Puglia

Holiday homes in Puglia – the heel of Italy

Puglia is a truly undiscovered gem in Italy. This beautiful southern region has much to offer: a delightful climate, amazing beaches, culture, and a diverse landscape. Puglia has something for everyone!

View all the gems in Puglia

In the heel of the Italian boot, you will find the delightful region of Puglia. Puglia is also known as Apulia in Dutch, yet you hear this name much less frequently. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the region is still a true undiscovered gem: in Puglia, there is no mass tourism, but instead all the peace and space to go exploring. But there is more – summers in Puglia are wonderfully long, as this region is treated to eight months of sunshine every year. From March through October, Puglia is therefore a delightful place to be. Add to that the characteristic cone-shaped trulli, olive trees, picturesque white villages and towns, fine beaches, and delicious food, and you will never want to spend your (long) summer anywhere else than here in the heel of Italy.

Puglia cottages

Puglia has much to offer, but something that is truly characteristic of this region is the trulli. These miniature houses date back to the year 1500. A trullo looks very special: small, with a cone-shaped roof on which you can sometimes discover painted symbols. That they are unique is beyond dispute: the trulli are also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. If you tour around the Valle d'ItriaIn the valley around Alberobello (the trullo capital), Locorotondo, and Cisternino, you see them popping up everywhere. The villages themselves are also worth a visit if you fall in love with these unique little houses right away.

Cities and sights in Puglia

In terms of architecture, there is much more to see in Puglia. The masserias, for example: enormous white buildings that were formerly used for agricultural production, such as making wine. Now, many masserias have been converted into holiday homes, which stand out beautifully against the red-colored earth so typical of this region.

Because Puglia is located deep in the south of Italy, you will find plenty of beautiful beaches there in addition to nice weather. We will come back to this later!

Besides lovely beaches, you might also want to soak up some culture during your holiday. Puglia is the right place for that too, as there are many beautiful cities to visit. Ostuni, for example: this city is also known as the white city (you can probably guess why). The brown cathedral looks like an oddity, but it is truly beautiful to behold. Stroll through the village's narrow, steep streets, buy local specialties or nice souvenirs at the market, and enjoy the view. Ostuni is situated high on a hill, and on a clear day, you look out over the sea.

Ceglie Messapica is highly recommended for food lovers, with many fine restaurants. Martina Franca feels somewhat grander and, thanks to its Baroque appearance, makes for a lavish photo model. This is even more true for the Baroque city of Lecce, known for Piazza Sant'Oronzo, featuring the remains of the amphitheater, the beautiful Duomo, and the lavishly decorated Santa Croce, among other attractions. Moreover, it is a delightful city for a leisurely stroll and to occasionally settle down on a terrace.

Also not to be missed: Grottaglie. This is *the* ceramics city of Italy. So, it is a great place to find a beautiful souvenir – and don't forget to visit the city's unique church, which is hidden inside a rock. If you love Italy because of its history, you definitely must go to Lecce. In this city, you will find a beautiful amphitheater and a historic center, where you can also do some great shopping.

Would you rather stand in the same place where Frank Sinatra and Pavorotti performed? Then visit Bari and its unique Petruzzelli Theatre: the largest private theatre on our continent. Also fun to see are the old ladies who make fresh orecchiette (ear-shaped pasta) by hand every day.

This is just a selection of the beautiful cities of Puglia, as there are even more picturesque villages and towns to be found in this region.

Some beaches in Puglia

The region is therefore perfectly suited for a sunny beach holiday: a big plus, if you ask us. It is not difficult to find a beautiful stretch of beach in Puglia, which you sometimes even have all to yourself. You will find one of the most beautiful beaches at Punta Prosciutto, where you can enjoy the sun's rays among the locals. It is sometimes compared to the Maldives, that is how clear the water is here. Also special: at the beaches of the village of Campomarino, it smells wonderfully of eucalyptus. So, swimming with a lovely scent! If you are up for some adventure, a visit to the Gargano Peninsula is also a good idea: the beautiful nature and the beach in this part of Puglia will overwhelm you. And with a stunning panorama of the Tremiti Islands, it is certainly worth a boat trip! Are you looking for a sun, sea, and beach holiday? Check out our selection of holiday homes by the sea.

Delicious Puglia

Last but not least… Puglian cuisine. If you love delicious food, you can start licking your fingers right away: in Puglia, you will find the most delicious dishes. Characteristic of Puglia, for example, are orecchiette, pasta shaped like an ear, and the amazing extra virgin olive oil. You will long remember the fantastic burrata, which is so creamy that the cheese melts on your tongue. Naturally, fresh fish is also available in abundance in this coastal region – vegetarians can feast on the famous stuffed aubergines. Of course, a good wine goes with this, which you can also find in Puglia: Primitivo and Negromaro are the most famous wines from this region. Cheers!

Curious about the other regions of Italy? Read the typical characteristics to make a well-considered choice.