5 Most Scenic Places To Visit In Puglia, Italy
RIDING THE MOST SCENIC TOWNS IN PUGLIA, SOUTHERN ITALY
Undoubtedly, Italy has its fair share of beautiful places to visit, and Puglia aka Apulia in the local dialect, in southern Italy is no exception.
It is dotted with stunning and unique towns perched atop hilltops or nestled within the Itria valley. What’s more, the crystal clear Adriatic sea and great food – especially the bread- makes it even more irresistible.
Just ask the Italians, and they’ll tell you how the Puglia region is “il nostro gioiello dell’Adriatico”- “our Adriatic jewel”.
There is a reason for this shared sentiment- the more south you travel in Italy, the more authentically Italian experiences you encounter. In other words, you get the opportunity to live the traditions and cultures in their raw forms.
For instance, you get to mingle with the locals, eat like an Italian (there are fewer choices of international cuisines here), and holiday like one!
Reasons To Visit The Charming Towns Of Puglia
We put Puglia firmly on our bucket list of must-see places a few years ago after a student of mine gave a presentation about his hometown in Puglia. I fell in love immediately and told Pietro that we absolutely had to go.
Fast forward roughly 3 years later; we packed our motorcycle and headed to the “heel” of Italy.
We pored over numerous articles out there until we screened the list to what we considered to be the top 5 places to see.
Subsequently, we rode through 3 UNESCO HERITAGE sites, several long stretches of olive groves, and top it off, visited an underground tunnel of caves deep in the earth. Additionally, we also had time to cool off in the refreshing Adriatic waters.
Highlights of Puglia Town Scenic Route
- If you fancy a lazy beach holiday, there’s Tropea and Polignano a Mare to meet that need.
- For a more cultural and historical experience, a visit to Matera or Alberobello will satisfy that itch.
- The probability of finding great food everywhere you turn is 99.9%
- The towns are just oh-so-cute!
- The vibe is generally laidback and relaxing
- In addition, there are numerous outdoor activities to do such as cycling, hiking, climbing, and horseriding.
The Best Places To See In Puglia
So finally, here is our list of the best places to visit in Puglia.
- Alberobello
- Matera
- Ostuni
- Polignano A Mare
- Grotte di Castellana
The Best Time To Visit The Pretty Towns Of Puglia
Puglia enjoys moderate and pleasant weather in general. The Average temperatures based on the season are;
SUMMER- 22-30 °C
AUTUMN/SPRING – 16-24 °C
WINTER- 9-15 °C
To make the most of our visit to Puglia, we decided to go in September, when the temperatures have become cool enough not to feel the heat, but warm enough not to require a heavy jacket.
Of course, you can visit at any time of the year too as the experiences are slightly different from season to season.
That being said, we highly recommend going in autumn 8or spring) because the crowds would be much fewer and you are guaranteed to have a truly enjoyable and unforgettable stay in the area. Also, If you love to relax on the beach, you could still swim in the crystal blue waters.
It also goes without saying that motorcyclists (like us, hey!) would enjoy riding through the area during this period as it provides amazing valley views, as well as a crisp autumn breeze.
How To Get There
Planning a trip to these beautiful “Pugliesi” towns will require some planning on your part since they are some distance from each other.
We suggest staying in Alberobello or Ostuni. In our case, we stayed in Alberobello.
So if you’re flying in, the nearest airports and ports are in Bari or Brindisi, which are both about 50kms from Alberobello.
From the airport, take the train “Ferrovie Sud-est”. It takes 2hrs 30mins and costs about 5 euros to Alberobello.
Another option is to take a bus. However, our best suggestion is to hire a motorcycle or car so that you can have more autonomy.
For this itinerary, we started from Sicily since that’s our base (read about us here for more background).
We rode up from Siracusa to Messina, where we caught the connecting ferry to Reggio Calabria in southwest Italy. From there, we continued on and had a stop in Tropea for the night. Then we left for Alberobello the next morning.
What To Pack
Depending on the time of the year you decide to visit Puglia, we have some suggestions that will contribute to having the perfect stay.
Since we suggested visiting in autumn or spring, we have provided packing lists best suited to these seasons. Moreover, we know how differently men and women pack, so we have further divided the lists into two categories- one for men, and the other for the ladies. They include clothing, accessories, and gadgets.
Where to Stay In Puglia
Again, based on our experience, we would recommend staying somewhere central and then taking day trips from there. Otherwise, you could stay 2 nights at one location and then move to 2 nights at another.
On this trip, we decided to stay at Alberobello, because to our eyes, it is just the cutest town of them all!
Another suggestion for an authentic experience would be to stay in Matera or Ostuni.
As can be imagined, in these authentic Pugliesi towns, there is a wide variety of accommodations to choose from. Of course, depending on your budget, you can go from 5-star resorts to 2-star hotels.
Although hostels aren’t a big thing in the region, there are several options for renting rooms or apartments in cute and cozy B&B establishments.
Costs of visiting Puglia
Now, when it comes to costs, unlike the world renown cities in Italy such as Rome or Milan, you won’t be spending much here.
Pietro is our “accountant” so we always have records of how much we spend on our journeys.
For this memorable ride through Puglia, we spent an average of 80 Euros a day. This includes a 4-star Trullo hotel with breakfast, food (light snacks during the day and dinner), petrol for the motorcycle, and tours (3 in all).
Not a bad deal, right? Let me know what you think of this cost in the comments section below.
Our Itinerary For The Most Scenic Places To Visit In Puglia
Here’s a short Itinerary for visiting Puglia and its stunningly cute towns. With this plan, you are sure to get the best feel for the area.
You can click on the days to take you directly to the descriptions.
Most Scenic Towns in Puglia Itinerary Day 1:
ALBEROBELLO
This is the first stop on our list of scenic Puglia towns to visit. This town is such a special place that it’s hard to fully describe unless you are there.
Simply put, Alberobello means “beautiful tree”. And while you can find beautiful trees around town, the attraction isn’t the trees but the limestone conical houses with likewise conical roofs. These houses are called “Trulli” and can be found scattered around most parts of Puglia.
What’s more, the main beauty of it is that Alberobello contains the highest number of trulli in one area, in Puglia. As a result, the town has been listed on the UNESCO world heritage list.
Spend the day wandering through the picturesque whitewashed streets. There are some monuments to visit like the “Casa D’Amore”, as well as the “Trullo Siamese”.
Have a bite of one of the various famous breads from the area such as, “Altamura”– a bread with an interesting history of its own and of one of the best quality in all of Italy.
After filling your bellies, get a walking (to burn off some calories!) or segway guide, and learn about the interesting story of the Trulli – tax evasion in a Robin Hood-like situation.
To know more about the story of the Trullis, read “The Charming Trulli of Alberobello- The Unexpected Story of How A Humble town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”
Most Scenic Towns in Puglia Itinerary Day 2:
MATERA
Next on our list is the ancient town of Matera. Another UNESCO site, this is definitely a place you want to see when in Puglia.
At first sight, it doesn’t look like much, but once inside, you begin to notice the ingenuity involved in the construction of the town.
What makes it stand out the most is the fact that the houses are carved into the limestone rocks themselves. Even more intriguing are the streets that often run right above the roofs of houses that are located on the lower levels.
This intricate web of cave dwellings, hidden streets, and winding stairs date back to prehistoric times. In short, it is evidently the oldest known human settlement in Italy.
Since the only way to see it is on foot, be prepared with comfortable shoes and clothing. We highly suggest booking a walking tour with a local guide. This usually takes about 2 to 3 hours. On the walk, you’ll get to marvel at how the cave dwellings were built, and how people survived the hard living conditions.
To know more about Matera, read “The Sassi Of Matera- From the Shame Of Italy to Glory”
Most Scenic Towns in Puglia Itinerary Day 3:
OSTUNI
The third prettiest town in Puglia is one that you might not want to leave.
When we arrived in Ostuni, it was like we were stuck in time. The fairy-tale theme of white and lights was so compelling and inviting.
A walk around the poetic archways will take you through gelato shops, and exquisite “artigianale” shops to a special house called “the house with the blue door”.
The fun thing about the “Porta Auzzura” is that although it has no historical value, it has become such an iconic spot for photos over the years. In reality, it is a hotel, albeit a bit pricey.
You can learn more about the house here.
After visiting Ostuni, go to the Grotte di Castellana (The Castellana Caves).
The town of is also beautiful, but the main attraction here is the caves, located 1.5km from the town.
On arrival, you have to complete a health form that declares that you do not have any health conditions (especially heart and lung-related), that might be an issue while you’re in there.
This is because there first you descend 122meters underground. Then, you go on a guided walking tour, through 3km of damp, dark caves. On the way, there are stalagmites and stalactites of varying sizes and shades of white. Each passage leads to a cave where the formations sometimes resemble statues. There is even one that looks like the Eiffel tower!
Due to the delicate nature of the environment, photos are forbidden and it is kept at minimum light exposure.
Most Scenic Towns in Puglia Itinerary Day 4:
POLIGNANO A MARE
Our final stop on this trip is Polignano A Mare
While the town itself is tiny compared to the others we visited in Puglia, it does have a lot of charm to offer.
The first charm is obviously the beach. There are several spots along the coast to cool off and enjoy the clean waters of the Adriatic sea.
We suggest to first take a walk through the pretty white-washed streets to find the panoramic photo spots. Take your photos then head on down to the beach. Sip on some cool Aperol Spritz and catch the best of the Italian sun.
Another attraction here is an exclusive 5star restaurant, located in a cave and overlooking the sea. The spectacular sunset views have people queuing to be on the waiting list for weeks. It goes without saying that you would have to part with a big chunk of your wallet.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are several lovely places that you must add to your list of places to visit in Puglia.
We had a great time in the area , and wouldn’t mind going back again to see the other towns we didn’t get to see.
If there is one place I would return to on the list, It would be Alberobello. The main reason being, I think it is the most unique town in the world.
So, which of these beautiful places have you been to in Puglia? Are there any towns in the region that you would add to the list? Do you have any other questions about Puglia?
Let us know in the comments section below. And if you plan on visiting Puglia, do have a wonderful time!
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Isabella & Pietro
TRZ TEAM
A couple with a zest for all things travel, a love for motorcycles, and a voracious appetite for good food!
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The concept of riding through Italy and other countries is awesome. Thanks for the suggestions.
Thanks! If you’re not a rider, you can always rent a car. You’ll surely enjoy it, especially in Italy.
I love the look of the white streets of Alberobello and Ostuni, these do seem like beautiful scenic spots to visit! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I am sending this post to my husband with the words, “We need to go here.” Love it.
Would love to visit.
I would love to visit Matera. I love how the Sassi of Matera homes are built into the limestone! How cool!
Sounds like a wonderful trip! Love seeing pictures and hearing other’s experiences, it makes planning for a trip so much easier when you can get valuable insights from someone who’s been. Thank you for sharing! I can’t wait to visit Italy!
Wow sounds like a cool place to visit. Great post!
I’m adding this to my list of places I want to go as it sounds beautiful and worth a visit!
It’s on my list, thank you for sharing!
I never thought about visiting Puglia, but a lazy beach vacation and cute little towns are right up my alley. The rock formations are also super cool. Thanks for sharing.
Italy is on my travel bucket list. Would love to check out this place whenever I visit. Thank you for all the beautiful information.