at the Saturday market.
This city offering one of the most typical images of Apulia – it is actually known as the “white town” – is located in an exceptionally scenic position covering three hilltops and marked by narrow alleys and steep winding steps, standing out against the surrounding landscape with its dazzling whitewashed terraced houses arranged around the original Messapian necropolis, later replaced by the cathedral and the bishop’s palace. The cathedral, a peculiar building with an “Adriatic” flavour, displays an elegant wavy profile and an impressive rose window on the façade. Its construction was completed in the second half of the 15th century. Like other notable buildings, its distinction is marked also chromatically through the rosy-brown colour of the exposed ashlars.
Where to eat: The amazing Osteria del tempo perso or the elegant Ristorante Porta Nova has wonderful views of the old town and sea and an excellent version of Puglian fava bean puree. Masseria Il Frantoio is open to non-guests for their epic tasting menus. Have a chic aperitivo at Riccardo Caffè in the heart of Ostuni, enjoying the stunning white city.
Some additional sites
www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/puglia/top-things-to-do/a/poi/359956
www.charmingpuglia.com/en/top-10-places-in-puglia
Polignano a Mare is a town of Greek origins. It is located on a deep gorge overlooking the Adriatic sea on a steep rocky cliff of karst nature. Because of the karst nature of the cliff there is a number of caves on the sea that were inhabited by the prehistoric men. Of these, marine caves the Palazzese grotto, is the most enchanting one and should be seen.
The historic centre of Poligano a mare is well preserved. Its network of alleyways winding among the typical white houses and small courtyards, lead to terraces with amazing views over the Adriatic sea.
Where to eat: Sip a sundowner at Fly Polignano Beach Bar. Restaurant Antiche Mura is another great local restaurant with lovely seafood.
What to see: The famous Lama Monachile beach set amidst the cliffs.
This is the southernmost port of Terra di Bari, for centuries among the most important since the days of the Crusades. The town’s busy art life and lively cultural scene – lasting to the present day – as well as the recurrent destructions at the hands of the Turks and Venetians actually almost erased any ancient and medieval traces setting off the additions of the Renaissance and Baroque, instead. The city is surrounded by long stretches of sandy beaches with well-equipped lidos that animate the days and nights of the bathing season. With it being a port you can hire boats here, we used Monopoli Boat Hire – you can contact them on Instagram.
Where to eat: We stayed at Hotel Don Ferrante which has a really nice roof terrace that you can eat or drink at also. Other great places to enjoy a meal are La Peschiera and La Torretta del Pescatore.
The trulli, the characteristic cone-roofed houses of Alberobello, make up one of the 53 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy. Alberobello, an inland village of the Province of Bari, is undoubtedly the Capital of the Trulli: its historic center is integrally constituted by these rather particular white, pyramidal structures that make it so famous and identifiable.
Where to eat: Visit a signature restaurant of Alberobello called Aratro to enjoy the best location and cusine in this charming little town. Another great place is Trullo d’Oro, a traditional restaurant set in a trulli, book ahead.
Lecce is known for its exuberant Baroque architecture in the golden Leccese stone of the area, its churches lavishly decorated with cherubs, gargoyles and griffins, and delicately carved columns and cornices.
Lecce is one of Puglia’s larger cities but it’s still a walkable size, and it manages to be both lively and relaxed. The streets are alive with young people drinking in pavement cafes but also families out for a stroll, groups of friends licking cones of gelato or eating crepes from one of the street stands. The atmosphere is festive and friendly.
Where to eat: Visit Osteria degli Spiriti for their delicious Salento cuisine. Check out Mamma Elvira Enoteca with their rich display of wines for tasting. Have a chic cocktail at Quanto Basta or enjoy top-notch cuisine at Bro's Restaurant.
Known as the “beautiful city”, Gallipoli appears perched on an island dominated in the middle by the cathedral – a real Baroque gallery rich in paintings by artists from Naples and Lecce. The island is hemmed by a series of palaces and churches (among them Chiesa della Purità, Santa Teresa and San Francesco) built in the 16th-18th centuries along the shoreline, following the course of the ancient city walls facing the sea. Here, where Carparo tuff is used instead of the typical local construction material, the socalled “Lecce stone”, the habitual plastic decoration is replaced by painted majolica tiles that enrich the façades with sacred images. Another of the old town’s highlights is the Fontana ellenistica (“Hellenistic fountain”), of whose original structure three bas-reliefs are left, which depict mythological scenes from the Metamorphosis and bear later Latin inscriptions.
Where to eat: Visit a wonderful seafood restaurant La Puritate or a charming Il Bastione. Spend sultry nights in Blanc bar.