Often overlooked by international tourists, Monopoli is Puglias Seaside City located close to Bari, and is a popular summer destination amongst Puglian locals. The rock formations make it easy to descend for a dip in the water and you will see plenty of people jumping off the cliffs to cool off in the summer. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in January. In 2007 it was officially recognized as a slow food town. With maze-like structure and narrow streets, the best way to explore the city is by getting lost in it. Altamura bread! Charming whitewashed hilltop town attracts its visitors with beautiful and yet undiscovered old town district and especially central piazza that fills up with people in restaurants and cafes. Enjoy a relaxing day on Turkish Bay Beach (Otranto), 23. Dont just follow your guide, unless you want to be among crowds of tourists in packed sites! There are many caves, rock formations, and hidden bays hosting numbers of fishes, mollusks, and urchins. It has been broadly organised by location so you can use it to plan your Puglia itinerary, heading south east from Bari and travelling in a clockwise loop. Have a guided tour to admire its architecture and its artistic decorations and have a stop in the peaceful cloister. Originally seen as a poor food, Frisellais today very popular on the tables of Puglia as well on the street food markets. Try ricci (sea urchins) Puglia is famous for its sea urchins. No matter what time of year you visit, the historic center of Alberobello is almost guaranteed to be busy, being one of the most popular places to visit in Puglia. From the ear-shaped orecchiette pasta, which is so popular that theres an entire street in Bari dedicated to the making of it, to drool-worthy focaccia and some of the freshest and most delicious vegetables youll ever taste, Puglia has its own unique cuisine which is so much more than the typical pizza and pasta tourists often generalise to the whole of Italy. The Grotta di Castellana - Castellana caves are the largest ever explored in Italy and is one of the best things to do in Puglia with kids. Shady and quiet, its a pleasure to explore on foot although the winding alleys are a maze. With a beautifully rustic historical centre, stunning beaches, unique churches and heritage based on Byzantine, Roman and Arab influences, Otranto Puglia is the perfect place to spend a day. A unique place, a cave absolutely to see in its special things. Every trip to Italy is unique, build it the way you like it, you'll be spoilt for choice. There are plenty of tempting beaches that surround the pretty old town of Gallipoli. This Baroque Architecture and Underground Walking Tour will take you around the highlights. Grotte di Castellana can be visited on a guided tour down a 3km long pathway with the correct safety equipment. While most people visit Polignano a Mare for Cala Porto, one of Puglias most popular destinations also has another hidden secret , Another of the best places in Puglia is the unusual, historic town of Alberobello. Drive to the Summit of Mt. Top Things To Do in Puglia 1. Not only will it make you relaxed, but also undeniably healthier. These cooking classes are often held in masserie, that is local farmhouses in the countryside. Castellana Caves - La Grotta di Castellana. The area is famous for the production of renowned red and white wines, like Verdeca or Negramaro, among the most popular ones. This is a perfect region to cycle around as it is relatively flat. In the butcheries of this village, you can choose a preferred meat and the butcher will barbecue it for you. Locals discovered thermal waters of Torre Canne in the mid-nineteenth century, but in the postwar period after construction of the Spa, real exploitation began. Its one of the oldest coastal settlements in Puglia, and the setting is dramatic: buildings teeter precariously over the cliff tops, offering glorious vistas over the Adriatic. You can read about my trip to Prosecco here.) There are many tours in the main cities of the Region so that you can choose according to your preferences and your itinerary. The guided boat tours often give the chance to swim in beautiful locations too, like for example Romanelli bay. With a half-day boat tour, you can visit amazing spots like Lovers Cave, Palombara Cave, Blue Cave, Zinzulusa Cave and Romanelli Cave. Focus on the Old Town (Bari Vecchia) & the Murat (Centro Storico). The small island of San Nicola is home to the 11th-century Abbazia e Chiesa di Santa Maria, and offers good snorkelling and diving, while deserted Capraia is now uninhabited except for seabirds. The city was once home to one of Italys largest Jewish communities and dates back to the 9th century; evident in the medieval maze of streets. An unbeatable dish on the Puglian table in summer time, pucce are a traditional on the go snack in Puglia, in particular in the Salento area. Visit the Ceramic District with its many craftsmens shops to see these local artists at work. Poetically titled the pearl of Pugliayoull quickly agree with the name when you explore Trani. This is also a good idea to enjoy a relaxing weekend doing open-air activities like walking, swimming in the pool, biking or horse riding. Uncovered in 1932, Luceras Roman amphitheatre is the largest in southern Italy. See Tripadvisor's 2,986,328 traveler reviews and photos of kid friendly Puglia attractions Spend a whole day admiring nature from an unusual perspective. A stop at Monte Cornacchia, the highest peak in Apulia, is not to be missed. Here youll have the chance to admire steep drops over a crystal-clear sea, rock formations, green Mediterranean vegetation, and little hidden bays. Its name means indeed little ear. We then proceed to Sant'Agata di Puglia, with a breathtaking view of the Tavoliere and its many quaint historic alleys. You'll be drawn in by the trulli as you make your way through this beautiful valley they give it an almost fairytale-like atmosphere. It is located near a cemetery and it welcomes its visitors with a nice citrus garden. This clifftop coast road provides the best road trip in Puglia. It was most likely built as a hunting lodge or folly by Frederick II, but some scholars claim the castle may be an architectural symbol of Fredericks religious devotion; during the middle ages, the octagon was seen as a sacred shape, combining the circle (symbolising the divine or infinite) and the square (symbolising the human, or finite world). Top Things to Do in Puglia, Italy: See Tripadvisor's 2,986,237 traveller reviews and photos of Puglia tourist attractions. No need to go to the Gran Canyon when you can visit the Terre delle Gravine National Reserve with breathtaking views. From beaches and grotto's to unused mines and abandoned places - you'll never run out of ideas on what to do in Puglia. The Answer From Someone Whos Been, Regional Food In Puglia: What and Where to Eat, Travel Insurance: Dont get Screwed by the Small Print. Its geometric layout is quite unlike most Italian castles: its perfectly octagonal, and lacks defensive features such as a moat, drawbridge or arrow slits. The beach is very beautiful, sandy, with rocks on the sides, practically without waves, and very shallow for the most. At 6,288 feet, extreme weather is known to rip through the summit and endanger hapless hikers. It occupies a vast area called Murge in the provinces of Taranto, Brindisi and Bari. Located on Puglia's east coast, Torre Sant'Andrea is a beach and overlook, with high cliffs made of unique rock formations. This is why a stop is planned in Cagnano Varano, with its famous cave that conserves the footprints of Saint Michael the Archangel. Most fun & popular experiences in Puglia Classes & workshops It's a beautiful town characterized by its medieval heritage. Puglia might not have as many world-famous sights as Tuscany or Rome, but in many ways, the heel of Italy is a more rewarding place to travel. Alberobello is famous for its trulli: tiny limestone houses topped by conical roofs. Feel free to email me with any questions at chrissy@travelpassionate.com. It was built during the Augustan era, and housed up to 18,000 spectators who flocked here to watch gladiatorial contests and mock battles. If you wish to book an activity in Puglia click here, Have a scroll and admire the magic of Alberobello, a small yet characteristic town located South East of Puglia in the province of Bari. Monte Gargano is the oldest shrine in Western Europe under the protection of Archangel Michael and has been an important pilgrimage site since the early Middle Ages, as though according to the legend, St. Michal appeared here three times in the 5th century. If you want to taste the local delights, book this Olive Oil Tasting Tour in Ostuni. Cime di Rapa, or simply turnip tops, is a very popular vegetable in Southern Italy during the winter. A pioneer of the slow food movement, where the simple life dominates, Puglia is the real dolce vita; yet it remains relatively untrampled by international tourists. It is one of the most important Italian locations for seaside tourism, thanks to its many kilometers of sandy beaches. The park is a protected area because it's home to a variety of unique flora and fauna. Not only can you experience staying in a trulli, but youll also be able to wander through the town during the quieter evening when the whole place is beautifully lit up with little rows of fairy lights, and again in the glow of the early morning sun before the hoards of day trippers descend upon the small town. For more information visit here. See the top things . Thank you for supporting me. It's much less touristy for one thing. Click here to open this map in Google Maps. A gravina is a rocky slit that can be 100m deep and form a narrow natural corridor. Topics are varied, covering everything from wine-tasting to market shopping, the Mediterranean diet, southern Italys Jewish cuisine, olive oil making and the art of the perfect tomato sauce. 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