Which is the best area of Puglia, Italy?

In this post we talked about the top 15 things to do.

But if you are planning a trip to Puglia you might be interested in understanding which is the best area to visit.

1. Gargano Peninsula and its variety of landscapes

Gargano National Park, in northern Puglia, is a promontory that features an extraordinary variety of landscapes within a relatively compact area – perfect for hiking, cycling and swimming.

Beyond the tranquil scenery, there are many towns worth a visit, such as Monte Sant’Angelo (a Unesco site in the inland) and Peschici and Vieste (by the coast).

2. Tavoliere delle Puglie, the golden heart of Italy

Tavoliere delle Puglie is the largest plain in central and southern Italy, known as the Granary of Italy, nestled between the Capitanata Apennines to the west, the Gargano and the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Murge to the south.

It is a land full of centuries-old olive trees and fields of tomatoes, an amazing territory to discover. The main cities of the area, from north to south, are San Severo, Lucera, Foggia and Cerignola.

3. Bari and its area, don’t skip it!

Bari is the capital city of the region and it has a charming historic centre that sits on a peninsula, populated by churches, small alleys, crowded cafés and beautiful squares.

Among the others, there are two important monuments: Basilica of St. Nicholas, an important pilgrimage destination, and Frederick II’s castle, an extensive structure that protected the city for centuries.

Don’t miss the ladies making handmade orecchiette (typical homemade pasta from Puglia) in the middle of the so-called “orecchiette street”!

Conversano, the charming and quiet base for our Apulia tours, is also worth a visit.

4. Valle d’Itria: The Central Part of Puglia

Despite its name, Itria Valley is not a valley, but a limestone depression between the provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto, with amazing olive groves, vineyards and bright red soil.

It is the land of Locorotondo (that takes its name from its circular structure – “Round place”, where round means rotondo), Ostuni, and Trulli houses (traditional limestone dwellings with conical roofs).

Here you can rent a bike and enjoy the area’s serene countryside.

5. Salento, a flat tongue of land between two seas

Salento is the southern most part of Italy’s heel and begins where the hills of the Valle d’Itria end.

From there, the land becomes a long flat expanse of land that laps two seas: the Adriatic to the east, the Ionian to the west.

It is mostly known for its rural-chic masserie (traditional farmhouses) and white sand beaches with blue waters.

Generally speaking, in Salento, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding where to go: we should mention Lecce (which deserves its own chapter), Gallipoli, a charming town on the sea located on the east coast.

The peculiarity of this place is that the old town used to stand on an island that is now connected to the mainland by a bridge and it still has some of the medieval walls.

Another beautiful town is Otranto with its whitewashed buildings reminiscent of Greece, while Santa Maria di Leuca is a village rich in history and legends.

It is a paradise land on a promontory between two seas.

6. Taranto and its area, the city of the two seas

Taranto overlooks the Mermaids’ Gulf and straddles the Mar Grande and Mar Piccolo.

It is for this geographical position that it takes the name “City of the Two Seas”.

7. Tremiti Islands, a natural paradise

The Tremiti Islands – 22km (14mi) off the mainland – are a natural paradise and a great spot for snorkelling and scuba diving.

They are an important tourist attraction for the area: the coasts of the three main islands are full of coves and grottoes, and their beaches descend towards the sea. These islands and the Gargano, can also be seen from Vasto, our base.

Of course every single part of Puglia is incredibly beautiful, so ideally you should visit all its areas.

Ready to experience Puglia with us?

So if you’re tired of the same-old same-old city tours of Rome or Venice, why not experience the authentic Italy of Abruzzo and Puglia together?

Get in touch today to help bring your dream tour into focus – wouldn’t you love to see the Adriatic sea from the mountains or to have a lunch suspended over the sea? If you are ready to discover Puglia, Italy with us, you can find all the details of our most popular tour at: The Abruzzo, Puglia & Matera experience.

And if you’re not quite ready to make an inquiry, sign up for our free email course to learn everything you need to know about planning a tour of Abruzzo and Puglia.