Things To Do in Puglia
Grotte di Castellana
It is a spectacular underground cave system that is 3Km long and 70m deep. You can have a guided tour that will lead you through sceneries that seem to belong to a fantasy tale. All the caves have evocative names like “Wolf Cave”, “Owl Cave”, Precipice Cave” or Desert Corridor”. If you want an even stronger experience, plan your tour at night!
Gallipoli
This town is called “The Ionian Pearl” for its elegance, its sandy beaches, and its ancient and picturesque Old Town district built on an island. This part of the city is surrounded by the sea on 3 sides and it’s connected to the modern districts by a bridge. Have a walk through its narrow alleys and discover historic buildings, churches, and pieces of heritage from different periods.
Parco Naturale Regionale Terra delle Gravine
This area is located between Brindisi and Taranto and it is called “Murge”. Its landscape is really wild, with deep canyons called “gravine”. A “gravina” is a rocky slit that can be 100m deep and form a narrow natural corridor. This natural park is perfect for hiking on your own or with a guided tour leading through breathtaking sceneries.
Polignano a Mare
This historical seaside town is unique in the world, full set on a big rock base emerging from the sea. This is the birthplace of Mr. Volare, Domenico Modugno, whose song is worldwide known. Polignano hosts the Red Bull Cliff Diving World series every year. Tiny, colourful streets with sea view, typical restaurants and bars, a trip around the centre on ape calessino will offer you the best quality life and enjoyment at the end of your Apulian day!
Ostuni
This town owes its surname to its whitewashed buildings aligned along narrow alleys climbing the local hill. From a distance, it looks like an Arab town and its skyline is really picturesque. You can have a walk in the city center and discover many small craft shops or places selling typical products or local food. Don’t forget to climb to the top of the hill to visit the Cathedral.
Marina di Pescoluse
Here you’ll find a beach which is often considered the most beautiful and “exotic” one in the whole Puglia Region. Its fine sand and turquoise water are the reason why this entire coastal area is often referred to as the “Salento Maldives”. Shallow waters and a large beach protected from the winds by vegetation and sand dunes make it also an ideal destination for families with kids. To fully enjoy the beauty of the natural scenery, come here in June or in September to avoid tourist crowds.
Alberobello
This town is famous for its traditional buildings: they are whitewashed and made of local limestone with a particular conic roof made of layered stone labs. The building technique is called dry-stone and it is really ancient, stemming from a pre-historical period. Trulli have been part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1996.
Otranto
The name of this beach stems from the bloody conflict that took place here in the 15th Century: Saracens landed on this beach to conquer Otranto and engage in a violent battle. Despite the origin of the name, this is now an idyllic place where you can admire both the sea and the Mediterranean vegetation in a peaceful atmosphere.