Puglia is the 7th largest and the longest of Italy’s 20 regions - around 400km from north to south. You are never far from the coast, of which we have plenty; around 800km of rugged limestone cliffs, rocky shelves punctuated by sea caves and secluded coves, and exceptional sandy beaches. All surrounded by sparking azure seas.
Think of our region in three parts; Gargano and the north, Salento to the south and sitting in between, the Valle d’Itria.
Gargano
The most overlooked part of our region it may be, but for beaches and geographical diversity, the Gargano is outstanding.
A national park stretches across much of Gargano’s interior, home to a vast array of flora and fauna, mountains rising to over 1,000m, and the dark and prehistoric Umbra forest. Towering cliffs and sea stacks plunge into the sea, meeting hidden coves and sublime sandy beaches.
Here you will find the medieval towns of Monte Sant’Angelo and San Giovanni Rotondo, and the popular holiday towns of Rodi Garganico, Peschici, Vieste and Mattinata Porto.
Valle d’Itria
Stretching from Putignano in the north to Ostuni in the south the Valle d’Itria is green and glorious, with rolling olive groves stretching as far as the eye can see. The landscape is peppered with trulli - traditional white stone dwellings with a conical roof. It has medieval white walled old towns: Locorotondo, Cisternino, both officially among i borghi piú belli d’Italia (Italy’s most beautiful towns), and la città bianca itself, Ostuni.
The picturesque towns of Martina Franca and Ceglie Messapica as well as the popular seaside town of Monopoli are all found in the Valle d’Itria.
It is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello with its famous historic trulli zones, one of Puglia’s most iconic destinations. While just beyond in the nearby province of Bari you find another. Polignano a Mare, famed for its Lama Monachile beach, sandwiched between dramatic limestone cliffs and overlooked by the old town sitting atop.
The Valle d’Itria is the most visited part of our region. It is easily accessible from both of our international airports and has easy access to the beaches on both coasts - the Adriatic and the Ionian.
Salento
In Salento you will find some of Italy's best beaches - many award winning - and some of Puglia’s most interesting towns and cities. From the better known Gallipoli and Otranto whose old towns sit above fortified sea walls to the creamy baroque of Lecce and the faded sophistication of a seemingly Belle Époque Santa Maria di Leuca.
In between, the Salento peninsula has many slow and easy towns that sleep in the summer heat: Calimera, Carpignano Salentino, Castrignano dei Greci, Corigliano d’Otranto, Cutrofiano, Martano, Martignano, Melpignano, Soleto, Sternatia and Zollino.
Like Puglia itself, Salento is a place of contrasts. A dramatic rocky coastline stretches down the Adriatic from Santa Cesarea Terme to Leuca - at the southernmost tip of our region and world’s end in Roman times. Running back up the west coast to Gallipoli and beyond, is a vast almost non-stop strip of paradisiacal gold-white sand and transparent azure waters.
Welcome to our Puglia. Welcome to your home.