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THE 10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN PUGLIA!

THE 10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN PUGLIA!

Let us bring you outside to discover our enchanting land. We propose the main stops of your trip to Puglia. If you wish, we can suggest the most suitable route for each of you. Contact us to find out more.

1 Castel del Monte and “Parco dell’Alta Murgia” (18km)

Castel del Monte, the marvel of all marvels, is the most visited site in the area. It is a mythical construction, absolutely suggestive both for the particular architecture and for the mysterious stories. The octagonal-shaped castle, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, stands on a high hill in the Alta Murgia National Park: a vast natural karst territory that houses important sites of considerable historical, archaeological and palaeontological interest.

Web site: http://www.visitparcoaltamurgia.it/?language=en

 

2 Trani and Barletta (10km)

Overlooking a suggestive port full of characteristic fishing boats and dominated by the splendid Romanesque Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino and the Swabian Castle, the city of Trani imposes itself with its breathtaking scenery. A real gem. The historic center of Trani is a suggestive ball of paved alleys, which is reflected in the water and enters the interior among craft shops, galleries, fish restaurants and fascinating views. The Jewish quarter of Giudecca, where the Scolanova Synagogue stands out, the oldest Jewish temple in Europe. In the city there are many noble palaces, which have always contributed to enhancing its already appreciable heritage.

 

3 Gravina di Puglia and Matera, Basilicata (60 km e 80 km)

Gravina di Puglia is a medieval city built next to one of the ravines, cracks in the earth’s crust similar to canyons, which embellish the geological landscape on the border between Puglia and Basilicata. It can boast a very ancient history. Its territory appears to have been inhabited since the ancient Paleolithic. There are various things to see: we point out the Church of San Michele delle Grotte and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the underground path.

In the neighboring Lucania, Matera rises, a Unesco site, a World Heritage Site, designated European Capital of Culture for 2019: it is also one of the oldest cities in the world whose territory preserves evidence of human settlements starting from the Paleolithic and without interruption to the present day; it is the city of the Sassi, the original urban nucleus, which developed starting from the natural caves dug into the rock and subsequently modeled into increasingly complex structures inside two large natural amphitheatres.

Matera is at the center of an incredible rock landscape that preserves a great heritage of culture and traditions, and is home to exhibitions of great national and international prestige.

 

4 Bari, the old town and theatres (50km)

Reference for all Apulians, the city of Bari today enjoys a particularly happy development. The San Nicola district, also known as Bari Vecchia, is the beating heart of the city. It is very rich in places of religious worship and truly important ancient churches, including the Cathedral of San Sabino and the Basilica of San Nicola. The city overlooking the sea also enjoys fervent cultural activity linked to its many theatres. The imposing Norman-Swabian Castle on the edge of the old city.

 

5 Gargano (80 km)

Here the coast offers enchanting scenery and the most beautiful panoramas: from Mattinata to Baia delle Zagare, from Vieste to Peschici crossing the Umbra Forest, from Rodi Garganico to the Tremiti Islands, jewels of the Adriatic that will leave you speechless. But it does not end here, in this area there is also the delightful village of San Giovanni Rotondo, a place of worship for the faithful of San Pio da Pietrelcina and the municipality of Monte Sant’Angelo, famous for the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo, a of UNESCO.

 

6 Monopoli and Polignano (100km)

Monopoli is a wonderful town characterized by a fortified medieval historic center close to the sea, rich in artistic-monumental testimonies.

Polignano a mare, a rocky promontory overlooking the Adriatic is a pearl of rare beauty. Its ancient village and its suggestive beaches are counted among the most popular destinations in Puglia.

 

7 Alberobello and Locorotondo (110 km)

A World Heritage Site according to Unesco, Alberobello is a real expanse of trulli, houses built in dry stone, with a base whitewashed with quicklime and a cone-shaped roof made up of exposed stones. Alberobello is the only center in Puglia to preserve entire neighborhoods made up of trulli only.

The Valle d’Itria, an expanse of olive trees and vineyards that alternate with oak groves, where the undisputed symbol are the conical roofs of the trulli, is dominated from above by Martina Franca, with one of the most beautiful historic centers in the region. Not far from here, Cisternino and Locorotondo, two of the places that have undergone the greatest territorial revaluation in recent years, two villages characterized by white houses with spontaneous architecture.

 

8 Castellana Grotte and Fasano Zoo (100 km)

The Castellana Caves are a fascinating karst complex of underground cavities of notable speleological and natural importance. An astonishing scenario: you cross caves with fantastic names, canyons and deep abysses, discover fossils, stalactites, stalagmites, concretions with incredible shapes and unexpected colours. A surprising visit that transports the visitor to a wonderful world, whose history dates back to ninety-one hundred million years ago. Not far from the caves, near the nearby town of Fasano, is the safari zoo of “Fasanolandia”. It is the first zoo and wildlife park in our country and is one of the largest and most popular in the entire European continent, thanks to the many species present within it.

 

9 Ostuni and “Parco naturale delle Dune costiere” (140km)

Set back from the coastline, the “White City” stands out for the whitewashing of the houses up to the roofs, a technique used to give greater brightness to the alleys and alleys of the village. Ostuni is a tourist resort of great value awarded several times for the exceptional natural integrity of its beaches. The historic center is rich in religious and civil architecture of great value such as the Church of San Vito Martire, the Co-Cathedral and the Column of Sant’Oronzo. Along the coast with its magnificent beaches, the Dune Costiere Regional Natural Park has been established: a protected area of ​​great naturalistic and landscape interest.

 

10 Taranto and Lecce and Salento beaches

Taranto is the second largest city in Puglia and extends between the Mar Piccolo and Mar Grande on the island connected to the city by the stone bridge and the revolving one. The city was founded by Spartan settlers who transformed the natural harbor into a commercial landing place.

Pearl of Salento and Puglia, the city of Lecce preserves splendid Renaissance and Baroque palaces, and sumptuous limestone churches with a unique color; nerve center of artistic craftsmanship and traditional Salento dance “La Pizzica”.

The Salento peninsula is one of the most famous Italian geographical areas. Home to contemporary artists and musicians, it is recognized as one of the most beautiful beach areas in the nation.

Here you will find heavenly beaches from Porto Cesareo to S. Isidoro, from Santa Maria al Bagno to Gallipoli, from Otranto to Castro, arriving as far as Leuca. The coast is protected by parks and reserves and by caves and coves that attract thousands of visitors every year during the summer season.