The medieval towns are awash with lovely hotels and guesthouses though. And lots of the region’s masseria (farmhouses) have been converted to boutique resorts. Carpenter, T., Lynch, K., & Robinson, E. (Eds.). (2014). The Italic People of Ancient Apulia: New Evidence from Pottery for Workshops, Markets, and Customs. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9781107323513 We absolutely loved Hotel La Roccia right on the water in Castro. Rooms are simple but all have sea views and include a guaranteed spot at their lido. This was a major advantage in August. The streets come alive in the evenings when locals of all ages take a pre or post-dinner passeggiata (stroll). The beach ( Calo Poro) has become a crazily popular photo spot and gets very busy during the Italian summer break.

We did mostly manage without a car when we spent a month in Lecce, but we rented one for two days for day trips. Bari is a major port and cruise ship hub. But it also has a charming old town area, a Norman castle, a bustling piazza, a waterfront promenade, good shopping, and some fantastic food. Our favourite place to try Salento wines is Enoteca Mamma Elvira in Lecce, where you can try a wide variety of wines by the glass accompanied by tasty small plates. We’ve driven this road in August and September and it’s much more enjoyable outside the summer. While the road itself was quiet in August, the towns and swimming spots were rammed and parking was very difficult. Start early if you can. Explore the Coast by Boat Simon driving our boat around the waters of Leuca Some parts of the regions were conquered by the Muslim Saracens and the Emirate of Bari was established for a brief period by Muhammad Abul Abbas of Sicily.

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Consider adding a topic to this template: there are already 2,983 articles in the main category, and specifying |topic= will aid in categorization. Apulia's coastline is longer than that of any other mainland Italian region. In the north, the Gargano promontory extends out into the Adriatic sea like a "sperone" ("spur"), while in the south, the Salento peninsula forms the "tacco" ("heel") of Italy's boot. [5] The highest peak in the region is Monte Cornacchia (1,152 m/3,779 ft above sea level) within the Daunian Mountains, in the north along the Apennines. Grecia Salentina is a group of towns in the interior of Salento where a Greek dialect called Griko is still spoken, written on signs, and taught in schools. Some of the architecture is reminiscent of that of Greece, including whitewashed buildings and houses. Several of the towns have interesting historic centers, churches, and even impressive castles (like the one in Corigliano d'Otranto). Since the towns are close together, it's easy to visit several in one day, especially if you have a car. Vico del Gargano would be an untouristy, affordable base if you’re more interested in the countryside than the sea (although it’s only a 10-minute drive to the beach).

Visiting a local winery is more challenging for English speakers as most aren’t well set up for visitors. One option is this wine experience at Feudi di Guagnano winery, 25 minutes outside Lecce. The peninsula would make a great addition to Puglia trips of 10 days or more or for return visitors, like us, who want to see a different side of this special part of Italy. And for facilities, consider the rural 4-star Masseria Mongio dell’Elefante which also has a pathway leading directly to the impeccable Baia di Turchi beach. Called ‘the Pearl of the Adriatic’, this delightful town comprises spectacular beaches, a charming city center, notable architecture and delicious seafood. Duca, Ugento– A stylish restaurant in the Monteforte Hotel in an untouristy town. We ate on the roof terrace with a view of the castle. The food is superb and reasonably priced for its quality. They had a few vegetarian options on the menu but offered to make us some extras off-menu too. It’s worth travelling for.

Puglia airports and travel

Bari Vecchia has a slightly chaotic vibe, but the energy is fun to immerse yourself in. And as it’s mostly pedestrianised, it’s a pleasure to wander. Vieste is the ideal base for exploring the Gargano. It’s on the furthest tip of the peninsula and has decent transport links including ferries to the Tremiti Islands.

We came here after visiting Porto Selvaggio beach, just 10 minutes away. It was very quiet on a summer morning, but I imagine it’s livelier in the evenings. Despite the confusing routes, it was a peaceful walk in the shade of the towering trees with only the sound of birdsong and rustling leaves. We didn’t see anyone else until we returned to the lake. On the easternmost tip of Puglia, you’ll find Otranto, a Puglian gem and one of the best beach towns in Italy. The region's contribution to Italy's gross value added was around 4.6% in 2000, while its population was 7% of the total. The per capita GDP is low compared to the national average and represents about 68.1% of the EU average. [15]Getting Around: If you're starting in the biggest city of Lecce, the fastest way to travel around is by renting a car and driving yourself. However, there are also regional trains connecting towns throughout the peninsula which often cost just a few dollars per trip. In August, the boat trips looked very crowded, so we rented our own boat from Piccola Nautica. The cheapest 40HP boat, the Simpaty Honda (which doesn’t require a boat licence) costs from €85 for four hours. This would only be preferable over Bari airport if you wanted to combine your Gargano trip with places in southern Puglia such as Lecce and Ostuni. Spur of Italy: Wild and beautiful Gargano National Park with several beach resorts, popular with Italians.

Landmarks include the Roman amphitheatre, Lecce Cathedral, and the city’s many baroque church facades.Most of the tourist attractions in Puglia are located in the Salento Peninsula. If you’re looking at a map of Italy, his is the ‘heel’. The Salentine Peninsula is sandwiched between two seas – the Adriatic on the north side, and the Ionian on the south. The highlight of this quiet town is the medieval Castello De Monti. It’s one of the most impressive castles in the area and you’ll likely have it to yourself. Lombardo, M. (2014). Iapygians: The Indigenous Populations of Ancient Apulia in the Fifth and Fourth Centuries B.C.E. In T. Carpenter, K. Lynch, & E. Robinson (Eds.), The Italic People of Ancient Apulia: New Evidence from Pottery for Workshops, Markets, and Customs (pp. 36-68). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9781107323513.005