Puglia
Puglia, in a few days
The heel of Italy's boot: the trulli of Alberobello, the whitewashed lanes of Ostuni and the cliffs of Polignano a Mare above a turquoise sea. Between swims, head for baroque Lecce or cross into Basilicata for the sassi of Matera. Meals revolve around homemade orecchiette and oil from centuries-old olive trees.
- Day by day
- D1 Day 1 2 things
- D2 Day 2 2 things
- D3 Day 3 2 things
- D4 Day 4 2 things
- Worth sorting before you go
- Words that help
- The practical page
- Packing checklist
Day by day
Day 1
- Morning · The trulli of Alberobello free · about 1 h 30Around 1,500 conical drystone houses, UNESCO-listed; Rione Monti is full of shops, while Aia Piccola is still lived in and quiet.
- Afternoon · The Castellana Caves · about 2 hA cave system stretching about three kilometres underground; the guided tour passes giant stalactites and ends at the Grotta Bianca, the white cave.
Day 2
- Morning · Polignano a Mare · about 2 hThe old village sits on cliffs above the Adriatic, with dizzying viewpoints over Lama Monachile, the beach wedged between two rock walls.
- Afternoon · Ostuni free · about 1 h 30The white town winds up its hill in whitewashed lanes, stairways and arches to a Gothic cathedral looking over ancient olive groves.
Day 3
- Morning · Baroque Lecce free · about 2 hBaroque carved in honey-coloured stone that glows at sunset: the façade of Santa Croce, Piazza del Duomo and a Roman amphitheatre, all on foot.
- Afternoon · Otranto free · about 2 hItaly's easternmost town looks towards Albania from its walls; the cathedral holds a vast medieval floor mosaic and the Chapel of the Martyrs.
Day 4
- Morning · Matera and its sassi · half a dayAn amphitheatre of cave dwellings cut into the soft rock, inhabited since prehistory, with rock churches painted with Byzantine frescoes and restored cave houses.
- Afternoon · Vieste and the Gargano · half a dayA white town on a rock above Pizzomunno beach and its monolith; the coast towards Mattinata strings together coves, limestone arches and wooden fishing trabucchi.
Worth sorting before you go
Online the moment you land, no roaming bill.
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A private car at a fixed price from the moment you land.
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Flavours & local habits
🍽️ Worth tasting
- Neapolitan pizza: soft dough, wood fire, and best eaten in Naples.
- Regional pasta: carbonara in Rome, ragu in Bologna, and never the same twice.
- Gelato: artisan ice cream. Walk past the tubs piled high and glowing.
- Aperitivo: a spritz and small plates at the end of the afternoon.
- Espresso: standing at the bar, and no cappuccino after a meal.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Restaurants with photo menus and a man outside waving you in, especially near the monuments.
- Check the bill for coperto and service before you add anything.
- Cappuccino after midday marks you out. An espresso works at any hour.
- Shoulders and knees covered in churches, and that includes the big ones.
Words that help
English ↔ Italian
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| Hello | Buongiorno |
| Thank you | Grazie |
| Please | Per favore |
| Yes | Sì |
| No | No |
| Excuse me | Mi scusi |
| Goodbye | Arrivederci |
| Do you speak English? | Parla inglese? |
| I don't understand | Non capisco |
| How much is it? | Quanto costa? |
| Where are the toilets? | Dove sono i bagni? |
| The bill, please | Il conto, per favore |
| Help! | Aiuto! |
| Cheers! | Salute! |
The practical page
Scan to open this guide online, always up to date.
https://offwegooo.com/en/guides/puglia
Packing checklist
Have a good trip.
Guide made on offwegooo.com · Photos via Pexels · Details are indicative, check before you leave.