Curator’s statement
Known as “the heel” of the boot, Puglia is one of the most beautiful and authentic parts of Italy, and at the same time one of the most underrated destinations in Europe. It is surrounded both by the Ionian and Adriatic Sea, with amazing blue waters. Puglia has some of the best food in Italy—think fresh-made pasta and burrata prepared under your eyes or the local catch of the day, raw or perfectly cooked and drizzled with local olive oil. But most of all, the warm and authentic people and experiences made me return three years in a row. Being out of the spotlight it deserves, of course, has its perks—making it more affordable—so let’s enjoy it before the tourists invade!
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Things to do in Puglia
Faraglioni di Sant’Andrea
Beaches and beach clubs
You’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe and both sand and cliffs to jump from for the more adventurous ones. Here are some of my favorite places:
Faraglioni di Sant’Andrea: About 15 km north of Otranto, on the Adriatic Sea, it is renowned for its rugged cliffs and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
Lo Scalo: A very popular beach, with people jumping from the cliffs. I go mainly for watching them while lounging or lunching at Ristorante Lo Scalo, which is not to be missed.
Baia di Porto Miggiano: Some of the clearest blue water I have ever seen. You have to work a bit on the cliffs before getting into the water, but it’s definitely worth it.
Baia dei Turchi: A white sand beach.
Le Grotte di Leuca: On the most southern part of Puglia, Le Grotte di Leuca is accessible with a boat tour. I recommend “Leucos boat experience”; they are serious and professional, and they also offer the best prices.
Togo Bay Beach: Located at the Ionian Sea, with a nice beach club.
Porto Cesareo: Also by the Ionian sea, with beautiful blue water and a white sand beach.
Day trips
Matera: Practically located in Basilicata region, not Puglia. Go here to visit the “Sassi” cave dwellings carved into the mountainside—more interesting in reality than the pictures, this is a must-experience.
Polignano a Mare: Too crowded and touristic, although still worth seeing. But, if I were to choose one seaside town to visit, it would be Monopoli—it is more charming.
Alberobello: The small town renowned for the “trulli,” the limestone dwellings with conical roofs.
Places to eat & drink in Puglia
Quintessenza Ristorante: A well-deserved Michelin-star restaurant, located in a beautifully restored building in Trani, the northern part of the region. The menu is as delicious as beautifully presented—it changes seasonally. My favorite was probably the marinated amberjack with mango.
La Festa at Borgo Egnazia: An amazing Saturday party during summertime with many live cooking stations and good food, but also an amazing and authentic atmosphere, exceptional live band, dancers, circus, and locals and guests dancing together for hours—the best party you could experience in a hotel. I recommend staying at least for a few days at Borgo Egnazia, but if their rates are over your budget, you may just attend the “Festa del Borgo,” as they sell tickets to outside guests, too. Book early, as they are limited. If you’re staying at Borgo Egnazia or just visiting for lunch, don’t miss the “Carbonara Pugliese” at Il Porticato restaurant.
Ristorante Albachiara: Located in Savelletri, not far from Borgo Egnazia, they serve fresh-caught fish and seafood, raw or perfectly cooked. The decor is pretty basic, but the location is charming—by the sea—and prices are very affordable. It shouldn’t be missed.
Locanda D’ Martume: Serves some memorable spaghettoni al ragu di brasciole di vitello, and very good Carpaccio di manzo, but my favorite was probably the scampi grattinati. Lovely location on the narrow streets of Fasano.
Ristorante Lo Scalo: A great sun-bathing and lunch spot. Every time I went, they served raw seafood and fish that were super fresh and tasty, and, of course, delicious pasta. They also have nice lounge chairs on the cliff, and you may also adventure-jump into the sea.
Taverna del Porto Tricase: Nice spot for fresh fish and seafood. Also, the tagliatelle with squid tartare were very tasty. As it is on the southern part, you may plan this after a boat trip.
Il Tempo Nuovo Ristorante: Located in the dreamy garden of one of the most beautifully restored old buildings I’ve seen. Castello di Ugento, the chef, reinterprets traditional dishes of Salento for a memorable evening. I recommend staying for a couple of nights at the Castello.
Duca Salotto dei Sapori: A gourmet reinterpretation of the traditional dishes. It’s so good—the smoked spaghetti with carpaccio of raw red shrimp and the shrimp with chickpea puree and fried pasta stayed on my mind for a while.
Casamatta Restaurant: Holding a Michelin star and a green one, chef Pietro Penna’s creations are so pleasantly surprising. My favorite dishes were the blinis, veal liver with truffles, the red mullet, and saffron risoni. Even though Manduria is not the most touristic area of Puglia, Vinilia Wine Resort, the castle, dating to the 900s and beautifully renovated and turned into a four-star hotel, plus the good food, make a destination in and of themselves.
Masseria del Sale: Also located in Manduria, they serve very good pasta and tiramisù on the charming terrace of a 700s masseria.
La Vinaigrette Gallipoli: Has a great offer of fresh fish and seafood, raw or perfectly cooked. Make sure you book and leave generous time for parking, as Gallipoli is pretty crowded in the evenings.
Need to know
To best explore Puglia, which is not as small as it looks on the map, I recommend renting a car from Bari Airport and booking at least two locations. There are more than 250 kilometers from North to South, as well as different experiences.
Diet before your trip to enjoy as many al-dente pastas as you can, and have some strong, true Italian espressos—you might never get back to your latte.
For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Puglia page.
Travel Advisor
Monica Barbuceanu
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