Explore Apulia
Lecce
A lively Baroque city with art and history that is lovely by day or night. The historic center is fun to wander, going down alleys and in to piazzas. There are many quaint restaurants and places to enjoy cafe or a drink. We spent a night here before catching a flight to Rome at the Brindisi airport.
Gallipoli
Imposing medieval fortress overlooking a marina. An interesting place to stroll and people watch. Also, the title of an early Mel Gibson movie.
Santa Caterina and Santa Maria al Bagno
These are charming coastal villages with a promenade, turquoise water and small beach clubs. We took this picture on a wonderful seaside walk between the two towns. Great place for lunch or a gelato and an easy drive to reach it in 30 minutes.
Otranto
Otranto's old town is known for its maze like streets and fortified defensive walls next to the sea. It's a UNESCO site as its location made it a strategic port between the East and West. Wander the alleyways, view the historic sites and catch some coastal views. Otranto is approximately a 50 minute drive from Ugento.
Matera
This is such a unique town as it is built into the side of a mountain. Walking though Matera feels like you are inside a maze of stone paths with breathtaking views. It is famous for its Sassi cave dwellings and we highly recommend stopping here on the way to or from the Bari airport.
Alberobello
This is a town filled with trulli style buildings that look like something from a fairly tale. It is approximately 2 hours from Ugento but is a cool place to stop by on the way to or from the Bari airport and have an appertivo.
Bari
If you fly in or out of Bari, go check out the ladies making orecchiette pasta on the streets near the Strada Arco Basso. The tarralli (think small round breadstick) that the ladies make is awesome as well.
Polignano a Mare
The Lama Monachile beach and town built into the cliffs are quite stunning. Go to the Belvedere su Lama Monachile to get the iconic view of the crescent beach. This is another place to just wander and have a drink or eat. This is about 30 minutes south of Bari.
Recommendations
To help you plan your trip, we've compiled a list of sights to see and places to eat in these towns and others throughout the region.