Over recent years the Italian region of Puglia has seeped into the collective consciousness of those seeking a more authentic experience when visiting Italy.
Puglia, often referred to as the ‘Heel of Italy’ stretches beyond the major hubs of Foggia in the north of the region to Lecce in the south, and due to this long geographical ‘stretch’ of some 400km, it encompasses many different facets and cultures.
In this article, we look at 10 of the best towns in Puglia for a first-time visitor to the region.
How to Get To Puglia
If you plan on flying into Italy, then the best way into the region is via the main international airports of Bari and Brindisi, but the region is also within reach from Rome, Naples, and Pescara airports.
If you are already visiting Italy then the Italian national railway system allows access to the region, the main hubs being Foggia, Bari, Lecce, Brindisi, and Taranto.
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How to Get Around the Region
Because the region of Puglia is long and narrow, traveling from north to south can take several hours depending on your chosen mode of transport.
As mentioned, the region is pretty well served by the railway system, but if you want to tour around and make the most of your visit, then a car is essential, especially if you want to visit the smaller towns in the heart of the region or the national park of Gargano.
Here Are Our Top 10 Best Towns in Puglia
Vieste
Our first town is stunning Vieste, a seaside town jutting out into the blue Adriatic Sea from the ‘spur’ of the equally wild and gorgeous Gargano National Park (Parco nazionale del Gargano). Defined by beautiful beaches, a scenic harbour, an enchanting old town and the iconic lighthouse, this jewel of Puglia has it all.
Entering the old town through the Porta ad Alt (the old town’s main entrance), you will find no shortage of quirky shops and great seafood restaurants, often with stunning sea views. Photo opportunities abound around every corner in this lively resort town.
Highlights of Vieste:
- Pizzomunno Rock– This natural limestone, 25 meter high monolith is located at Vieste’s Castello Beach but can be seen from many viewpoints around the town including Via Bracco, near the historic centre.
- Walk the walls around the old town – Once you have finished getting lost in the labyrinth of the old town, make your way to the old town walls for some stunning sea views in nearly every direction.
Alberobello
What can you say about Alberobello, this is one of the most famous towns in Puglia thanks to its beautiful old town which is formed from the traditional conical shaped dwellings, known collectively, as trulli.
Every year thousands of visitors descend on this small town from all over the globe to see these strange structures.
During the height of the season, it gets very, very busy so our advice would be to visit very early in the morning if you want to avoid the crowds, or visit in Spring or Autumn when the hordes thin out.
What usually surprises most people on their first visit to this beautiful town, is that the majority of the trulli are focused in a very small, densely packed area of the old town, so it is easy to walk around.
The winding streets of the old town are quite narrow so our advice, if you have a car, is to park outside the old centre and walk into this conical wonderland. Alberobello is, without doubt, absolutely one of the best towns in Puglia, and a must for photo opportunities.
Highlights of Alberobello:
- Trulli heaven – Wonder at these strange and curious constructions in the heart of the town.
- Visit the Museo del Territorio – A structure of over ten combined trulli, this museum tells the story of the area and how the people used to live in years gone by.
Locorotondo
Nearby Locorotondo is a great location to stay for a few nights if you plan to explore this part of Northern Puglia, as apart from being a wonderful town in its own right, it is also within easy reach of nearby Alberobello and Cisternino.
Locorotondo is a small but beautiful town with plenty of excellent restaurants and shops but, unlike its more famous neighbours, is not usually overrun by hordes of tourists in the high season. As a result, accommodation is often a little more reasonable than neighbouring Alberobello.
Highlights of Locorotondo:
- Take in the countryside views from the Lungomare – The highest point of the town known as the Lungomare (which roughly translates to seafront promenade, a rather odd name as the town is miles from the sea!) and offers a fantastic panorama of the surrounding countryside.
- Sample the local wine – Try Locorotondo’s sparkling white wine, Bianco Locorotondo, famous throughout Italy.
Cisternino
Cisternino is another utterly beguiling town in the heart of Puglia, it is small (only 12000 inhabitants), and like many of the surrounding towns very charming with an old centre, which features a beautiful piazza that has remained unchanged for centuries.
Don’t forget to check out the stunning panorama over the Istia Valley with rolling hills, dry stone walls and clusters of white trulli dotting the landscape.
There are of course many restaurants, bars and gelaterie (ice-creme parlours) to explore around the core of the old centre, but if you want to go ‘local’ then why not visit one of the barbecuing butchers, which the town is famous for – just order your chosen meat, take a seat outside with a glass or two of local wine, such as Primitivo di Manduria and await your perfectly barbecued local specialty.
Highlights of Cisternino:
- Visit one of the famous barbequing butchers – delicious.
- Visit the Torre Normanno – An ancient Norman Swabian tower dating back to the 12th century.
Lecce
Lecce, the capital of the province of Lecce, is known for its beautiful baroque buildings, churches and the stunning Piazza del Duomo featuring the duomo (cathedral) itself, with its double façade and 70m high belltower.
Lecce is one of the best-known baroque cities in the world and consequently, it is a popular draw for tourists from around the globe, yet still retains its quintessential southern Italian charm, with the production of olive oil, ceramics and wine still being key industries here.
Dating back over 2,500 years there is a lot of history here to delve into, with Roman and Byzantine roots this town had a complete Baroque makeover in the 17th century and this is what makes it so special. Of course, Lecce also offers first-class dining along with plenty of shopping and museums.
Highlights of Lecce:
- Piazza del Duomo – Lecce’s premier square and home to the beautiful Duomo, impressive by day and also by night.
- Roman amphitheater – located in Piazza Sant’Oronzo
Otranto
Otranto is Italy’s most easternmost town, perched on the edge of the Adriatic Sea, this is a former Roman port.
Otranto has a rich if somewhat bloody history, its most notorious episode in 1480, when invading Turkish forces lay siege to the town, subsequently invaded the castle and massacred 800 survivors who had barricaded themselves into the cathedral.
Fortunately, the town is much more peaceful these days, with a white sandy beach lapped by clear turquoise waters and some of the best fish restaurants in the south of Italy.
Highlights of Otranto:
- Otranto Castle – Dominating the town, this defensive edifice was built after the town was liberated (from the Turks) towards the end of the 15th century.
- Capo d’Otranto (also known as Punto Palascia) – Located just south of Otranto, this unspoiled area is great for walking and visiting the remote 19th-century lighthouse that marks the easternmost point of the Italian peninsula.
Polignano a Mare
Beautiful Polignano a Mare, perched 20 meters above the Adriatic Sea on a limestone cliff, is an impressive location. Founded in the 4th century when Greek settlers moved into the area (then named Neapolois), it was further developed by the Romans in the following centuries.
The town offers a heady mix of all the right ingredients for a perfect tourist excursion, including a small old town, accessed via the Porta Vecchia (old gate), with white-washed houses interspersed with lovely old churches such as the Chiesa Matrice.
Here you’ll soon find yourself lost amongst the labyrinthine streets (but no need to panic as it is a very small centre), until you find yourself on one of the three terraces offering panoramic views of the stunning Adriatic Sea and coastline.
Just a short walk from the old center you can walk down to the famous Blue Flag beach, a favorite with locals and visitors alike, and watch the kids diving from the cliff edges into the crystal clear waters.
Highlights of Polignano a Mare:
- Cliff Diving – Polignano a Mare is famous the world over for cliff diving, and even hosted the Red Bull diving competition back in 2010 attracting 45000 visitors to the town.
- Statue of Domenico Modugno – This famous son of Polignano a Mare and singer-songwriter wrote many famous and beloved songs including Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu) made internationally famous by Dean Martin amongst others.
Suggested tours:
There is a workshop where you can taste locally sourced products and experience the delicious cuisine of Puglia. In the shop, you can also purchase everything you tasted during the sampling.
You could also go on a walking tour of Polignano a Mare with a licensed guide. Explore the historic town center to admire its pretty buildings and learn about its cultural heritage along the way.
Monopoli
Monopoli is a town named after the famous board game…no, only kidding. Monopoli is a quite lovely seaside about 30 km south of Bari, great for a day trip or a dip in the warm waters of the Adriatic Sea.
Another fortified town, bears witness to the historical invaders from Spain and bloodthirsty pirates this part of southern Italy faced in years gone by.
The main core of the town is Piazza Settembre XX, which is also the location of a colourful street market. The town is dominated by a cathedral (Basilica of the Madonna della Madia) built around 1693 with its 60 metre high bell tower.
Heading from the town towards the sea you’ll soon find yourself on the lungomare (sea front promenade), which boasts pretty properties along with the Church of Santa Maria della Zaffira and the impressive Charles V Castle.
Highlights of Monopoli:
- Explore the old town – Take time to wander the winding little streets of the old town and enjoy a morning cappuccino.
- Cala Porta Vecchia beach – Don’t forget your swimwear and head down to the Cala Porta Vecchia where this small but perfectly formed beach will give you access to the warm Adriatic.
Specchia
This small town is officially one of the prettiest towns in Italy (I Borghi più Belli d’Italia), and was built for defense on a hill south of Salerno, as in years gone by, this little town was prone to Saracen invaders and other marauders.
Like many of these southern Italian towns, in the summer Specchia comes alive with tables spilling out of the restaurants and bars onto the piazzas and pavements, which make them very tempting for a morning coffee or early evening prosecco. In the elegant centre you will find many small independent shops selling local specialties – great news for foodies.
The core of this town features the central square of Piazza del Popolo, which is adjacent to the Castello Risolo on one side and the Chiesa Madre on the other – both dating back to the 15th century.
Highlights of Specchia:
- Underground Olive Pesses – Olive production is a mainstay of life in Puglia, and in the countryside around the town you will find ‘Frantoi ipogei’, which are underground olive presses which give a fascinating glimpse of the history behind this industry in Puglia.
- Try ciceri e tria – A typical dish of the region, ciceri e tria, is a pasta dish made with a base of chick peas with variants of tomatoes, red peppers, celery or carrots. Delicious.
Altamura
Located on one of the hills of the Murge plateau (Altopiano delle Murge) 45 km southwest of Bari in the heart of the beautiful Alta Murgia National Park, lies the beautiful town of Altamura, small enough to walk around and large enough to not get bored when using it for a base for a few days (especially if visiting nearby Matera).
Altamura is known as ‘the city of bread’ and is renowned the world over for its light and delicious bread, baked in traditional wood-burning ovens – an absolute must try if you visit this beautiful little town. Altamura, like many towns in Italy, hosts a variety of festivals during the summer months, and at these times it can get pretty busy.
The soul of the town is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, with its imposing main doors flanks by carved stone lions, a splendid church both inside and out, located just along the main thoroughfare of restaurants, shops and bars that form the spine of the town.
Highlights of Altamura:
- Explore the claustri – Venture away from the main thoroughfare of the town into the mysterious claustri (literally cloisters), narrow, closed streets of the old town, two of the more famous of these are the Arco Basso (Low Arch) and the Claustro Inferno (cloistered Hell)
- National Archaeological Museum – Take a visit to the National Archaeological Museum, where you can see a reproduction of the fossilized skeleton of a Neanderthal man discovered inside the nearby Lamalunga cave.
In Summary
Well, I hope this whistle-stop tour of the 10 best towns of Puglia has whetted your appetite for visiting this beautiful region of Italy. Enjoy!
Author’s Bio: We like to mix it up when we travel – so it is planes, trains and automobiles for us (along with ferries). On our website – ‘Destination Someplace’, we detail some of our experiences and have put together some tips to help independent travellers who are still young in spirit – Steve and Mrs A
