The ‘boot’ of Italy has it all: rugged coastlines, whitewashed alleyways, turquoise waters and a sense of tranquillity that is instantly contagious.
Five places you simply must see in Apulia – not all of them are hidden gems, but they’re all well worth a visit.
1. Polignano a Mare – Drama on the edge of the cliff
Few places in Italy showcase their panoramic views quite like Polignano a Mare. The old town is perched on limestone cliffs directly above the Adriatic Sea – the terraces of the bars and restaurants literally hang over the waves. Narrow alleyways wind their way between white houses, with unexpected views of the deep-blue water below opening up time and again.
If you fancy a spot of diving or swimming, you’ll find hidden grottos and small coves along the cliffs. The small main bay gets very busy in summer. Polignano is a popular destination, particularly during the peak season, so it’s best to head out early in the morning or in the evening.
2. Gallipoli – The other end of the world
Gallipoli is situated on the west coast of Apulia, on the Ionian Sea. Anyone familiar with the name might initially think of Turkey. Yet Gallipoli in Apulia has a history all of its own – and an island forming its old town, which is connected to the mainland by a bridge.
The alleyways of this island town are like a labyrinth, with Baroque churches nestled amongst the houses; in the evening, you can stroll along the Lungomare, past fishing boats and little trattorias serving pasta with octopus. The beaches around Gallipoli – La Purità, Baia Verde, Rivabella – are among the most beautiful in the whole of southern Italy.
3. Alberobello – A village straight out of a fairy tale
Admittedly, Alberobello is a tourist hotspot. And yet – or perhaps precisely because of that – it’s well worth a visit. Nowhere else can you see so many trulli: the cone-shaped stone huts with their pointed roofs, whose origins date back to the Middle Ages and which are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Rione Monti hill, with its roughly 1,000 trulli, is one of Apulia’s most famous sights. Inside these small stone houses, it remains pleasantly cool even in the height of summer. Many trulli can now be booked as accommodation.
4. Martina Franca – Baroque, music and white wine
Martina Franca is the elegant underdog amongst Apulian destinations. Those who know it rave about it; those who don’t simply drive past it. A mistake. The old town is a Baroque gem: magnificent façades, balconies with wrought-iron railings, piazzas where time seems to pass a little more slowly.
When it comes to food and drink, Martina Franca is renowned for its Capocollo, an air-dried sausage from the region, and for Locorotondo DOC, a fresh white wine best enjoyed in one of the shaded piazzas. Thanks to its location, Martina Franca is an ideal base for a trip around Apulia.
5. Porto Cesareo – The Ionian Sea at its finest
Anyone wanting to go to the beach in Apulia – and you really should – should Porto Cesareo Take a look. This small village on the southern coast of Apulia is situated within a marine nature reserve: the water is exceptionally clean, shallow and a shade of blue-green usually associated with the Caribbean.
The sandy beaches to the south of the town – Punta Prosciutto, Torre Lapillo, Lido Conchiglie – are wide, with fine sand, and almost deserted in early summer or September. In the height of summer, it gets busier here too, but the facilities are excellent: small beach bars, fresh seafood in the trattorias, and boats sailing out to the offshore islands. Porto Cesareo isn’t a place for major attractions – it’s a place to go for a swim.
Apulia’s beaches up for auction
