Puglia, Italy: A Unique Vacation

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Located in southeastern Italy forming the "heel of the boot," the Puglia region is known for its abundant countryside, olive trees, and nearly 500 miles of coastline.

Puglia is one of Italy's best undiscovered gems. If you're seeking a pristine destination away from the crowds of Venice or Rome, it is the perfect location for you! 

 

Here are the highlights of this spectacular region of Italy.

 

Italian Accommodations

There are two very unique types of accommodations are in Puglia. 

Masserie are restored farmhouses. They offer luxurious accommodations yet with a very charming style. It's a fascinating experience to stay on a working farm that produces its own olive oil, wine, vegetables, and cheeses and meet the owners, who often join guests for home-cooked dinners made from the farm's produce.

Palazzos are restored palaces found throughout the region. Since they are historical buildings, the structures cannot be changed during restoration, so every room has unique characteristics. You can find restaurants, pools, spas, and even private beach clubs. Staying in a restored Palazzo is simply magical.

Unique Towns

The Puglia region of Italy is perfect for bike tours, hiking, and exploring caves. Seaside towns abound as the Adriatic Sea is to the East and the Ionian Sea is to the West. Both coasts offer beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters. Puglia has gorgeous towns ideal for aimless wandering, including the labyrinth of whitewashed streets of Locorotondo and Ostuni, the elegant seaside towns of Otranto and Gallipoli, and the golden ornate baroque of Lecce. Alberobello is a small town famous for its trulli, whitewashed stone huts with conical roofs first built in the 14th century.

 

Olive Oil Production

The region of Puglia supplies around 40% of the olive oil production in Italy. An estimated 60 million olive trees are in the area; some are more than a thousand years old, known by their distinctive trunks. A visit to Puglia, Italy, is incomplete without experiencing one of the local farms, visiting their oil mill, and tasting the delicious olive oil.

 

Great Italian Food

For me, an integral part of every trip is trying the local food. Puglia has 500 miles of coastline, so fresh seafood dishes are always on the menu. Further inland, the Puglia region is predominantly agricultural, leading to a rustic cuisine with many traditional recipes handed down from one generation to another. There are also local dishes known only in the Puglia region. To name a few, Orecchiette is the local pasta, pasticciotto is a delicious cream-filled pastry found in Lecce, and Caffè Speciale from Polignano a Mare is a delicious drink of expresso, whipped cream, and Amaretto. And then...there is all the wine!

 

Are you interested in a vacation to Puglia? I will be honored to help you plan your vacation to this exceptional region of Italy.

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