Join us on an unforgettable escorted Puglia tour

The region of Puglia (or Apulia in English) is located in the South of Italy, and it is considered the “heel” of the boot. It is one of the most popular destinations in the country thanks to its fascinating culture and traditions, Unesco sites, countryside masserie, diverse landscapes, excellent food, and an amazing coastline of 800 km (497 miles). 

It is worth a visit for many reasons – we listed the main ones in this article – and we would love to guide you through its beauty: we offer a 10-day dedicated cultural and culinary tour called The Abruzzo, Puglia & Matera experience, an unforgettable experience in the three regions.

Let’s see what you can get if you join a pre-arranged or tailor-made tour to Puglia: there are so many beautiful things to see that we had to make a selection to build ours, but we can always integrate it with anything you would like to include.

Culture and history

Puglia is home to 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites: 

• Castel del Monte, an octagonal fortress built on a hill by Frederick II around 1240, it is the region’s most visited monument;
• Alberobello with its trulli, the typical dry stone huts with conical roof;
• Monte Sant’Angelo, a town with a picturesque historic center and a pilgrimage destination, the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo. 

If we talk about culture we also have to mention Lecce, the “Florence of the south”, and center of the architecture called barocco leccese (Lecce Baroque), and Conversano, an ancient town with a great history that is still visible in its elegant streets and in the magnificence of its medieval Castle and Romanesque cathedral.

While in Conversano, you should definitely reach Matera, in the adjacent region of Basilicata. It was the European Capital of Culture for 2019, a magical city of stones where time seems to stop.

Seaside

A Puglia tour will definitely have to include a visit to its amazing resorts and stretches of sandy seashore.

• Polignano a Mare is the world famous holiday destination edged by limestone cliffs overlooking the Adriatic Sea;
• The Gargano Peninsula, which is visible from our base in Abruzzo, Vasto, hosts some beautiful beaches on the coastline,
• Gallipoli is a charming town on the sea located on the east coast;
• Otranto, located in Salento, a sub-peninsula of the Italy, with its blue sea and whitewashed buildings reminiscent of Greece;
• the Isole Tremiti, an archipelago in the Adriatic Sea, north of the Gargano Peninsula. You can spot and reach them from Vasto, Abruzzo, in a 1-1.5 hour motorboat trip. It could be a private and tailor-made day trip even if you are based in Vasto.

Food and wine tradition

If you travel to Puglia, get ready to eat some of the most delicious foods!

The region has a great culinary tradition. Among the dishes that most strongly define its cuisine, there is the DOP bread and focaccia, especially the ones made in Altamura from 100% durum wheat grown in the Bari province. Right here, during our tour, you can enjoy a Focaccia tasting in a very old bakery with a wood burning oven from the XV century.