PUGLIA – Italy’s one of the Finest Destination
Head to Puglia to enjoy the intense blues of its sea and sky. Italy’s heel still feels undiscovered by foreign tourists, even if people are starting to talk about it. Relax on its blindingly white beaches, try seafood fished off a dramatically sculpted coastline, see fresh pasta made in the maze-like backstreets, sample laid-back coastal life and explore the rich olive-oil-based culture of its hill towns. Puglia is cheaper than the UK, and you can always eat out well for less, from pizza and beer for around £8–£12 to a meal at an upmarket restaurant for £30–£40. A hotel room for two costs from around £60, running up to £250 in the classy places.
PUGLIA Highlights
Gargano. With its unspoiled hidden beaches, ancient tombs and rustic fishing machines, the Gargano is a rugged peninsula that feels almost like a separate island.
Bari. Eat raw octopus and fresh pasta handmade in time-honored fashion in Bari, the pretty yet gritty northern capital, with its medina-like old city.
Polignano and Monopoli. Slow down for some laid-back living and appreciation of life’s simple pleasures in these white-painted coastal towns.
Valle d’Itria. Conical houses and ancient olive trees are some of the curiosities in the beautiful Valle d’Itria, and three of its most characterful hilltop towns.
How to get there? Puglia’s main airports are Brindisi and Bari. Both are served by easyJet from Gatwick and Ryanair from Stansted, while BA also flies to Bari from Gatwick between spring and autumn. Flights start at around £80 to both airports. Other flights to the region from the UK may involve a connection elsewhere in Italy, or in Germany or Switzerland. Another alternative is to fly to Naples, which has a wider choice of flights, and is about a 2½-hour drive from Bari.
How to get around? Public transport via train and bus is possible, but a bit limiting, especially as trains only serve the main towns. You’re best off hiring a car to explore Puglia, not least as there are some particularly charming hotels in the countryside. There are car-hire offices at the airports. Pugliese roads are fairly quiet and the towns small, so it’s one of the nicer places in Italy to drive.
How long to spend? You could spend a week in Puglia and have enough time to relax and explore several places. While the Gargano is a little out of the way, the other places in this itinerary are all close to each other, so you won't have to factor in much travel time. To explore deeper and spend more time relaxing on the beaches, two weeks is ideal. Travelers with lots of time on their hands could also consider extending their trip into a wider Mediterranean odyssey by taking one of the many ferry services linking Bari and Brindisi to Greek ports.
Chrissy Mendez is a traveler, blogger and a contributor in Vacation Now. A vacation rental website where travelers can share their travel adventure.