Puglia, also known as Apulia, is in the south of Italy; the heel of Italy’s boot. The region has seen a boom in international tourism in recent years, becoming increasingly popular as travellers discover the area’s varied charms: Baroque towns, white-washed trullo houses, olive groves and orchards, blue sea and beaches, plenty of sunshine and excellent cuisine.
Why visit Puglia?
Puglia can become a state of mind; the region has many repeat visitors who come back year after year. The gorgeous coastline with its secretive rocky coves and little beaches attracts sun-lovers who aren’t keen on big over-developed resorts. The low-key, shabby-picturesque charm of the region’s little towns with their characteristic pale-stone-and-whitewash historic centres will bowl over those who love the quaint, character-filled and authentic side of Italy. The simple and filling food of the region, based on local produce is another important part of Puglia’s attraction. And while it’s not as cheap as it used to be, Puglia still offers fantastic holiday experiences at lower prices than the more established tourist regions of Italy.
Puglia geography and background
The region is divided into six provinces: Bari (which is the regional capital), Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce, Taranto and Barletta-Andria-Trani. The area around Lecce and the southernmost tip of the ‘heel’ is called the Salento; the prime destination for sea-and-sun worshippers. Puglia borders the regions of Campania, Molise and Basilicata. Basilicata’s most famous destination, the cave-town of Matera, is close to the Puglia border and makes a good addition to a tour in this region.
Almost always ruled by outsiders, Puglia was a primarily feudal farming region, and its character today still reflects its relatively humble agricultural past. The most glorious time for Puglia was probably the centuries when colonists from Ancient Greece established cities in southern Italy. There’s not much to see now in Puglia of the towns of Magna Graecia, but pottery from the period (‘Apulian ware’) survives in museums here and around the world; Puglia’s archaeological museums are treasure troves.
The Romans established important ports here which served their empire. The Appian Way, which starts in Rome, finishes in Brindisi, its end still marked by one surviving Roman column (its twin is now in Lecce). The next period to have left a bold impression on Puglia’s landscape was the Middle Ages, when grand churches were built in Puglia’s distinctive version of Romanesque style, with added elements influenced by the area’s commerce with the East. In the thirteenth century Puglia was ruled by the ‘Wonder of the World’, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, who built a string of castles through the region which are still among its most notable sights.
Like the rest of southern Italy, the region has endured a great deal of hardship and difficulty over the centuries, right up to recent decades. The 20th and early 21st centuries saw a lot of emigration as Pugliesi headed north or abroad to seek their fortune.
Nowadays, even the poorer quarters of cities with previously bad reputations are working towards a more optimistic and cleaned-up future. Investment in industry and development means that the areas around Puglia’s big ports, Bari, Brindisi and Taranto, are dominated by ugly industry and brutal modern residential tower blocks and building sites, but away from these eyesores there are vast tracts of attractive countryside. Historic centres have been transformed from run-down to gleaming and busy with tourists.
Much of the region’s interior is covered by olive groves, interspersed with orchards and other crops. If you have only seen small olive groves before, the endless ‘forests’ of olive trees come as a surprising sight. Although the area is dry with low rainfall, the Pugliesi grow large quantities of fruit and vegetables, and their cuisine is rich in local products like beans, chicory and broccoli.
For many travellers, Puglia is a departure point for Greece, Albania and the former Yugoslavia, with ferries crossing the Adriatic from Bari and Brindisi. For others it is an entry point to Italy, and in the past the region has had problems coping with an influx of illegal immigrants. Nowadays there is a new (and more welcome) wave of arrivals: holiday-makers and expats attracted to the sunny climate, the coastline and the countryside.
With an increasing amount of attention from Italy-loving outsiders, the area has spent recent years establishing its position on the tourist trail. There are many new and upgraded hotels, holiday apartments and B&Bs. One of the most popular types of tourism is masseria accommodation. Masserie were the big houses at the centre of large agricultural estates. Now they frequently offer comfortable rural accommodation, usually with pools and countryside views, often with extras such as spas and cookery courses.
Puglia airports and travel
Puglia is easy to reach, with two international airports. Both have flights from a range of European destinations, including the UK. Bari ‘Karol Wojtyla’ Airport is at Palese, just outside the city of Bari, with trains and shuttle buses running into the city. Puglia’s second airport is at Brindisi, called Brindisi Casale. This too is connected by bus to the centre of town. Unusually, it’s also right alongside a great tourist attraction: the frescoed church of Santa Maria del Casale. From Brindisi Airport there is also a fast coach service to Lecce, which runs several times a day and stops just outside the centre of Lecce.
Most visitors hire cars to make it easy to travel around Puglia and visit smaller destinations. Although they do often return with at least one story of getting terribly lost, this is quite a practical way to travel and means you can stop where you choose. But take a good road map and ask directions when in doubt.
Some of the more remote sights – and particularly beaches – are not well-connected by public transport; bus services are scanty and it can be difficult to find information about public transport. However, it is worth persevering with research, as it is entirely possible to see the region’s best sights without needing to hire a car. On my Puglia destination pages I provide information on public transport connections, and advice for car-free excursions.
The little railway lines run by FSE (Ferrovie Sud Est) are one of the most scenic ways to view the countryside, and link together some of Puglia’s top tourist towns including Alberobello, Lecce and Otranto (at the time of updating, stretches of line are closed for updating, with rail replacement buses).
There is another private railway line to the north of Bari, and one crossing the border into Basilicata, connecting Bari with the cave-town of Matera. In addition there are national FS train services which connect most of the major towns with the rest of the Italy.
Puglia tourist destinations
Puglia’s most striking tourist attraction – because it is so unique – is the trulli district, around Alberobello (a UNESCO World Heritage site). A trullo is a simple dry-stone-walled building with a domed roof topped by a cone. They are dotted around the green Valle d’Itria, and in Alberobello the town’s large clusters of white-washed trulli create an unusual and memorable scene.
Also striking, in a more sophisticated style, is Lecce, a town famed for its baroque beauty: all golden stone and elegant seventeenth-century architecture with riots of cherubs and foliage.
On the whole, the smaller towns of Puglia, and the countryside, make better holiday destinations than the big port cities. Martina Franca, Locorotondo, Cisternino and Ostuni are all picturesque hilltop towns scattered around the Valle d’Itria. Along the coast, Otranto is one of the most attractive seaside resorts, with a picturesque old town and blue waters.
Around Taranto there are fascinating underground sanctuaries and churches, while at Castellana Grotte, close to Alberobello, there are impressive natural caverns offering guided tours. I loved inland Conversano, where you can enjoy the pretty town’s atmosphere and history while avoiding the region’s tourist crowds.
One of Puglia’s most gorgeous coastal destinations is the pretty headland town of Polignano a Mare, famous for its iconic views and cliff diving. It’s also very touristy, these days, though travellers seeking quieter seaside towns can travel along the coast to avoid crowds. Monopoli, a few minutes away by train, is also on the tourist trail now, but has a more laidback feel and more space to breathe.
The small Tremiti islands are busy destinations for daytrippers enjoying holidays on the wooded Gargano peninsula – a national park with rocky shores, and a popular holiday destination. The Salento area is another popular choice for summer holidays: it is the peninsula making up the lowest part of the heel of Italy’s boot.
Many Catholic pilgrims head for San Giovanni Rotondo, the site associated with Padre Pio – the bearded modern saint you’ll see depicted on mountains of cheap religious kitsch all around Italy. Among other religious sites are the Church of St. Nicholas (Basilica di San Nicola) in Bari, where the remains of ‘Santa Claus’ (stolen from Turkey by the enterprising Baresi) lie in state in the crypt. For a different kind of pilgrimage, film lovers may be interested in a side-trip to Castellaneta, the birthplace of Rudolph Valentino. If you are touring with a car you’ll be able to visit the intriguing castles of Frederick II, including the enigmatic octagonal Castel del Monte, another World Heritage site.
Visiting Puglia: our advice
Puglia is still developing as a tourist destination and it doesn’t have the experience, resources or dynamism of Italy’s more famous tourist areas to the north. English is not widely spoken at anything more than a basic level, and some aspects of accommodation and service are a long way from north-European expectations. Unlike Rome or Venice, for example, you may find it hard to obtain a drink of English tea without detailed explanations – carry your own teabags if this is important to you. We’d strongly recommend you prepare for your trip by reading up on the area and learning a few phrases of Italian – or at least taking a phrase book with you. If you are exploring the area independently, it’s worth doing some research on travel and opening hours before you set off. Tourist information offices have limited opening hours and few resources other than town maps. On our Puglia pages we’ll provide as much practical information and advice as we can, along with links to useful websites. We found it invaluable to have printed out railway timetables in advance – often we were better equipped with information than the people/offices where we made enquiries.
Be aware that in the south of Italy, almost everything shuts up for lunch (churches close at noon, shops sometimes later) and doesn’t re-open for hours. Town centres are deserted and most attractions, businesses and tourist information offices are closed. On a hot summer afternoon the sensible thing to do is to take things easy. By 4 or 5pm the towns begin to come back to life, with shops opening again until late, and families joining in the ritual evening stroll, the passeggiata.
We encountered many very helpful people – train staff, members of the public, shop staff – and just a few who lacked the will or the initiative to help (often those who were paid to do so). Where something seemed unclear – street directions, how to get to a specific railway platform – there was always someone to explain or to help. Asking questions and chatting usually led to a very warm response. So take a guide book, read our pages, make some notes, print timetables, and travel with a relaxed and open attitude.
> Puglia & Matera – a suggested travel itinerary using public transport to tour Puglia, with a side-trip to Matera.
Accommodation
Despite the awakening of an international tourist industry, city hotels in Puglia still tend to be old-fashioned, uninspiring and over-priced. A newer wave of alternative accommodation offers more interest and better value: from masserie in the countryside to holiday trulli in Alberobello. A lot of new B&Bs have opened – in Lecce they are a particular feature – and if you read reviews carefully you can find some good places to stay.
> My review of a holiday trullo
> Puglia hotels, B&Bs and holiday apartments
Puglia on screen
Puglia has become a common sight on screen, thanks to the region’s scenery, and also thanks to a busy film commission and funding. Films and TV series set in Puglia can make a mouth-watering introduction to the beauty of this corner of Italy. I’ve sometimes mentioned on destination pages if there are any noteworthy films or TV programmes set or filmed locally.
Recent Netflix movie Jumping from High Places was filmed in a small area near Bari: at Polignano a Mare, the Abbazia di San Vito, and Conversano. I wasn’t wild about the self-help romcom, but the scenery in the film is gorgeous and it’s hard to imagine a better visual introduction to this attractive corner of Puglia. I’ve visited and written about the locations: Jumping from High Places filming locations.
Puglia reading and guidebooks
When travelling around Puglia, I took the Lonely Planet guide to Puglia and Basilicata
A readable alternative is Puglia (Travellers)
In addition to a guidebook, we’d suggest buying a good map of the area – essential if you’re driving – and a phrase book or dictionary. The Touring Club Italiano regional maps are good and are the ones we use: Puglia (Carte Regionali) – from Amazon.co.uk
On this site
Puglia & Matera – a travel itinerary
Holiday trullo in Alberobello – our review
Useful external links
Gargano National Park (Italian)
ViaMichelin (driving routes)