Puglia Italy Holidays
Puglia
Holidays
Italy's most authentic and undiscovered region — the heel of the boot, with the extraordinary trulli of Alberobello, the most beautiful Baroque city in Italy (Lecce), the finest beaches in southern Italy, ancient cave cities, outstanding olive oil and the most genuine and unhurried Italian way of life
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Flight Time
2h 30m from London (to Bari or Brindisi)
Best Time
May to June, September to October
Country
Italy
Suppliers
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Puglia Holiday Guide
Puglia is the most authentic and extraordinary region in Italy — the trulli of Alberobello, Lecce's Baroque architecture, Matera's cave city, the finest beaches in southern Italy and the best olive oil in the world. 2h 30m from London.
May to June and September to October are ideal.
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Popular Areas in Puglia
Average Temperatures
Jan
12°C
Feb
12°C
Mar
15°C
Apr
18°C
May
22°C
Jun
26°C
Jul
30°C
Aug
31°C
Sep
27°C
Oct
22°C
Nov
16°C
Dec
12°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Puglia
The trulli of Alberobello, Lecce's extraordinary Baroque architecture, the finest beaches in southern Italy, Matera's cave city and the most authentic Italian food and way of life.
Alberobello & the Trulli
Alberobello is the most extraordinary and distinctive town in Italy — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of over 1,500 trulli (traditional conical stone houses, built without mortar, with whitewashed walls and grey conical roofs decorated with mysterious symbols). The trulli are the most distinctive architectural feature in Italy and are found only in the Itria Valley of Puglia. The Rione Monti district of Alberobello (the largest concentration of trulli in the world) is the most extraordinary streetscape in Italy.
Lecce — the Florence of the South
Lecce is the most beautiful Baroque city in Italy — a city of extraordinary golden limestone Baroque architecture, with the most ornate and exuberant Baroque churches and palaces in the world (the Basilica di Santa Croce is the most extraordinary Baroque facade in Italy). The city is known as the Florence of the South for the extraordinary quality and concentration of its Baroque architecture. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the finest city in southern Italy for architecture and culture.
Matera
Matera is the most extraordinary ancient city in Italy — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and European Capital of Culture 2019, with the most dramatic and extraordinary urban landscape in the world: the Sassi di Matera, two ancient cave districts (the Sasso Caveoso and the Sasso Barisano) carved into the sides of a dramatic ravine, inhabited continuously for 9,000 years (the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the world). The cave churches (chiese rupestri) with their extraordinary Byzantine frescoes are the finest in southern Italy.
Ostuni & the Itria Valley
Ostuni is the most beautiful hill town in Puglia — the White City, a dazzling white hilltop town of whitewashed buildings, narrow lanes and extraordinary views of the olive groves and the Adriatic Sea. The Itria Valley (between Alberobello, Locorotondo and Martina Franca) is the most beautiful and distinctive landscape in Puglia — a rolling plateau of trulli, olive groves, vineyards and dry-stone walls. Locorotondo (the most beautiful circular hill town in Puglia) and Martina Franca (the most elegant Baroque town in the valley) are both excellent.
Beaches
Puglia has the finest beaches in southern Italy — the most celebrated include the beaches of the Salento peninsula (the southernmost tip of Italy, with extraordinary turquoise water on both the Adriatic and Ionian coasts), the beaches of the Gargano Peninsula (the dramatic spur of the Italian boot, with extraordinary white cliffs, sea caves and crystal-clear water) and the beaches around Polignano a Mare (the most dramatic coastal town in Puglia, with a beautiful beach in a narrow gorge below the cliff-top town).
Food & Olive Oil
Puglia has the finest food in southern Italy — the region produces more olive oil than any other in Italy (40% of Italy's total production) and the Puglian extra virgin olive oil is the finest in the world. The most celebrated Puglian dishes include orecchiette con le cime di rapa (ear-shaped pasta with turnip tops — the most distinctive pasta dish in Italy), fave e cicoria (broad bean puree with chicory), burrata (the finest fresh cheese in Italy, from Andria), taralli (the most addictive snack in Italy) and the finest focaccia in Italy (focaccia barese).
Polignano a Mare & Gargano
Polignano a Mare is the most dramatic coastal town in Puglia — a beautiful cliff-top town above the Adriatic, with a spectacular beach in a narrow gorge below the town (the most photographed beach in Puglia) and extraordinary views of the sea. The Gargano Peninsula (the spur of the Italian boot) is the most dramatic and beautiful coastal landscape in Puglia — a national park of white limestone cliffs, sea caves, crystal-clear water and the Tremiti Islands (the most beautiful island group in the Adriatic).
Practical Tips
Puglia has two airports — Bari (Karol Wojtyla) and Brindisi (Papola Casale). A hire car is essential for exploring the region — the sights are spread across a large area and public transport is limited outside the main cities. May to June and September to October are the best times to visit — July and August are hot (30–31°C) and crowded. The region is large — allow at least a week to see the main highlights. Matera is technically in Basilicata (the neighbouring region) but is easily accessible from Puglia (1 hour from Bari).
Explore Puglia on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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