Puglia is one of the regions of Italy that has a wide range of things to see and do in a relatively compact area. This makes it an ideal place for visiting, whether your trip to Puglia is for a few days or a longer time period.
Here are some of the unmissable aspects of Puglia that should be part of every itinerary:
Visit the historic farms called Masseria
These farm estates can be considered part of the ‘living history’ of Puglia. Originating in sixteenth century, they were largely self sufficient properties and fortified with defensive walls for protection against invaders. Today, many of these have been converted into accommodation, ranging from B&B style right through to luxury hotels. Staying at a masseria is a way to directly experience a quintessential part of Puglia. Alternatively, have a meal in a masseria restaurant – some of these properties still have their own working farms, these restaurants are farm to table at its best.
Traditional culture
An element that is at the heart of Puglia is the traditional folk music and dance. The dance is called the tarantella, with a version called the pizzica the best known. The pizzica was a dance done when someone was bitten by a spider, as a way to expel the poison. But more pertinantly, this was a way for women to express themselves in a repressive culture. And the results are astounding, brisk movements to a fast rhythm, the beat intensifying as the dance progresses.
These are special moments, and you can’t just go to a theatre and see a performance of them. You will see these dances performed at town festivals, or at the ‘La Notte della Taranta’ festival every August.
Coast and beaches
If you look at a map of Puglia you will see that it is a long narrow peninsula with two coastlines stretching along each side. The result is an abundance of all things to do with the sea – beaches, seafood, and towns with seaviews.
For beaches, there are excellent sandy beaches in the south around the towns of Otranto (the beach Baia dei Turchi) and Gallipoli (the beach Punta della Suina). In the north of Puglia, head to Vieste and Peschici for beaches around a lush forested peninsula.
In Italy there are a mix of paid and free beaches. Puglia has plenty of free, sandy beaches. But don’t overlook the benefits of the paid beach clubs. You pay for the use of a deck chair and beach umbrella, and also gain access to changing facilities, showers and can purchase food and drinks. This can be worthwhile for a more comfortable day at the beach.
July and August are the key summer months when both Italians and visitors flock to the beaches of southern Italy.
The cuisine of Puglia
Puglia is famous for its food, and even within Italy people from other regions recognise that the Pugliese cuisine is exceptional. This is the quintessential Mediterranean diet – olive oil, fresh fruit and vegetables, fish. And if you’re a fan of burrata, this creamy cheese finds its home in Puglia.
Once you start to travel around the region, you begin to find the different specialties in each part. For example, in the city of Bari the focaccia is particular good (focaccia barese). The town of Altamura is famous for its bread. And in the coastal towns of Polignano A Mare and Monopoli, seafood such as octopus and sea urchin are found.
One of the key dishes of the region is called ‘orecchiette con cime di rapa’. Orecchiette is the main pasta shape of Puglia, it is like a little cup – the name literally mean ‘little ear’. The ‘cime di rapa’ refers to a vegetable that looks a bit like broccoli, and has a bitter aftertaste. Most of our vegetables these days have had the bitterness bred out of them, but it is this characteristic that make this a sought after dish.
Puglia is the region of Italy that produces the largest amount of olive oil, and you can see this for yourself looking at the vast plains covered in olive trees. Olives have been grown here going right back to the ‘magna graecia’ Greek era. A good way to experience this aspect of Puglia is to visit an olive oil producer – you can taste olive oils in the same way you would taste wine.
Wine is another major part of the Pugliese rural life. The key variety here is primitivo, which produces very rich, full bodied red wines. The most well known area for primitivo is Manduria. Further south you find negroamaro, another red wine. And in the hills of the Itria Valley, being higher and slightly cooler, you find crisp white wines such as verdeca.
Trulli
The most enduring image of Puglia are the stone houses with conical roofs called trulli. These are a fascinating sight, and if you visit the town of Alberobello you can go inside trulli, as many of them are now shops or restaurants. Alberobello is the trulli town, it has entire streets lined with trulli. It is worth doing a guided visit here, to understand more about the features of these unique houses. You also find trulli in the areas surrounding Alberobello, the Itria Valle / Valle d’Itria.
Small Towns
To get a feel for the local lifestyle and authentic Puglia, aim to visit some of the small towns during your stay in Puglia. Places such as Ostuni or Locorotondo are towns where you can spend time wandering the narrow lanes between whitewashed buildings. In Martina Franca you can find elegant palazzi with baroque decorations. If you’re staying in the southern Salento area, do a road trip along the winding coastal route to the town of Santa Maria di Leuca. It is in the evenings that these places really come alive, with the locals coming out to dine and to walk on their evening ‘passegiata’ through the piazzas.
Italy With Pleasure offers both a 7-day Puglia Tour and an expertly guided Puglia Walking Tour. If you’re looking for a more customised experience, please contact us today, we’d love to help craft your perfect adventure in Puglia!
