Stefania & Ashton
Puglia
Polignano a Mare
Perched dramatically on the edge of a craggy ravine on the Adriatic coast of Puglia, Polignano a Mare is prettier than a postcard. The idyllic seaside town hugs a little Blue Flag beach sheltered by two cliffs, and its centro storico – an atmospheric maze of winding streets, sun-bleached buildings, and old churches – reveals intriguing glimpses of the sparkling blue sea at every turn.
Alberobello
With its maze of hilly cobblestone paths lined with charming conical-roofed trulli, the white town of Alberobello in the Province of Bari seems straight out of a children’s storybook. Made out of local limestone, these ancient peculiar structures protected by UNESCO house everything from bars and boutiques to churches, museums, and B&Bs, giving the town’s historic center a whimsical fairytale look.
Ostuni
One of the most attractive towns in southern Italy, Ostuni is a gleaming white jumble of houses, churches, and charming piazzas spread over a hilltop surrounded by quaint countryside and endless olive groves. La Città Bianca, as it is locally known, is home to a spellbindingly beautiful fortified old town packed with medieval architectural treasures and dazzling views of the Adriatic coast. And while the old-world allure is what primarily draws visitors here, Ostuni is no stranger to chic hotels, hip cafés, and excellent restaurants, either.
Lecce
Masterpieces of Baroque architecture stand alongside charmingly crumbling balconies in Lecce, one of the most handsome cities in Italy, let alone Puglia. At the heart of “Florence of the South”, as it is often dubbed, stands a half-buried 2nd-century Roman amphitheater, and everywhere else, elaborately decorated churches and palaces built in local honey-hued stone form a splendid backdrop for the evening passeggiatta or other alfresco pursuits.
Monopoli
Though lesser known than Alberobello and Ostuni nearby, Monopoli is a delightful coastal town replete with ancient churches and winding alleys lined with whitewashed façades. Adding to the charm of its tangled medieval old town is a lovely cathedral, an old fishing port, and a series of fortified seafront walls. A golden sandy cove with crystalline waters, it’s no wonder the beach of Monopoli is one of the most popular along the Apulian coast.
Martina Franca
One of Puglia’s most beautiful towns, Martina Franca in the province of Taranto is overflowing with elegant Baroque architecture and delightful trattorias specializing in exquisite cold cuts (capocollo). Surrounded by defensive stone walls and eye-catching Baroque & Renaissance gates, its Instagram-worthy centro storico is an alluring mix of narrow twisting alleys and dazzling white houses interspersed with sunny open piazzas, centuries-old palazzi, and exquisitely ornate basilicas.