A stay at a Masseria is so much more than just accommodation, with most offering tours of their land and the working farms, tastings of their products including Puglia olive oil, wines and cheeses, and even home-cooked dinners enjoyed alongside your hosts and other guests.
Top things to do in Puglia
Each Thursday of Carnival sees Putignano come alive with masked parties and festivities, while on the last three Sundays of the Carnival, a procession of huge satirical papier-mache floats parade through the city’s streets, accompanied by live music, street entertainers and food stalls. All ending on Shrove Tuesday with a ‘funeral’ procession in which a paper-mache sacrificial pig is lead to Putignano’s main Piazza by masked ‘priests’ where it is ritually burned.
Experience the two sides of Bari
With its small historic center filled with alfresco cafes and restaurants, a harbour dotted with traditional blue and red fishing boats, and a long stretch of coastline littered with small, hidden coves, beautiful sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters, Monopoli is one of the best places to visit in Puglia to completely switch off and soak up the sun on a hot summer’s day. It’s also the place to dine on seafood so fresh it practically walks from the water onto your plate.
But the most fascinating part of Bari has to be the maze-like old town of Barivecchia which stretches along the Adriatic Sea, the longest seafront in all of Italy, with many important historic buildings including the grand Castello Svevo, Basilica San Nicola and Romanesque Basilica Cattedrale di San Sabino.
The Murat district is the newer part of the city which is home to the major shopping and entertainment district, as well as several elegant 19th century palaces such as the Teatro Petruzzelli, Teatro Piccinni and Palazzo Fizzarotti.
Celebrate Carnival in Putignano
Coastal Polignano a Mare is most famous for the picturesque Cala Porto, a small pebble beach with crystal clear emerald waters hidden gracefully below the city’s limestone cliffs and whitewashed houses. Although it is a both small and pebbled, thanks to the water, Cala Porto is one of the best beaches in Puglia.
Dating all the way back to 1394, not only is Putignano Carnival the oldest of its kind in Europe but it’s also one of the longest-running carnivals in the world. Starting with the ‘Propaggini’ (poetry reading) on December 26th, the core of the Carnival celebrations (and the best time to visit) occurs between late January and Shrove Tuesday in February.
Puglia has much to boast about: skirted by both the Adriatic and Ionian seas, the heel of Italy’s boot is a dichotomy of flat, sandy coastal lands and hilly interior, scattered with olive trees . A pioneer of the slow food movement, where the simple life dominates, Puglia is the real dolce vita; yet it remains relatively untrampled by international tourists.
Enjoy crystal clear water at Cala Porto, Polignano a Mare
Dine in a cave in Polignano a Mare
Located inland, the best thing to do in Lecce is to wander around and take in its many architectural masterpieces, including the impressive Cathedral of Maria Santissima and other buildings of Piazza del Duomo, the intricate facade of Basilica di Santa Croce and the unusual Church of Saints Nicolò and Catald. Plus don’t forget to visit the city’s unusual sunken Roman Amphitheater, which still hosts a series of concerts, shows, opera, plays and ballets.
Say Martina Franca and my brain thinks: food. Yes, bustling Martina Franca has a stunning Ducal Palace and a winding old-town but it was the cheese, cured meats, coffees and cakes that left a lasting impression on me. I visited a dairy farm to watch some local cheese making in action and, of course, there was a tasting at the end. I swear I had the best burrata in Puglia (and Italy). Also don’t miss the local specialty, Capocollo – a large, marbled cured meat that melts on the tongue. Being an absolute piggy, after stuffing my face on cheese an metas, I headed into Martina Franca for coffee and cake at beautiful and historic Caffe Tripoli.
Also known as Florence of the South due to its many striking Baroque buildings – yes, Puglian cities have a lot of nicknames – Lecce is the main city on Puglia’s Salento peninsula.
Enjoy Puglia beaches in Monopoli
Often overlooked by international tourists, Monopoli is Puglia’s ‘Seaside City’ located close to Bari, and is a popular summer destination amongst Puglian locals.
Stay in a trulli in Alberobello
From the ear-shaped orecchiette pasta, which is so popular that there’s an entire street in Bari dedicated to the making of it, to drool-worthy focaccia and some of the freshest and most delicious vegetables you’ll ever taste, Puglia has its own unique cuisine which is so much more than the typical pizza and pasta tourists often generalise to the whole of Italy.
Admire the fifteenth century Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral, step inside the fascinating Museum of pre-classical civilization of Southern Murgia, grab an aperitivo in the large Piazza della Liberta, then finally take a sunset stroll along the city’s defensive walls with amazing panoramic views over the surrounding countryside.
I personally didn’t visit Cisternino but it’s been listed as one of the most beautiful small towns in Italy. With its white-washed buildings, there’s plenty of the kind of Puglian sights you’ll come to recognise: churches, towers and piazzas. But Cisternino has another quirky offering – the town’s macelleria, meat markets. A kind of street food, pick your meat and your butcher will cook it while you watch and wait.
Taste Puglia wine Primitivo in Alberobello
One of the best things about exploring Puglia by car is that you can leave the bigger cities and tourist attractions and head out to relax in the region’s beautiful countryside for a couple of days.
Explore the caves of Grotte di Castellana
How to do it: For a more detailed run down of what to eat in Puglia and recommended Puglia restaurants, check out my full article on the best regional food in Puglia.
Primitivo is a Puglia wine you’ve probably never heard of but then Italy does tend to keep its best wines to itself (case in point: Italy’s premium Prosecco doesn’t make it onto supermarket shelves. You can read about my trip to Prosecco here.) A deep, intense red wine, thick with tannins, Primitivo is lightened by the natural sweetness of the red grapes grown in the Puglia region. While it’s possible to taste Primitivo throughout Puglia, I did a great, informal tasting in Enoteca Tholos in Alberobello. Bonus: Primitivo Puglia has recently become available in some UK supermarkets.
Experience an authentic Puglia Masseria stay
Another of the best places in Puglia is the unusual, historic town of Alberobello. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996, Alberobello is known for its high concentration of trulli; distinctive mortarless limestone houses with domed roofs that are symbolic of the surrounding Valle d’Itria. Puglia’s trulli’s date back to the 16th century and were designed to be easily dismantled in the event of a royal inspection in order to avoid the region’s rulers paying property taxes to the King.
Meaning castle of the mountain, Castel del Monte is perched on a hill near the city of Andria. It’s worth a stop if you’re travelling south from Trani to Altamura. What’s especially striking about Castel del Monte is its octagonal shape with each side punctuated by a tower. The castle was built in the 13th century under the order of King Federick II and was used as the city’s fortress as well as a hunting lodge. It’s possible to go inside the castle if you book tickets. And if you linger in the area, check out the locally produced Castel Del Monte Puglia wine in a choice of red, white or rosé.
In this guide to the best things to do in Puglia, I’ll introduce you to a part of Italy you may not have met before and by the end of this article, I’m sure you’ll be adding Puglia to your Italy bucket list. I’ve also included a Google Map at the end with each of the destinations included. The list is organised by the best towns to stay in Puglia and what to do there. It has been broadly organised by location so you can use it to plan a Puglia itinerary, heading south east from Bari and travelling in a clockwise loop.
What to see in Trani: don’t miss the 13th century fort, Trani cathedral, the harbour and the food.
How to get to Puglia: There are two main international Puglia airports; Karol Wojtyla Airport in Bari and the Airport of Salento in Brindisi.
Enjoy fewer tourists in Fasano & Savelttri
The city’s old town sits on a tiny limestone island connected to the mainland by a 16th century bridge and surrounded by defensive walls dating back to the 14th century. Much like Monopoli, Gallipoli is another popular seaside summer escape for Italian holidaymakers, with its relaxed atmosphere, vibrant nightlife scene and long surrounding coastline which is home to some of the best beaches in Puglia.
Dine at the meat markets in Cisternino
A trip to the lesser-known city of Putignano is one of the best things to do in Puglia during the winter thanks to its annual Carnival.
Visit the White City of Ostuni
How to do it: Be sure to pre-book your table in advance online as it books quickly. The restaurant has a formal dress code so no shorts or sandals. For those seeking ultimate luxury, you can also book an overnight stay in the lavish Grotta Palazzese Hotel – one of the best hotels in Puglia.
Brindisi is another port city in Puglia. The striped exterior of Santa Maria del Casale church looks like it’s been picked up from Sienna and dropped in Brindisi. If you’re not visiting Tuscany on this trip, Santa Maria del Casale is a good place to see the white and rose patterned church exterior seen further north. Brindisi also has a port, lido (beach), park and museums to explore. As home to Puglia’s other international airport, it’s a good place to start or end your trip.
See the striped Santa Maria del Casale church in Brindisi
How to travel in Puglia: There are far too many beautiful destinations and fantastic things to do in Puglia to spend your entire time in one place, therefore the best way to experience the best of this amazing region is on a road trip. While public transport is available, it can be unpredictable, not every town and attraction is well connected, and some of them aren’t accessible at all.
Admire the Baroque masterpieces of Lecce
Known as Puglia’s White City due to its whitewashed old town, Ostuni is an enchanting labyrinth of steep staircases, narrow alleyways and small squares perched on three hills in the Itria Valley.
How to do it: You can book a masseria dairy tour here. Thought I’ve skirted over it in favour of food, I did visit the Ducal Palace with it’s colourful mural interior – worth a visit.
Relax in the coastal town of Gallipoli
Gallipoli is probably the best known town on the western coast of Puglia’s Salento peninsula, and with a name which translates to Beautiful City (in Greek) it’s definitely somewhere not to miss.
Take a dairy tour in Martina Franca
That’s my guide to the best things to do in Puglia, Italy. Got any questions or tips, let me know in the comments below. Like this post, share it on Pinterest…
Explore octagonal Castel del Monte
The port of Bari can also be reached by ferry from countries including Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and several Greek islands.
Taste famous Altamura bread fresh from the oven
While most people visit Polignano a Mare for Cala Porto, one of Puglia’s most popular destinations also has another hidden secret – Grotta Palazzese. Used as a venue for hosting extravagant banquets and parties since the 1700s, the magical Grotta Palazzese Restaurant is located in a natural cave carved into the cliff face with spectacular views over the sea below.
Enjoy the slow food movement in Trani
Located in the town of the same name, just a short distance from Alberobello in the Valle d’Itria, Grotte di Castellana is a 90 million year old karstic cave system running 60 meters below ground. The system is made up of a series of large canyons and caves filled with incredible formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, concretions and fossils. Grotte di Castellana is one of Puglia’s most amazing natural wonders and very different from the historic port towns and beautiful sandy Puglia beaches the region is more often associated with.
Whilst it’s not one for budget travellers (it’s around €200 per person), the elegant and dimly lit Grotta Palazzese serves fantastic 3 and 4 course set menus and is one of the most romantic and exclusive restaurants in Puglia, if not the whole of Italy.
Make the most of the regional Puglia food
How to do it: Book your overnight stay with Trulli e Puglia who offer charming and spacious private trullis right in the historic center. Fun fact: staying overnight in a trulli in Puglia took me back to that time I lived in a cave for 3 months in the Loire Valley, France.
Plus, between the already slow pace of life in southern Italy and the unbelievable passion which goes into the making of the food, eating in Puglia is considerably more than just refuelling; it’s one of the most important events of the day when friends and families come together to enjoy Puglia’s mouth-watering fare together.
Grotte di Castellana can be visited on a guided tour down a 3km long pathway with the correct safety equipment. Full access tickets are €18 per person and can be purchased on their website. This includes access to the on-site Franco Anelli Speleological Museum.
A traditional Masseria stay is a must do in Puglia for those who love authentic local travel experiences. A Masseria is a traditional southern Italian farmhouse which usually dates back to the sixteenth or seventeenth century and sits within a larger country estate. While most Masseria were originally used for practical purposes, many have now been converted into luxurious agriturismo hotels and charming B&B’s. Masserias are some of the most beautiful places to stay in Puglia
Puglia Map
Despite having the obligatory grand cathedral that you come to expect on any tour of Italy, Altamura’s cathedral is not its main claim to fame. What it? Altamura bread! You’ll find Altamura bread makes an appearance throughout Puglia but here you can try a loaf from a bakery, fresh out of the oven. Who doesn’t want to travel to a place just to try the bread?
Puglia Travel Information
Where is Puglia Italy? Puglia, also known as Apulia, is a province located on the south-eastern tip of Italy, sometimes referred to as Italy’s heel because of the country’s boot-like shape. It is bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast and the Gulf of Taranto and the Strait of Otranto to the south.
No matter what time of year you visit, the historic center of Alberobello is almost guaranteed to be busy, being one of the most popular places to visit in Puglia. In order to really see the best of Alberobello, try staying overnight. Not only can you experience staying in a trulli, but you’ll also be able to wander through the town during the quieter evening when the whole place is beautifully lit up with little rows of fairy lights, and again in the glow of the early morning sun before the hoards of day trippers descend upon the small town. It’s definitely one of the best towns to stay in Puglia.
