The heel of Italy’s boot boasts sun-baked coastlines, ancient Baroque cities, dramatic caves, and honey-hued villages, not to mention some of the best cuisine in Italy. Typically a vacation area for Italian families, the region, while growing in popularity beyond Italy’s borders, remains blissfully unspoiled. Puglia is flanked by two crystal blue seas – the Adriatic and the Ionian – and its southern exposure offers miles of stunning beaches, but this is not your average beach vacation. In Puglia you can wander the narrow streets of whitewashed medieval cities carved into limestone cliffs, immerse yourself in the areas ancient history, explore 13th century citadels and ornate churches, or while away the hours discovering charming fishing villages along the region’s wild coastline.
Trip duration: 6 nights
Great for: Families, couples and friends
Trip style: Culture, foodie escape, family escape
Highlights:
- Visit the ancient city of Matera carved into limestone cliffs.
- Explore the trulli (the traditional Apulian dry stone huts) in Alberobello.
- Visit the dramatic sea caves on your way to the striking cliff top town of Polignano a Mare.
- Learn how to cook delicious Apulian dishes in a private hands-on cooking class with a local chef.
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Visit Ostuni, the "White City," a maze of alleyways, staircases and arches, rising high above the ocean of olive trees that sweep through this area.
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Wander the streets of Monopoli, taking in the charming white-washed buildings, watch fisherman haul in their catch on the traditional gozzi at the Porta Vecchia, or immerse yourself in the slow, charmed pace of la dolce vita at one of the piazzas.
