Top 10 Places to visit in Puglia Italy

Plentiful Puglia

For me Puglia has a special place in my heart. The region is bursting with Italian culture, history, charm and magnificence, with each place along the Adriatic coastline offering unique, yet beautiful experiences! I truly fell in love with Puglia and all it has to offer!

For me it is one of the most up and coming regions to visit for a holiday or to travel and explore! It is based in The South of Italy, on the heel of the boot and boasts a spectacular array of diverse and wonderful places.

Puglia is an unspoiled hidden gem in Italy. It is rich in culture and classic Italian charm, with an abundance of rustic coastline, stunning architecture and churches. From the rugged cliffs of Matera, to the majestic, white, maze-like town of Ostuni…It really does have something for everyone!

All with a southern Italy price tag!

Whilst exploring this gem of a region, I was based in a small town in the vicinity of Bari called Santo Spirito.

I would recommend being based near Bari, as you are able to easily access trains to get along the coastline. The trains typically cost 1.10 for single journeys!

Here are my official TOP 10 Places you MUST VISIT in Puglia…

10. Bari~

This is the capital of the southern region of Puglia and is definitely worth a visit…with a wonderful mix of modern-day, high-end shops along the elegant Via Sparano and the quaint, historic Old Town, it is well worth exploring!

In Bari you can stroll along the coastline promenade, witnessing the beauty of the Adriatic sea. There are a number of iconic places to visit within the city of Bari, including; Basilica Di San Nicola, Teatro Petruzzelli and Castello Svevo.

The city is eclectic and is full of history and Italian charm. There are often events held in the city, one of my highlights was witnessing the festival of San Nicolo with a stunning array of lights and parades.

9. Monopoli~

Monopoli is a charming town in the south-east region of Bari. It is full of stunning Italian architecture…from meandering around the Old Port and exploring The Charles V castle and the cannons of the bastion S. Maria, it is well worth visiting!

8. Castel Del Monte~

Is a truly magnificent 13th century Castle built proudly on a hill in Andrea. This unique and perfectly octagonal castle was announced World Herritage by UNESCO in 1996 and is definitely worth a visit, with stunning architecture and views from inside! It was recently a film location in Wonder Woman!

7. Otranto~

If you like beaches… you’ll LOVE Otranto! This picturesque seaside town boasts turquoise sea, white sandy beaches, beautiful promenades with delicious fish restaurants and a real Mediterranean atmosphere.

The quaint cobbled streets accentuate Otranto’s rich history, with a beautiful castle and park area. I was fortunate enough to experience the local town band playing in the park, which was one of the highlights of my trip here.

6. Alberobello~

A unique and enchanting place, full of the traditional Trulli. These are unique structures with a cone shaped roof. The Trulli were built by the peasants who found the self-supporting, domed roof, made of overlapping stone, the simplest and most sturdy construction. Each Trullo is embellished with a sandstone pinnacle, made by hand that sits proudly on the peak of the cone. These are said to be the distinct trademark of the Trullisto who built the Trullo.

The unique symbols, painted on the conical roofs have mystical significance and legend has it, the symbols protect the inhabitants.

One of the highlights of my trip to Alberobello was stumbling across a quaint roof-top café called Veni Vidi Mangi ~ Translating in Latin to “I came, I saw, I conquered” a tribute to (Julius Caesar). From here I witnessed spectacular views across the sea of Trulli buildings.

Another beautiful experience in Alberobello was visiting a traditional workshop inside a Trullo, where the residents were hand-making ornament Trulli from dry stone. Simply beautiful!

5. Trani~

This is a beautiful, historic fishing port in Puglia, with a stunning array of historic buildings and harbour front restaurants.

Trani sunsets are my favourite, they are just so breath-taking…I often travelled here, especially to watch the sun go down. The harbour wall enables you to walk out and watch the sunset over the tranquil town.

Trani has an array of beautiful Italian buildings. After you are finished admiring the beautiful harbour views... If you visit this historic town, you must see the magnificent cathedral Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino, which overlooks the shore.

As you meander past the cathedral there is the church museum, the Museo Diocesano, which exhibits sculptures and archaeological aspects from Trani's churches. Beyond this is Trani's defensive fortress, the Castello Svevo, which is also a great visit.

4. Polignano A Mare~

Looking for a romantic retreat?… Polignano is just too beautiful for words! The array of sculptured caves and coves, contrasting the deep blue Adriatic sea is something so special and like nowhere else in the world!

Amidst the rustic, Italian streets are breath-taking sea-views, rugged coastline with grottos and caves. As you meander you will notice stunning poetry written in doorways and steps around the beautiful cobbled streets. You must visit Polignano!

If simply wandering around this town is not enough, there is the beautiful Piazza, enriched with art and culture, a beautiful cave restaurant, Ristorante Grotta Palazzese, the cove beach and a multitude of long, rocky coastline caves to explore! Polignano is a natural beauty!

3. Lecce~

If you like historic churches, you will LOVE Lecce. This distinct walled city has an abundance of beautiful Baroque architecture and intriguing history.

There is just so much to see, as you wander through the streets amid the traditional buildings. The key gems for me in Lecce were visiting Piazze Del Doumo, The Church of Saints Niccolo’ and Cataldo, Il Castello di Carlo V and The Statue of Saint Oronz.

There are wonderful restaurants on every street of Lecce and the ice cream here is incredible!.

2. Ostuni~

The most magnificent whitewashed city, taking pride of place on the top of a grand hill is one of the most stunning Italian cities, Ostuni. With picturesque views of olive trees and crystal blue sea, this is one of the hidden gems of the Puglia region.

This beautiful labyrinth of winding, cobbled streets, elegant archways, staircases and historic monuments is one of the most magnificent places you can visit in Puglia.

The highlights of my experience in Ostuni included visiting the beautiful Gothic styled Cathedral, taking pride of place at Ostuni’s highest point.

You must visit the Museo Civico Archeologico, which captures the fascinating History of this beautiful white city, including "La Donna di Ostuni", the Lady of Ostuni, The skeleton of the human most ancient mother ever found by paleoanthropologists.

1. Matera~

The rugged cliffs of Matera offer breath-taking views, amidst an array of unique cave dwellings ("i sassi") southeast of the town and history enriched buildings including the Matera Cathedral (Cattedrale di Maria Santissima della Bruna).

Do you enjoy walking and hiking!?... you will be in your element in Matera. You can walk into the small, captivating canyon across the bridge and up the other side to view the whole town of Matera. It is simply stunning!

Most recently Matera is famous for being one of the film locations in Wonder Woman too!