Apulia / Blog / Cosa Fare
From UNESCO trulli to turquoise beaches, baroque cities to ancient forests — the ultimate Apulia bucket list for eco-conscious travellers.
Apulia (Puglia) is one of Italy's most diverse regions, offering everything from UNESCO World Heritage sites to some of Europe's finest beaches, from baroque architecture to prehistoric cave dwellings. Whether you're a culture enthusiast, nature lover, foodie, or beach bum, Apulia delivers. This guide covers the very best things to see and do across the heel of Italy, with practical tips, prices, and sustainable travel recommendations.
No trip to Apulia is complete without visiting Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its trulli — traditional dry-stone huts with conical limestone roofs. The Rione Monti district contains over 1,000 trulli spread across narrow cobblestone streets, a sight that feels like stepping into a fairytale. The Trullo Sovrano, the only two-storey trullo, is open as a museum showcasing traditional Apulian life. Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds, particularly in summer when tour buses fill the streets from 10am-3pm. Admission to the trulli district is free; the Trullo Sovrano museum costs €3. Pro tip: nearby Locorotondo and Cisternino offer equally charming trulli without the tourist masses — both are within a 15-minute drive and are officially classified among Italy's most beautiful villages.
Lecce is often called the "Florence of the South" for its stunning baroque architecture, carved from the soft local pietra leccese limestone that glows golden in the afternoon sun. The Piazza del Duomo, Basilica di Santa Croce, and the Roman Amphitheatre (which sits beneath Piazza Sant'Oronzo — discovered only in the 20th century) are must-sees. The city's historic centre is compact and walkable, with countless churches, palaces, and hidden courtyards to discover. The Castle of Charles V hosts temporary exhibitions and offers excellent views over the city. Don't miss the Church of Santa Chiara, which has one of the most elaborate baroque interiors in Italy, with an ornate ceiling covered in religious frescoes. Lecce is also famous for its artisan workshops producing cartapesta (papier-mâché) statues — a tradition dating back to the 16th century.
Ostuni is a dazzling hilltop town painted entirely white, visible from miles across the Valle d'Itria. Its maze of whitewashed alleys, archways, and staircases is a photographer's dream, with every corner offering a new composition of light and shadow. The Ostuni Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) dominates the skyline with its magnificent Gothic-Romanesque rose window, one of the largest in southern Italy. From the belvedere at the top of the town, the views over endless olive groves stretching down to the Adriatic Sea are breathtaking. Visit in late afternoon when the golden light makes the white walls glow and the sea sparkles in the distance. Ostuni also has some of Apulia's best restaurants, including Osteria del Tempo Perso, which serves traditional dishes in a cave setting.
Polignano a Mare is dramatically perched on limestone cliffs above the Adriatic, one of the most photographed towns on the Italian coast. The crown jewel is Lama Monachile, a small pebble beach nestled between high limestone cliffs with a historic single-arch bridge (Ponte Borbonico) arcing overhead — it's one of the most iconic swimming spots in all of Italy. The town offers excellent seafood restaurants along the cliffside, particularly on the terrace of Grotta Palazzese, a restaurant set inside a natural sea cave. Polignano is also the birthplace of Domenico Modugno, the singer who wrote the legendary song "Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu (Volare)". There's a small museum dedicated to him in the town. Entry to the beach is free, but arrive early in summer to secure a spot — locals say before 8am in July and August.
The Gargano peninsula, often called the "spur of Italy's boot," is a national park of extraordinary biodiversity. The Foresta Umbra — a UNESCO-listed ancient beech and oak forest — offers shaded hiking trails through trees that are hundreds of years old, with deer, wild boar, and rare orchids among the flora and fauna. The Gargano coastline features dramatic limestone cliffs, hidden sea caves accessible only by boat, and spectacular beaches. Baia delle Zagare, with its iconic white sea stacks (faraglioni) rising from turquoise water, is one of the most beautiful coves in Italy. The coastal towns of Vieste (with its cathedral and castle) and Peschici (a white-washed gem on a cliff) are charming bases. The park has over 100 km of marked hiking trails ranging from easy coastal walks to challenging forest treks. The best months are April-June and September-October.
The Salento peninsula, at the very heel of Italy, boasts some of the country's most beautiful beaches. Pescoluse (often called the Maldive del Salento) offers fine white sand and crystal-clear shallow water stretching for nearly 5 km — perfect for families. Baia dei Turchi near Otranto is a pristine natural beach within a protected pine forest, with wild, undeveloped dunes and incredibly clear water. Porto Cesareo is a marine protected area with excellent snorkelling over Posidonia seagrass meadows and a small island (Isola dei Conigli) reachable by swimming. Gallipoli combines a beautiful historic old town island connected by a 17th-century bridge with long sandy beaches on the mainland. All beaches are public by Italian law; umbrella and lounger rentals cost €15-25 per day. Free sections exist at every beach if you bring your own towel.
Castel del Monte is an enigmatic 13th-century castle built by Emperor Frederick II, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most mysterious medieval buildings in Europe. Its unique octagonal design, with eight octagonal towers at each corner, has fascinated historians, mathematicians, and architects for centuries. The castle's purpose remains unknown — it was never used for defence, never completed as a residence, and appears to have been built purely as a monument to knowledge and power. Perched on a hilltop in the Alta Murgia at 540 metres elevation, the castle offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside all the way to the sea on clear days. Admission is €12. Combine with a visit to the nearby town of Andria for lunch — try burrata, which originated here.
The Valle d'Itria (Itria Valley) is the picturesque heart of Puglia, a landscape of rolling hills covered in olive groves, Primitivo and Verdeca vineyards, and dotted with white-washed trulli, masserie (fortified farmhouses), and dry-stone walls. The valley towns are exquisite: Locorotondo (consistently ranked one of Italy's most beautiful villages, with a circular historic centre and cummerse houses with sloping roofs), Cisternino (famous for its forno — a butcher who grills meat on an open fire for you to eat immediately), and Martina Franca (a baroque gem with ornate balconies and the beautiful Basilica di San Martino). The area is perfect for cycling, with quiet country roads and gentle hills offering some of the best cycling in southern Italy. Many masserie offer accommodation, cooking classes, and olive oil tastings.
The Tremiti Islands, a marine reserve in the Adriatic Sea, are a paradise for nature lovers and divers. The main islands — San Nicola (historical centre with the Abbey of Santa Maria a Mare), San Domino (the largest, with pine forests and sandy coves), and Capraia (uninhabited nature reserve) — offer crystal-clear waters, dramatic sea caves (including the famous Grotta del Bue Marino and Grotta delle Viole), and pristine Mediterranean vegetation. Ferries depart daily from Termoli (Molise) and Vieste (Gargano) from April to October. A day trip costs approximately €30-40 for the return ferry. Snorkelling gear can be rented on San Domino for around €10. For a quieter experience, stay overnight on San Domino — there are a handful of hotels and restaurants, and after the day-trippers leave at 5pm, the islands are almost deserted.
Bari's old town (Bari Vecchia) is a labyrinth of narrow alleys, washing lines strung between buildings, and authentic street life that has changed little in centuries. Visit the Basilica of San Nicola (housing the relics of St Nicholas, the real Santa Claus — a major pilgrimage site for both Catholic and Orthodox Christians), the Swabian Castle (Castello Svevo) built by Frederick II, and the Cathedral of San Sabino. Don't miss the famous street where nonnas make orecchiette pasta by hand in doorways — Via dell'Arco Basso and Via Madonna della Rena. Bari Vecchia is also the best place for street food: focaccia Barese (from Panificio Fiore), panzerotti (fried dough with mozzarella and tomato), and pettole (fried dough balls with anchovies) are sold fresh from small bakeries and street stalls.
Otranto is a stunning coastal town with a beautiful historic centre, a magnificent Romanesque cathedral with a massive 12th-century mosaic floor depicting the Tree of Life (one of the largest medieval mosaics in Europe), and a castle overlooking the sea. It marks the easternmost point of Italy, and the sunrise over the Adriatic from the cathedral steps is spectacular. Just north of Otranto lies the Grotta della Poesia (Cave of Poetry) — a natural swimming hole surrounded by limestone cliffs, connected to the sea by a narrow underwater channel. It's one of Italy's most beautiful natural swimming pools, with crystal-clear emerald water and a legend that a princess once inspired poetry here. Entry is free, but arrive early in summer. The nearby Alimini Lakes are a haven for birdwatchers with wild, undeveloped beaches.
The town of Manduria is the undisputed heart of Primitivo production. The surrounding countryside is covered in ancient vineyards, some of which are over 100 years old with gnarled, twisted trunks that look like sculptures. The Primitivo di Manduria DOCG is one of Italy's most awarded red wines — full-bodied, rich, and complex. Visit the Cantina Produttori di Manduria, a cooperative of over 800 local growers, for tours from €15 per person including tastings of 4-6 wines paired with local cheeses and cured meats. The Strada del Vino Primitivo di Manduria offers a well-marked driving route through vineyards with tasting stops at over 20 wineries. The nearby town of Copertino also produces excellent wines worth exploring.
Just 45 minutes from Bari lies Matera, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Sassi — ancient cave dwellings carved into the limestone gorge — are a breathtaking sight. European Capital of Culture in 2019, Matera has emerged as one of Italy's most sought-after destinations. Visit the Casa Grotta museum (€3) to see how people lived in the caves until the 1950s, walk through the Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisale districts, and don't miss the stunning rock churches with Byzantine frescoes. Matera's restaurants are excellent, many set inside caves. This is an essential day trip from Bari or a natural addition to any Apulia itinerary.
Travelling sustainably in Apulia is easy. Travel by train where possible — the Frecciarossa from Rome to Bari takes under 4 hours, and regional trains connect Bari to Lecce (1.5 hrs), Alberobello (1.5 hrs via local train), and Foggia (2 hrs). For the Valle d'Itria and Salento beaches, consider renting an electric car or a bicycle. Choose eco-certified masserie and agriturismi that use solar energy, source food locally, and practice water conservation. Always carry a reusable water bottle — Apulia has excellent public water fountains with free drinking water in most towns. Book your stay through IMPT to offset 1 tonne of CO₂ per booking and earn 5% cashback, making your trip both sustainable and affordable. For more planning resources, check out our Best Time to Visit Apulia guide and our Apulia Food Guide.