THIS GUIDE’S heart comes from our constant search of places we visit but can’t really find things to do that are not as touristy or the hidden spots that we can’t miss. Of course, we found the most popular places to visit, which we did but here I share our honest opinion of what we liked, where we spent most of our time and things that were actually worth it. I hope this is helpful to others thinking about visiting the region. Puglia was full of life without being too crowded, it was warm in July, but the heat was dry like in Madrid so ladies, your hair will thank you. The little towns were very charming; the people were kind and welcoming and each had something for everyone’s taste and budget.
PICTURE THIS, Italian feasts surrounded with ancient olive trees, beautiful landscapes and life that just seems to halt for a moment. People enjoying people, people enjoying food, people enjoying life and putting themselves before work, before others and just being present. I think this is one of the parts that I liked most about our summer holiday in the Puglia region, the infectious joy that you get from everyone you meet, locals and people traveling there wanting to immerse themselves in the culture, the region and appreciate the charming whitewashed little towns.
WE WENT IN EARLY JULY and although many will tell you to avoid Italy during this month, Rolf and I were pleasantly surprised because the towns were not too crowded, there was plenty of parking everywhere we went and you could always get a seat at restaurants. We started our trip in southern Puglia. We stayed in Lecce and drove around the area. The bigger part of our trip was in northern Puglia, and we stayed right outside Cisternino in the most charming location. Dividing the trip this way reduced the amount of driving, but I will say that having a car was the way to go, we had so much flexibility and could go at our own pace.
DAY ONE
Otranto had the cutest secret wine garden, L’Ortale, tucked away in the back, relaxinf background music, the loveliest setting to enjoy wine and a bite and take a break from the sun.
Scolo Torre Suda was the perfect place to cool down, grab a bite and relax by the beach.
Galipolli was very charming, adorable beach town, cute rooftops and shops.
Lecce (stayed here for 3 nights) has this antique ceramics store, Rivesto, that was the highlight for me.
DAY TWO
Cala Maka beach club was so lovely. The sunbeds made the perfect backdrop for your photos and it’s the perfect dolce far niente weekend activity.
Wine tasting at Torleanzi Vineyard was super quaint. Their hotel is surrounded by vineyards, and the cheese and charcuterie board was perfection.
Antique shopping at Riviesto was my favorite part. So many beautiful pieces. We took two.
DAY THREE
Ostuni was very quaint and easy, many ceramic stores.
Cisternino area is surrounded by trullis without the crowds. Be ready to go uphill to see the town, cute, saw it quickly and went to dinner in the outskirts of the town, less touristy.
Best dinner at HOME RESTAURANT Mangêm’àcchése overlooking a trulli. Orecchiette, burrata, olive oil for days, and a table that never stopped filling up. This is the Italy nobody warns you’ll fall in love with.
DAY FOUR
Polignano a Mare. Well, we saw it in 40 min, cute but not worth it if you don’t have the time, the beach is tiny and lot of tourists, meals are pricier and not great.
Monopoli was a cute town, glad we went but would skip it next time. Coccaro Beach Club had a great view, private beach and the vibe was everything we needed for a leisurely afternoon.
DAY FIVE
Arberobello was a fairytale and a must-see, you can find plenty empty streets to wonder into. The whitewashed stone huts were stunning, you can’t help but feel enchanted while walking through the 100s of trullis with conical roofs.
Masseria Seppunisi – Farm Visit, we made burrata and other mozzarella treats.
Wine tasting at Puglia Pop.
Grottaglie Ceramiche Quarter: Did some damage at FasanoCeramiche srl.
DAY SIX
Intornoalnoce: Spent the day laying by the pool and unplugging in our little home away from home. The apartments were just so lovely, private terrace.
Went to dinner at Azienda Agricola Conte, it was a cute setting and the local wine was superb, 15 Euros the bottle.
DAY SEVEN
Wine tasting at Tenuta Viglione was lovely.
Matera is technically not part of Puglia region but worth to see this very old town, James Bond, the history, the view, you can see it in a couple of hours on your way to the airport.
Palazzo Gattini for drinks with a view. If you are considering Puglia for your next trip, this is our recommendation on how to spend the perfect week in Puglia. The region is made for travel lovers. It’s the perfect mix of adventure, beach, whitewashed streets, down time and the perfect Mediterranean setting.